Brits talkin about Brit stuff

[SteveBullman]

good on ya big fella....prehaps i'll get to meet the little guy saturday assuming we're still on

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

sat is still on old chap...cheer's blue and ian

 

[Ross Turner]

Congrats Rolla,I know the joys of new baby.Mine is a big lad for his age of 5 months.

 

[jamie]

congrats

congratulations there rolla,

my girlfriend and i have a dog and even thats hard work at times,

jamie

 

[Big A]

Congratulations on the new rug-rat Rolla, Once again the hype over the weather exceeds the reality. What happened to a foot of frost in the ground and deep, deep snow? I dont think my kids have even seen a real winter and the oldest is now 17, but the public services wil probably grind to a halt this week and the country will be gripped in an "Arctic freeze"! Next week will probably be tropical and wet again. Those of you with a real winter must really take the pi$$ out of the British mentality.

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

haha bigA ,the big freeze what a joke..........like your kid's my oldest is 12 they have never ever seen real snow..remember the day's when piled up snow and drift's were as high as the hedge's ,and took week's to melt away..bigA A FEW YEARS AGO THE WEATHER PEOPLE WOULD NEVER HAVE MADE SUCH A FUSS ABOUT THIS LITTLE BIT OF SLEET..now the weather tart's have to wiggle there asse's and bull **** us all to keep us interested

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

NPTC new's.... ok i got this from the horse's mouth so to speak. The new's might affect all of us.I was told confidentially that NPTC has made all the course's harder because there has been to many passing .I wondered why so many newb's seemed to be failing.

secondly the gaffer's at NPTC are trying to make it mandatory that we all get re-assest after 5 year's or our tickets will become invalid

NPTC also want to get all company's to take there new health and safety course in order for us to get insurance ,they have been having meeting's with insurers to get this unit/course mandatory

they also have other silly courses in the pipeline i.e inspection course [climbing gear] even though you will still have to get your kit inspected by a Loler reg inspector every 6 month's

I have recently noticed that when bidding/tendering for council work ,they do not thoroughly check to see if 'ALL' contractors carry out risk assessment's or have a health and safety policy or have first aid certificate's amongst a whole lot of other stuff including qualification's relating to a biological knowledge of tree growth [seem's nptc will do for everything],so around here for certain it is highly un-likely you will be bidding against another company on a like for like basis

I'm happy to comply with new reg's but if HSE don't prosecute the cowboy's and the playing field keeps on getting less even i might quit this industry.how much more expense and bureaucracy can this industry take and still let the hack's and cowboy's ply there shambolic trade ??

 

[eleath]

1947
1963
1981/2 Snow on plumstead common????????? and it was there for a day or two?
Now thems was winters when I actually remember snow....lol

Hey Rolla... Al the best with the new trainee

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

81/82 was a bad winter.........don't know much about 47 or 63 though ,but i heard they were bad winters ...eleath what are the winters like in florida unbearable i bet lol

 

[iain]

NPTC new's.... ok i got this from the horse's mouth so to speak. The new's might affect all of us.I was told confidentially that NPTC has made all the course's harder because there has been to many passing .I wondered why so many newb's seemed to be failing.

secondly the gaffer's at NPTC are trying to make it mandatory that we all get re-assest after 5 year's or our tickets will become invalid

NPTC also want to get all company's to take there new health and safety course in order for us to get insurance ,they have been having meeting's with insurers to get this unit/course mandatory

they also have other silly courses in the pipeline i.e inspection course [climbing gear] even though you will still have to get your kit inspected by a Loler reg inspector every 6 month's

I have recently noticed that when bidding/tendering for council work ,they do not thoroughly check to see if 'ALL' contractors carry out risk assessment's or have a health and safety policy or have first aid certificate's amongst a whole lot of other stuff including qualification's relating to a biological knowledge of tree growth [seem's nptc will do for everything],so around here for certain it is highly un-likely you will be bidding against another company on a like for like basis

I'm happy to comply with new reg's but if HSE don't prosecute the cowboy's and the playing field keeps on getting less even i might quit this industry.how much more expense and bureaucracy can this industry take and still let the hack's and cowboy's ply there shambolic trade ??

i agree they should stop the bullsh!t
stop screwing the proffesionals (wrapping us up in red tape )
we have the new ec working at height regs to deal with among loads more
they should make the sale of all chainsaws illegal to none qualified people
how they can say after passing your ticket then working in the industry for 5 yrs therefore becoming more capable and experienced that you need someone to tell you you can still do it
( they daren`t do it for vehicle driving license`s so why pick on us )
at the end of the day, this will heep more expence on company`s who will have to put up prices to cover the costs of the exam the lost wages etc etc
and lets face it could the nptc cope with a max influx of re-exams cos i should be re-tested now 5 years up along with thousands of other people you will also have multiple quals
lots of business`s folding and people getting p45`s
straw and camels back springs to mind
what will happen when the high hedge bill comes in if professional private sector business are stiffled to death councils won`t cope
answer the pikeys win trees lose l
rolla tell the horse`s mouth what he can go do to him self

 

[PRUNER 1]

aw no, more bull to wade through, ime gonna get me some waders!!!

 

[PRUNER 1]

might get a nose peg as well cos the **** stinks!

 

[PRUNER 1]

this weekends job out at langthwaite!

big syccie to get on the ground and leave. weathers goin to be mingin

 

[Big A]

I know of someone who competes on large contract work around Bury St Eds who carries out work for the RSPB and others whose idea of a risk assessment is a scribble on the back of an envelope, the site manager was also a chainsaw assessor, yet didnt even understand slightly more complex felling techniques. The above "someone" also recently won the Rookery Crossing felling contract on the A14, under-priced everyone to get the work by doing the work for the timber!!! The local council is up in arms as a couple of veteran oak pollards were removed, but they moved too slowly (surprise, surprise!!) and didnt place any felling restrictions on the site. As long as this is what we're up against,I dont honestly think they have the right to preach us. Interestingly enough I changed my Public Liability company recently, and instead of a phone quote, I had to fill in about 10 A4 pages about qualifications, experience, H&S policy and a sample of my risk assessments and method statements. Didn't mind that, but Mr Pikey won't have cover, qualifications etc. etc. and be able to shaft us on pricing. Bo**ox!!

 

[PRUNER 1]

supposed to be a photo with that it wont do it, aw well its a biggy anyhoos

 

[jamie]

more tickets

haqve heard about potential saw on stick / powerpruner use tickets, heard they will be NPTC CS3126 after completeting units CS 126 through to CS 3125.

its shocking the fact we (the company) has more hoops than a hoopla display team yet the tinks get away scot free.

i agree with the having a ticket to buy a saw, even an electric saw in the wrong hands is an accident waiting to happen, i know a gardener who wont stick the saw in teh ground as he heard when it hits soil it kicks back.....

jamie

 

[Ross Turner]

What is this industry comming too?,As already been said the pikies/tinks should be hammered by both the HSE & the local authorities should insist on having a portfolio from a company containing,Method Statements, Qualifications,H&S policy & Insurance & if possible proof of jobs they have carried out supplied with references.
I know this would increase our paperwork but it should stop those twats getting our work.

When i first started on the NPTC route,I was informed that you would not be able to carry out any work for councils etc without the certificates.

 

[Big A]

Sow? What snow? Overkill on the forecast again! Just another cold, wet day in England

 

[blue]

rolla,
you are the bearer of $h1t news.worked out last year how much it would cost me to get all my nptc tickets now as opposed to in 97 when the council paid for them.it came to about 3.5-4k.the only thing i aint got is windblown,as well as the cost of courses it would take about 8 weeks in time.so if what you saycame true would i have to be re-assesed for each unit?if so then they can poke it as i couldn't afford to do it.

who think's they could pass all their tickets again without a refresher course?

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

i'm not defending traveller's here ,but the cowboy's out there don't all live in caravan's.......just check out the gardening section or landscaping section in any yellow page's ,i see lots of adds saying tree felling or 'LOPPING and TOPPING' 'MOST TRAVELLER'S DO NOT ADVERTISE IN THE YP' most are too scared to advertiser due to the possibility of getting caught by the tax man !!!

I was once in ROUSE'S [local chainsaw shop] when a bloke came over to me and asked me every possible question there is about a certain brand of saw ,which is the best ,how long a 'blade' should i buy etc etc ,i asked him if he was cutting a lot of tree's down at home ,oh no he said i work for 'MOREVEND' during the week but want to earn some extra cash on the weekend's

Plus don't think all the saws that are sold by DIY shop's end up being solely used in the owner's own garden !! ..No imo the cowboy's range from young whipper snipper's out for beer money through to yes travellers rite up to old retired ****'s with a ton of dosh in the bank but still want
more


i recently went to a hire shop and saw on the floor a range saws way to big to be used by a domestic ,i inquired to who they belonged to oh the chap said they are in for sharpening they belong to *ffordable g*rden's another local cowboy do it all gardener


just lately i have been wondering how big DIY stores can sell saws but get away with not selling the PPE ??? anyone got the answer???