THE first of five new technical guides based upon the principles set out in the Arboricultural Association's revised 'Industry Code of Practice for Arboriculture – Tree Work at Height' has been drafted for industry consultation.

The draft is presented to show the content, style and design for the Technical Guide 1: Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue.

Technical Guide 1 first went to consultation in January 2019, which then sparked the Health and Safety Executive’s insistence on the use of two ropes at the time. Since then a compromise was reached, with terminology now focusing on back-up systems and scenarios where a back-up may be omitted.

Following the consultation and the June 2020 release of the revised Industry Code of Practice (ICoP), this is the next step in detailing the changes in personal fall protection systems.

It is only part of the detailed guidance, which has been designed to replace the ‘Guide to Good Climbing Practice’ and ‘AFAG 401/402’. Aimed at practicing, trained arborists and their supervisors, it is due for publication in the autumn of 2020.

The deadline for responses is Friday 7th August.

View the Technical Guide draft here.

You can provide feedback via Survey Monkey here.

If you have comments which your are unable to submit within the survey, please e-mail simon@trees.org.uk.

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