I picked up the story on the link below from our friends at the Arb Association – well done to them for publishing this. Firstly, employers must make sure that their staff/subbies are suitably trained and qualified. This can be a minefield when recruiting overseas workers and could mean competent staff are excluded from employment. Another important point is that your insurance company may have a different interpretation on the ‘rules’ so you must make sure you are complying with any insurance policy requirements. Our advice is to always consult with a Health & Safety specialist especially on any changes to what is acceptable proof of competency.
I think this is a step in the right direction but what do you think? Will this ease the shortage of skilled labour, and will the cost of courses come down? I guess the big question is will this lower or higher standards? Let us know what you think. Comment over on our Facebook page.
https://www.trees.org.uk/News-Blog/Latest-News/Alternative-chainsaw-competence-certification
