ISA Certified Arborist Exams

Kevin Birchall from Tree Care Ireland is now the registered ISA Examination Proctor for Ireland and is hoping to be running Examinations at regular intervals throughout 2010. Dates will be posted on the Treecareireland training calender and on this blog.

The great benefit to anyone considering the qualification is the instant recognition that this qualification provides. It is an internetional standard. All Cert Arbs have a code of Ethics, which can be shown to customers as part of your tendering information and each cert arb has a listing on the ISA website.

The ISA Certified Arborist Exam is a level 2 qualification which provides the holder with a basic but comprehensive understanding of arboricultural practices and solid under pinning knowledge of subject areas such as:

Tree Biology
Tree Identification
Soil Science
Water Management
Tree Nutrition and Fertilization
Tree Selection
Installation and Establishment

Pruning

Tree Support and Protection Systems
Diagnosis and Plant Disorders
Plant Health Care
Tree Assessment and Risk Management
Trees and Construction
Urban Forestry
Tree Worker Safety
Climbing and Working in Trees

A workbook is available from the ISA and candidates can work through each chapter to gain some of the necessary theory. The third edition of the study guide(now in colour) is now available. Each Topic chapter contains the following:

• learning objectives
• key terms
• text with illustrations and photos
• workbook section
• challenge questions
• sample test questions
• other sources of information

Additional study and practical knowledge is also recommended to assure an adequate understanding of some of the subject matter and gain the required pass mark!

Tree care Ireland will be providing focused preparation sessions for the ISA Exam on all subjects including Tree identification. Dates are available now on the online training calender

Please share this blog post with anyone you think might like to become a Certified Arborist.......

Rigging gone wrong!

Just a quick post to share a rigging accident. With all the skills, training, risk assessment and experience that are generally soaked into good arborists, accidents do happen and equipment does let you down. I was given the photo to the right about two years ago by a customer that had purchased the black lowering device that you can see.
He was 'snatching' a relatively small section of stem and the groundsman was allowing the piece of timber to run as it fell, but as this was happening the 16mm Marlow stable braid rope melted to the capstan and fused with the black paint covering the device!

When visualising this event you might think at first that both the climber and groundsman would just be confused as the system locked up, but that no harm would come from it, apart from the damage to rope and capstan. However, the following occured; as the timber came to an abrupt halt the resulting shock force over-loaded the sling holding the lowering pulley, snapping it at the splice and yanking the pulley out of the tree. The tail end of the sling then whipped around the stem and slapped the climber on the back of the head.

No one was hurt, nothing was damaged from the fall but issues were certainly raised over the usefulness of the painted capstan. No explanation was ever given.
If you can shed any light on this issue please make a comment.

Arboricultural Training

IMG_0400
Originally uploaded by Tree Care Ireland

"FREE ADVICE, QUESTIONS ANSWERED, CHAINSAW OPERATORS NEEDED..."

Have you ever fancied a career working in Trees? Has the thought of taking up an exciting, well paid career in the canopy interested you?
Perhaps you already climb trees and want to update your skills or you work in the landscape industries and want to broaden the services you can offer to your customers.

Maybe you would like to project a more professional image.

Well now is the time to have a closer look at some of the skills that are available through training with TreeCareIreland and achieving NPTC City and Guilds Awards.

TreeCare Ireland together with City and Guilds centre, Absolute Training Services will be providing the opportunity for you to talk to Instructors, Assessors and Tree service providers about the skills required for one of the most exhilerating jobs in the land-based sector.
"We would like to connect you with people that work with trees and can answer your questions."

"We would like to create an open forum for discussion about qualifications, courses, equipment and skills."

"We would like to be on hand each day to give honest, FREE advice about trees and tree care."

So this is our plan for 2010....

Phone us a Treecareireland 0n 059 9148678
Text Kev on his mobile 0868286573
Email info@treecareireland.com
Web contact us www.treecareireland.com
or connect on FACEBOOK, TWITTER & LINKEDIN

We have also provided a widget below for instant contact. This is a secure method with a comment box for your questions. We have asked for your phone number. If you would like us to call you to discuss anything please ask. We are always delighted to talk.

"INSTANT CONTACT, QUESTIONS ANSWERED..."

Chainsaw rescue! Horse with head stuck in a tree.

I found this photo a few weeks ago whilst researching trees that are dangerous for horses. The story read that someone had to cut it out with a chainsaw after being stuck for a couple of days.

I know it is a little cruel but I just can't stop laughing!

Christmas Greetings

Christmas Greetings
Originally uploaded by Tree Care Ireland

Merry Christmas and A Happy and Healthy New Year!

Tree Care Ireland and The Tree Tribe would like to wish everyone glad tidings.

Keep safe with your chainsaws over Christmas

Winter settings for chainsaws

As the minus temperatures arrive for Christmas, I thought it time to explain the winter setting for some chainsaws. By understanding some very simple adjustments it is possible to get a cold chainsaw running perfectly in winter weather conditions and limit the frustration of a spluttering machine.
The diagram and explanation below is taken from the user manual of a STIHL 026 and describes the simple alteration that can be made to improve performance in cold weather. It is important to note that a similar operation can be performed for most chainsaws but will not be exactly the same for each model.
If you have a different make or model of chainsaw simply look for the removable or adjustable piece of plastic or metal that will allow the warm air from the cylinder head to circulate back through the carburettor. It will usually have a tiny diagram of a sun and a snowflake to indicate how to set it. Some must be removed entirely and some are just moved into a different position.



IMPORTANT WARNING: The setting must be put back to summer setting in warmer weather as leaving it in the winter setting will cause over-heating and possible damage to the machine.

Click here to book your Free Chainsaw Training courses
Click here to get more info about Tree Care Ireland

Stihl Oilomatic Sharpening info

Stihl Oilomatic Sharpening info
Originally uploaded by Tree Care Ireland

December's Free Chainsaw Workshop has just finished and had the biggest turn out yet - 12 eager chainsaw users arrived, primed with questions about chainsaw sharpening, Personal Protective Equipment and safe cutting techniques.

Thanks to all that turned up on this wet and windy day and we look forward to seeing more of you next time.

The next workshop is being held on Saturday 23rd January 2010 at 11am - 2pm

For all those that missed today's session there is a useful chain sharpening guide Above, with file sizes and angles for all Stihl Chain (apart from the new Comfort3 range)

Click on the picture, Print it out and stick it to the wall in your workshop. It is fairly straight forward but if you need to know how to use it register for the next workshop below and come along......






Share this blog post with your friends..