HSE Safety Alert - Brush cutters

The HSE has sent out a safety Bulletin on the use of non-standard attachments for brush cutters. A fatality was investigated involving the use of homemade chainsaw chain attachments.

Part of the chain struck a nearby worker in the head....More info is available here.

This is picture from the HSE website showing a non-standard chain flail attachment

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Resouces for Trees and Climate change

Trees and Climate Change- An Irish Perspective

Is this beautiful Irish landscape a thing of the past?

Here are some links to recent seminars, workshops and information on climate change. Some of them are taken from the Tree council Website, a reliable resource for information. I will update this post as I find more resources. Please add any you find by leaving comments below:

Climate change effects us all and we all have a responsibility to find a solution!

Click on the highlighted title 

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  The Climate Of Ireland: Yesterday, Today And Tomorrow

Text of a talk delivered by Brendan McWilliams to the Climate Change Conference in the Botanic Gardens, Dublin, during Tree Week, 2005.

Notes for this talk can be downloaded here

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  Climate Change Insects and Trees

Roy Anderson, Queen's University, Belfast.
Word document can be downloaded  here

• Irish National Climate Change Strategy

This is the National strategy for Ireland (if that wasn't already apparent!)

• What is the Kyoto Protocol?

An explanation

KARABINERS: Our search for the Perfect Connector

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

The Quest for the perfect Karabiner

Everyone has a favourite one, some people have a many. Different colours, different shapes, different applications, numerous manufacturers and some interesting tales to tell.

"Do you fancy sharing your views, facts and stories to help others in choosing their karabiners?"

Who knows, we may help to change the way our connectors are made or just help to educate others on how and why we use these simple, vital and well engineered pieces of climbing gear.

Treeclimber.ie will be giving away FREE shiny new karabiners for the most interesting and informative suggestions so share your knowledge...

If your reading this, share it with others and do leave some comments...

Awaken the Lust for learning

Just a quick post about a new initiative we are launching at Tree Care Ireland. It's about being an instructor and a student at the same time, an expert and a novice in the same course. It is about sharing knowledge and re-gaining a love for learning new and exciting things and it doesn't cost anything. Nada, nix, nought. Have a look at this website and register. You need only have the time and desire to be part of a team.

This is the link address to the website http://pages.oprius.com/U918T

The photo above was borrowed from an exhibition by K.L. Kamat. I hope he doesn't mind.

Rigging Research

I thought it might be useful to have a link to a copy of the HSE Rigging Research on this blog. It was published last year after extensive International research.
Many questions about rigging equipment and techniques have been answered and many more questions will also arise when you read this impressive document. It is a must if you can get your head around the numbers!

Pruning and Dismantling courses in Ireland

Visit the online training calender for future dates of pruning and dismantling courses in Ireland.
The next available places are on the March course, but are disappearing fast!
The pruning element of the course covers:

Crown reduction
Crown thinnning
Crown lifting

The dismantling element covers:
Modern and traditional rigging methods
Section felling/snatching
Equipment selction

This course is 5 days and prepares the candidates for NPTC Awards CS40 and CS41. Assessments and Registration will be arranged for all candidates. Candidates must hold a tree climbing certificate and CS39 to attend this training course.

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.......