AIE - Subject - Health and Safety

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See also specific sites for: Risk Assessment

News

Tree Work News (formerly ArbNews) newsletter produced for arborists and arboricultural companies by the Health & Safety Executive's (HSE) Agriculture & Food Sector. It contains the latest advice on new legislation, plus feedback on accidents and safety issues

Tree Work News June 2008 [76KB PDF]
Tree Work News Oct 2007 [141KB PDF]
ArbNews Jan 2007 [145KB PDF]
ArbNews May 2006 [77KB PDF]
ArbNews Oct 2005 [50KB PDF]
ArbNews Oct 2004 [45KB PDF]
ArbNews Oct 2003 [20KB PDF]

Reminders of important current consultations from Frances Hirst of HSE's Agriculture and Food Sector:

Consultation on Chain Saw Certificates of Competence

NPTC are currently reviewing the structure of their Certificates of Competence in chainsaw and related operations. It is aimed to simplify the structure and reduce duplication, so now is the time to have your say on the proposed new structure. NPTC have already spoken to a range of people across the industry including AFAG but it is important that as many of those working in the industry as possible look at the final proposals on the NPTC website and comment to NPTC by 6 June 2008.

Working Safely at Height
The Arboricultural Association’s draft ‘Arboricultural MEWP Operator’s Guide’ is now available for comment on the AA website. Closing date for comments 30 June 2008.

European Standard in Chainsaw Qualification

You may also be interested to know of this conference to be held in Brussels on 19/20 June and which is being organised and supported by Inverde vzw, IPC Groene Ruimte, the European Network of Forest Entrepreneurs, and the Joint FAO/ECE/ILO Experts Network. The purpose of the event is to bring together all stakeholders who make use of chainsaws to discuss the possible development of a European Standard in Chainsaw Qualification. Registration closes on June 6th. Participants can register online through www.inverde.be/inverde/ecc. For more information, go to www.inverde.be or call + 32 (0)2 657 93 64
The tree stump poisoning chemical Ammonium sulphamate, sold as products Amcide, Deep Root, Root-Out (and others) was withdrawn from sale on 22nd November 2007, but can be stored and used until 22nd May 2008. Beyond this date its use will be illegal.

The chemical was withdrawn as part of the periodic EC Review Programme, because a complete dossier (data package) was not submitted for the EC review programme by the chemical manufacturers (probably down to the chemical manufacturers' commercial or safety calculations).

One alternative herbicide is triclopyr. See Stump killing poisons and the industry article.

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Ammonium sulphamate products withdrawn

Pesticides Safety Directorate: Reasons for withdrawal

Legislation & Regulation

The Control of Pesticides Regulations 1986
Employment Act (1988) c.19. Link to HMSO on-line document.
Employment Act (1989) c.38. Link to HMSO on-line document.
Employment Act (1990) c.38. Link to HMSO on-line document.
Employment Rights Act (1996) c.18. Link to HMSO on-line document.
Health & Safety at Work Act Etc 1974 (HSWA)
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1992 (MHSWR)
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. (PUWER) (see publications for HSE explanatory leaflet).
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) (see publications for HSE explanatory leaflet).
Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1994 (COSHH)
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 1985/1995 (RIDDOR).
Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (PPE)
The Work at Height Regulations 2005
Code of Practice for Using Plant Protection Products ('Green Code') - 2006 - Defra's statutory Code of Practice for all professional users of plant protection products in England and Wales.

AFAG Publications. Available to View On-Line and download free direct from the AFAG website.

802 Emergency planning
804 Electricity at work: Forestry and arboriculture
805 Training and certification

HSE Publications.

Watch Your Back - Avoiding back strain in timber handling and chainsaw work HSE Leaflet.
RIDDOR Explained HSE Leaflet.
COSHH. A brief guide to the regulations.HSE Leaflet.
Health Risks from Hand-Arm Vibration. HSE Leaflet.
PUWER 98: How the regulations apply to Agriculture and Forestry. HSE Leaflet (AIS 27).
LOLER: How the regulations apply to Arboriculture. (AIS 30). HSE Leaflet.
LOLER: How the regulations apply to Forestry. (AIS 29) HSE Leaflet. .
Simple guide to the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998. HSE Leaflet INDG290.
Simple guide to the Provision and use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. HSE Leaflet INDG 291.
Sun Protection for outside workers. HSE Leaflet INDG 337.
Tree work accidents: An analysis of fatal and serious accidents. HSE. Available to download as an Adobe Acrobat Pdf file.
Health Risks from Hand-Arm Vibration - Advice for Employers Leaflet no: INDG 175.
Crossing high-speed roads on foot during temporary traffic management works(CIS 53). HSE Construction Leaflet
Starting Your Business. Guidance on writing a Health & Safety Policy for small businesses. HSE Leaflet INDG268
The Work at Height Regulations 2005 (as amended) - A Brief Guide. HSE Leaflet INDG401

Web Sites

HSE Forestry & Arboriculture pages
AFAG (the Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group)
European Agency for safety and health at work
British Safety Council.

Events & Courses

LOLER and You. Workshop. NAC, Stonleigh, Warwickshire. Contact: Arb Assoc.

Journal Extracts (see AIE Abbreviations for abbreviations and links)

Health & Safety - safety initiative. QJF - Vol:92 - No:4 - Oct 1998
Hand - Arm vibration syndrome. QJF - Vol:92 - No:4 - Oct 1998
Work at Height Regulations 2005 now in force. AAN - Issue 129 - June 2005

Publication Extracts (books, handbooks & bulletins)

Self-Defence. Short article discussing the latest in arboricultural PPE. Horticulture Week, March 22nd 2001.
Safety of harness and sit-belts in tree surgery work by H. Crawford. Chapter 24. Research for Practical Arboriculture. Bulletin 97. Forestry Commission. ISBN 0-11-710297-0.
Safety in Arboriculture. Chapter VIII. The Arboriculturists Companion by N. James. ISBN 0-631-16774-9.

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