liscenses

[treeman82]

While Nick and I were visiting with Dr. Shigo last weekend, we happened upon the subject of arborist liscenses. We were talking about how almost anybody can go and buy a chainsaw and be in business. One of my statements was about how if a lawyer and a Dr. aren't liscensed and do business, the cops will be all over them like rats on cheese. However, if an arborist operates without a liscense, the cops really don't care, even though an arborist could possibly hold a lot more lives in their hands. Dr. Shigo was talking about how arborists are beginning to get malpractice insurance, and that it will become more of a standard as time goes on.
I had a thought about how people should be required to get permits in order to buy a chainsaw, chipper, bucket, and various other equipment. Then I had a thought about how people should need a permit or liscense in order to buy a tree at a nursery. I know that those ideas are not fiesable because they are WAY too extreme, but something between that, and current policy needs to come about.

Basically the purpose of the permits would be to make sure that people can't go and plant white pine right under power lines. Also it would serve the purpose that people who have no experience can't go and buy a 250XP, or an 066 and go into business and wind up getting killed, hurt, or hurting somebody else.

I had been thinking about various parts of the conversation we had while in NH, however this afternoon made me want to bring it up on here. I was coming home from a friend's place when I saw a dump truck driving by towing a chipper on the back, with a load of brush in the back of the truck. When I was almost home, I passed the truck which was on the side of the road. The guys in the truck had pulled over to readjust the brush in the back of the vehicle.

I know that I am no rocket scientist, but there are some people who simply should NOT be in this industry.

 

[NeTree]

Conversely, there are a lot of people licensed in different professions who shouldn't be in business, either.

 

[DDM]

Originally posted by treeman82

I had a thought about how people should be required to get permits in order to buy a chainsaw, chipper, bucket, and various other equipment.

Hmmmmm Guess We will also need a permit to buy Excavators,Skidsteer loaders,Bull Dozers, Tractors, Anything bigger than a compact truck?

 

[MasterBlaster]

Frig a piece of paper.

 

[Dadatwins]

I think we have to many un - enforced problems now to start worrying about adding more paperwork and licenses to the mix.
Once the rules that are already in place are followed then you can think about adding more. In my county you are supposed to have a business license just to operate a business, yet I get 5-10 flyers a week in my mailbox from yahoos to do yard work to whole house painting and I would guess most have no BL and pay no taxes on earnings. Should not be hard to track the phone numbers are on the flyers, yet no one bothers.

 

[Stumper]

Arrrgh!!!!! Matt, You are obviously a product of the current public education system.

Suggested reading: The Law by Frederic Bastiat.
The writings of Thomas Paine (Common Sense et.al.}
The writings of Thomas Jefferson and other founders of our nation.
Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand (Long but profound and a pretty good read.)

 

[treeman82]

I am not talking about a permit on a case by case basis. I am talking about if you are going to buy a chainsaw, you go in to a dealership or what have you, take a 5 question quiz, if you pass it, they give you a little piece of paper which is good anywhere for as long as you keep it around. Maybe for a chipper, they have you take a quick quiz, and then a hands on demo, then if you want to buy a chipper now, again next year, again and again, etc. you can. Same with buying trees... take a quick quiz and then you are good to go.

 

[DDM]

Question #1 What is your Name? _____
Question #2 Did you Correctly Spell Your name? Circle one Yes No
Question #3 Can you count higher than 10 without removing your shoes? Circle one Yes No
Question #4 Can you tell the difference between Your appendages and a tree limb Circle one Yes No
Question #5 Can you tell the difference between a pine tree and a Pressure treated 4 X 4 ? Circle one Yes No

If you Correctly answered 1 Questions you may Purchase a Poulan Wild Thang

If you correctly answered 2 Questions you may purchase a Stihl 021

If you correctly answered 3 Questions you may purchase a Stihl FarmBoss

If you correctly answered 4 Questions you may purchase a Stihl 360

If you correctly answered 5 Questions you may purchase a Stihl 088, a 18" Tree Chipper and a Bucket truck

 

[NeTree]

It amazes me that some people think we need MORE red-tape and BS than we already have.

 

[treeman82]

I don't think that we need MORE red tape. I do however think that we need to find SOME way to keep hackage to a minimum. If ANYBODY can just go and buy the tools, then there will always be a descent hack factor. Educating the public truly is the best way, but sadly there will always be a market for the hacks. If we remove the hacks from the system though, their market goes away with them.

 

[lostone]

Dang it, looks like I'm gonna have to sell my saws and get a Poulan Wild Thang, orr at lest eye thunk I gots won rite duz I hafta wate a yer to retest?

 

[rumination]

Originally posted by treeman82
I don't think that we need MORE red tape. I do however think that we need to find SOME way to keep hackage to a minimum. If ANYBODY can just go and buy the tools, then there will always be a descent hack factor. Educating the public truly is the best way, but sadly there will always be a market for the hacks. If we remove the hacks from the system though, their market goes away with them.

Wake up man! Regulating chainsaws is not going to reduce the hack factor, just like regulating handguns won't keep Uzis out of the ghetto. Requiring an arboricultural license to do tree work would make a lot more sense than regulating the tools of the trade, although I don't endorse that either.

 

[treeman82]

The state of Connecticut requires an arborist license in order to do any tree care. I know plenty of people who go over there from NY without any license at all and never get reported.

 

[rumination]

rborist,

don't know if you were responding to my post, but if so, I didn't make myself clear. I do NOT endorse requiring professional licenses for the tree industry.

 

[Stumper]

A hearty AMEN! Leon.
Matt, FYI. Regulation does not make safe or honest business practices. Nope, Never. It makes some meddlesome albeit well intentioned people FEEL good about their efforts. It makes the practitioners grumpy in degrees proportionate to the level of interference with their practice. It makes everything cost more (If the gov wastes half of my time then I need twice as much for the time I can engage in productive work!)
Safe and honest people do safe and honest work. Regulations don't change character.(Well maybe a little--irritate a good guy enough and he may lower his personal standards in frustration.)

 

[Guy Meilleur]

Stumper, I'd recommend Anthem before Atlas Shrugged; ya gotta be really into it to slog thru the magnum opus. Anthem is bitesized, even for the e-generation.
I like your list tho, and I think regulating toolbuyers is a pipe dream.

 

[NeTree]

Two words...

Robert Fulghum.

 

[rumination]

Originally posted by netree
Two words...

Robert Fulghum.

Was he the "Everything I Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten" guy?

 

[NeTree]

Gold star for leon.

 

[Nickrosis]

Originally posted by Guy Meilleur
Stumper, I'd recommend Anthem before Atlas Shrugged;

I'd take anything by Ayn Rand out of the list.