ISAAC E-news #12 - November 2003
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Arboricultural Employment now online
at the ISAAC Website. If you're looking for a job or looking for a new
employee, this service is for you. Use of the service is free to all arborists
and arboricultural employers.
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This edition's feature article - "LAST CUT SYNDROME"
-------------- COMING EVENTS --------------
Planting Urban Trees Seminar
Melbourne (Ringwood) December 4. Presented by Treelogic.
ISAAC Australian ArborCamp 2004
2004 is Kids' Camp. Watch out for ArborCamp Australia 5, 26 - 28 March
2004. http://www.isaac.org.au/arborcamp
Membership Renewals
Membership renewals will be sent soon. Remember to renew by January to
ensure you receive your Journal of Arboriculture, Arborist News (Int'l
members only) and The Bark.
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ISAAC Membership
Membership of ISAAC links you to the professional world of practicing
arborists and tree managers in Australia. As a member you get discounted
entry to ISAAC events as well as the locally produced newsletter 'The
Bark'. Full ISA Members also get the ISA's publications 'Journal of Arboriculture'
and 'Arborist News'. Membership supports the continued growth in professionalism
of arboriculture in Australia. Now is the time to join. If you already
are a member, now is the time to recruit someone else. You can download
a membership form right now - membership application.
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ISAAC Award of Merit for Service to Australian Arboriculture
An ‘Award of Merit for Service to Australian Arboriculture’ may be presented at an ISAAC National Conference. It is offered to individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to arboriculture in Australia. The two previous winners have been Dr. Gregory Moore and Philip Kenyon. Nominations may be submitted for an award. A nomination form can be downloaded from the ‘Online Documents’ page in the ‘Members Area’ at the ISAAC Website.
Please note that nominators and seconders must be current members of ISAAC. Nominees need not be members of ISAAC.
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Subcommittees
Volunteers are required for the following ISAAC Subcommittees.
Show your commitment and have your say on these important programs.
Certification
Education/National Curriculum
Standards Australia
Contact ISAAC via the website or the National Administration Office.
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------------------ FEATURE ARTICLE --------------------
"LAST CUT SYNDROME"
A KEY MESSAGE FROM THE ARBORICULTURAL INDUSTRY
Five arborists died last year whilst at work (ed. in the UK). That's too
many for a small industry. How close did you come?
Industry leaders have combined with the Health and Safety Executive to
strive towards elimination of these tragic and devaststing incidents.
The Arboricultural Association, International Society of Arboriculture,
National Arborist Association and HSE have identified a common thread
to these fatalities and provide a key message to all climbers and ground
staff.
The Fatal Common Thread
Firstly, all these fatalities occurred at the end of the job. Secondly,
they were all basic mistakes that should have been easily avoided.
So what makes the end of the job so dangerous? Perhaps time is getting
on, you're getting tired, concentration is slipping and poor work practices
creep in.
Or you've put all the kit away and see one last thing you've forgotten.
A safe worker would unpack all the equipment and do the job properly.
But it's tempting to cut corners to save effort and get it done quickly.
We get away with taking chances most of the time but every now and again
it goes wrong. The trouble is you don't know which time will be the fatal
one.
Included in last years five fatalities were two arborists who were still
anchored to the section they were dropping. The other three were making
or had just made the final felling cut during felling or dismantling -
all at the end of the job.
The key message:
~ Don't make your last cut your last cut ~
European Safety Week
As part of European Safety Week Paul Elcoat from Salcey Arborcare and
Forestry is pushing safety hard. "A senior executive from our client,
the railway maintenance company GTRM will work with one of my crews on
the job" said Paul. "After that we all go to the classroom and
openly discuss the day. A railway safety training video will also be shown.
Should we find any acts or omissions which fall short of industry best
practice these will be rectified immediately".
Climbing tips
Rule 1: Getting going: always rigorously test-load your anchor point before
leaving the ground
Rule 2: Moving about: once in the tree always rigorously test-load your
new anchor point before leaving your last anchor point
Rule 3: Before you cut: check you're not anchored to a point you are removing
Information and Training
Everyone involved in arboricultural work must be adequately trained and
supervised. It is essential that levels of competence are sufficient for
the tasks being performed.
Detailed information and advice is available in a range of publications
from the Arboricultural Association, International Society of Arboriculture
National Arborist Association and HSE. Contact details follow.
~ Don't make your last cut your last cut ~
Released by the Arboricultural Association http://www.trees.org.uk/infopages/lastcutPR.htm
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If you're looking for great information to pass on to your clients, check
out the ISA's new website, Trees Are Good, dedicated to providing tree
care information for the general public http://www.treesaregood.org/
For ISA members the ISA has also redesigned it's website and it is worth
a look.
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Contents of this newsletter are provided for information only and the
International Society of Arboriculture Australia Chapter takes no responsibility
for loss or damage resulting from its use. ISA, ISAAC and associated logos
are for use by members of the ISA and ISAAC only. © 2003 ISAAC.