Tree Surgery
An arborist
(or tree surgeon) is a professional who
practices arboriculture,
the management and maintenance of trees (generally in an urban environment).
While trees provide many benefits, they
can also be very large, heavy, and complex
organisms that require professional mseo ukoring and treatment
to ensure they are healthy and safe.
An
arborist's work
may include some or all of the following:
planting, pruning, structural support, diagnosis and treatment of diseases,
insects, or abiotic
disorders, lightning protection, and
tree removal. Arborists
may also plan, consult, write reports
and give legal testimony. While some
aspects of this work may be done on
the ground or in an office, much of
it requires the arborist
to physically climb the trees, using
ropes, harnesses, and other climbing
equipment.
Tree Surgery needs
to be done by people who understand
what they’re doing and why.
A good tree surgeon is also
artistic and can see how to prune
the tree to leave it not only healthy
and sound, but also with a beautiful
shape that is natural for the species
and situation. |
 |
Be
especially careful when choosing a tree
contractor. Tree work is hard, skilled work
and potentially very dangerous.
Since
5th December 1998, The Provision and Use of
Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER
98), requires all workers who
use a chainsaw to work on or in a
tree to be competent to do so. They
should have received appropriate training
and obtained a relevant certificate
of competence or national competence
award. It is suggested that tree contractors
should do refresher training every
five years.
The Lifting Operations and Lifting
Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER
1998), also apply to tree surgery
- for example, when somebody is climbing
a tree, there should be somebody else
available on site who has been trained
in tree rescue; tree contractors should
have their equipment, such as ropes,
regularly inspected by somebody independent. |
 |
Tree
work contractors should have passed chainsaw
operations assessments set by the National
Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC), and should
carry an ID card. Their training certificate
and ID card will show what units they are
qualified in.
|
