Tree-climbing
Training for work at height on ropes and specialization in tree-climbing
Concern among companies in the green sector for the entry into force of Legislative Decree no. 235 of 8 July 2003, concerning prevention and safety for the execution of temporary work at height on the rope.
According to these rules, all workers who even only occasionally work “at height” (such as tree-climbers) are required to attend specific training courses prepared following precise indications on the amount of hours, topics, teachers, checks learning.
The rule does not seem to apply primarily to self-employed workers. But digging into the folds of the rules, and having heard qualified ASL officials of Lecco, particularly competent in the matter, it turns out that even self-employed workers can fall within the training obligation, in particular when they collaborate fairly continuously with a company or when they operate within a “complex” construction site, in which the coordinator of the works, or prime contractor, assumes the role of “employer”.
The School, which participated in the work of the Commission which in Lombardy was responsible for defining the validity criteria of the courses, recently carried out the first experimental edition of the tree-climbing course structured in such a way as to be “validated” by the bodies that they will have to supervise the application of the new rules, obtaining valuable information.
The “reorganization” of the course, with the strengthening of the hours dedicated to more general topics related in particular to PPE and first aid, led to an increase in the number of hours from 32 to 40 hours. A moderate impact on the registration fee is inevitable, which will go from 790 to 920 euros, including 5 lunches.
It should be noted that, for the purposes of the validity of the course with respect to legal obligations, at the end of the course there is also a learning test, and the issue of an individual training booklet. Those who do not pass the final test will have to return to take the test at a later time.
In any case, the School will continue to propose “reduced” modules of 32 hours, according to the old and tested approach, obviously only for the benefit of self-employed workers who did not consider it appropriate to take more precautions. But frankly, given the small difference in both temporal and economic terms, we would like to suggest everyone to follow the course according to the new regulatory setting, to be sure to be able to operate in any context and working condition without lending themselves to any kind. at least in this respect.
We reiterate the recommendation that seems obvious and correct to us in this transitory situation: from now on, be careful to verify that those who offer tree-climbing courses are able to deliver a recognizable course. Otherwise, the risk is to throw away time and money. And if you have any doubts, consult your A.S.L. of reference.
And who has taken a tree-climbing course by July 2005 (when Decree 235 came into force)? Good question. It seems that the orientation on this point, which must be ratified by the State-Regions Conference, is the following: those who have been working in the sector as a tree-climber for at least two years would be allowed a period of two years from July 2005 precisely to rule by attending a course “compliant” with the new rules. Those who have been operating for less than two years, on the other hand, are already non-compliant and punishable if they operate without having attended a “compliant” course.
We are therefore thinking of organizing “ad hoc” tree-climbing courses for the benefit of our former students, in practice of the second levels, so as to allow on the one hand to comply with a regulatory obligation, and at the same time to have a concrete benefit from attend the course.
First, however, we await the definitive provisions from the State-Regions Conference.
As soon as we have updates, it will be our pleasure to inform the operators of the sector.
Duration: 40 hours
Location: Agricultural School of the Monza Park (but it can also be built outside on request and a specific estimate)
Estimated time for the event: 13 April + 7-10 May 2007
Program: – The materials
– The knots
– Inspection of the plant
– The launch of the line
– The anchor
– Ascent techniques
– Use of the lanyard
– Damage from friction
– Use of the false fork
– Movement phases in plan
– Recovery of the injured person
– Materials for abatement
More space will be given to interventions on PPE, physiology and first aid, as required by the new legislation (Legislative Decree 8 July 2003, No. 235, concerning prevention and safety for the execution of temporary work at height) and according to guidelines produced by the Lombard Working Group.
Attendance mode: From Monday morning to Friday afternoon (in case of bad weather during the course, the deadline may slip)
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