Brits talkin about Brit stuff

[Ross Turner]

Just bought a green laser pointer off ebay,still waiting for it to turn up so i can have some fun at work.

 

[Janner]

Hello all, just a quick question im on a ten week course at merrist wood and ive just starting applying for jobs at the moment. I was wondering how big the difference is pay wise between utility work and the private side of the industry. As i rang up one of the bigger companys in my area who cater for both sides of the industry and they asked which side i would like to apply for. They informed me that the utility work will pay better and bonuses are available but i think id rather do the private side of things for the minute. Become a competent climber and learn the ropes and then as my production and output rate improves possibly look at the utility work.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

You'll get far more oportunities for climbing on the utilities side, but you'll need the prerequisite NPTC units.

 

[Janner]

I should have NPTC units 30,31,38 and 39 by the end of the course i take it these are the right units or do i need different ones?

 

[Thor's Hammer]

youll also need NPTC AE1, AE2a and AE2b if you want to do utility work.

 

[Ross Turner]

You will need NPTC units UA1,2.1,2.2,2.3 for utility arb,I assume you are talking about Pro Tree based in Exeter?.
I have worked on site with John Fuller & he is ok but i know from first hand experience that they take the easy jobs & palm the sub contractors off with the hard & pain in the ar$e jobs.

 

[Janner]

No the company i was talking about is called Silvanus, i live in Plymouth.
www.silvanus-services.co.uk
www.silvanus.org.uk

 

[Ross Turner]

youll also need NPTC AE1, AE2a and AE2b if you want to do utility work.

Thor the units have been renamed

 

[Janner]

Any of you guys heard of Silvanus?

 

[Ross Turner]

Janner,Once you get into utility work its hard to find anyone who will offer you a normal arb job later in your career as the arb world look at utility work as butchery.
Thats from personal experience,I work in utility & work to BS3998 & have the relevant UA(AE) units.

 

[Ross Turner]

Had heard of them,but dont know anything about them.You say they offer bonuses,in what way?.

 

[Ross Turner]

Thor do you know anyone called Graham Taylor who audits for the power companies,We are meant to be having a supprise audit tommorrow but was told on monday about about it.
The company if crapping it but im looking forward as it may just help the work forces case for better kit & training etc.

 

[Thor's Hammer]

Thor the units have been renamed

how typical.

Heard the name, but to be honest there are a lot of H+S types out there doing auditing who have never lifted a chainsaw in anger. I suppose its an easier option.

I did a huge quality/safety audit for scottish power a few years back, the findings would shock you. SP were so upset by it, it was binned...

 

[PRUNER 1]

janner, i did my hnd with a lad called dave chudleigh. he worked for silvanus for a long time. that would have been pree 1998 tho. he used to enjoy it but he did the domestic side. paid quite from what i could make out. he was a ???? hot climber tho.

 

[puwer]

Janner,

A friend of mine takes care of all there H&S side of the business and by all reports they seem to be a relatively sound company.

 

[Dom]

Sorry to interrupt - Quick question:
My guv'nor apparently pays extra for an insurance company that doesnt ask to see LOLER records. So as far as i can tell, there is no specific system for checking kit, neither weekly, daily nor twice yearly. Not too chuffed about it, but our kit is well looked after really. I assume LOLER is a legal requirement?

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

Hi Dom welcome to AS and our Brit thread ,yes loler inspections are a legal requirement.

 

[Ross Turner]

Hi Dom,As rolla stated it is a legal requirement & if you where to have an accident & it wasn`t inspected the HSE could come down on the company like a brick.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

i'd go as far too say is the company actualy insured??

 

[Big A]

From what I see I dont think many companies, (in my experience) work to the letter of the law, but they have the relevant insurance policies, although I'm sure they would be invalidated in the course of a claim as they would be deeemed to have been negligent if the paperwork is not in order! Hi to the newbies on here and Merry Xmas to one and all!