Trust-Mark and Tree Care Approval: Does the profession need them?

Further to a request by a tree industry magazine publisher  asking to use one of our blogs as an article in their magazine, we were approached by an organisation involved with introducing a new “trust mark” for the industry. The arboricultural profession already has several professional bodies that represent it.  These bodies already vet there members.  Members can also apply to be included in a number of “approved” registers.  So the question is do we really need another scheme?

You may also wish to consider whether this new scheme goes any further in the prevention of “rogue trader” activity within the industry.

The new scheme is aimed at tradesmen but both Tree Surgeons and Consultants are included in our industry – Do you think this is appropriate?

If you feel strongly either for or against such schemes please feel free to add your comments (just click on the “Leave a Comment” link below).

Enhanced by Zemanta

Rogue Tree Surgeons Operating in Moray

Click to enlarge

Beware of rogue tree surgeons operating in Moray. This month we witnessed a group of Tree Surgeons butchering trees in the Forres area.  We use the term “Tree Surgeons” very loosely here as we do not suspect that any one of them was qualified.  Large limbs were being removed from the trees by a team wielding bow saws and a blunt chainsaw.  The members of the team were taking it in turn to climb into the trees using ladders and branches but without any Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  None of the climbers wore a harness and none of the climbers or ground crew wore hi-vis clothing, protective trousers, safety boots or helmets.  The larger limbs of the trees were removed using a single cut part way through the branch before it was torn from the tree by a number of old ropes tied together and attached to a transit van!  The result being large ugly tears to the remaining branches.

BT arrive to install temporary connection until work is complete.

They were working amongst live overhead power cables and telephone wires.  Whilst they hit both during the course of the works they only managed to bring down their clients telephone line.  It is unlikely that this crew were insured for such damages so the cost of reconnection would most likely have to be borne by their client.  It took the team at least three days to do the work. All in, this excersise was likely to have been a very costly one for their client.

The moral here is always check that your contractor is insured for potential damage to your property.  They should carry Public and Products Liability Insurance and Employers Liability Insurance if they employ staff.  If they arrive with no protective equipment send them away.

Enhanced by Zemanta