utility arborist's?

DRANO · 22nd May 2007, 06:35 PM

hello all!see all the people so far away!!as a isa certified arborist and learning daily which this site is helping by the way!i was just wondering if you guys and gals could tell me about if it is like here in the states as far as regular maintenance trimming/herbicde use/hazard tree removal and so on.do the power companys bid this out as a regular thing or just reactive type(when the power go's out!!)i work as a foreman on a 55 foot arial bucket truck here.planting all the time at home,i think i've got more expieriments going than a scientist!!gotta learn somehow!!!also i have completed all course's davey tree has online institute so if you got any questions i might have info for ya.hope all are well!!keep your outriggers stable!! take care DRANO//DUANE

justoon · 22nd May 2007, 07:13 PM

Drano,in Queensland where i am they bid it out for maintanence and they do both preventative (apparently) and reactive maintanence (some of it is more like butchery). Sorry for my tongue in cheek response but ask anyone some of their work is shocking.

yooper · 22nd May 2007, 07:58 PM

Im glad to see Vermont has a good trim program. Where i live in Michigans Upper Pennisula (which the lines are owened by Wisconsin Pubic,,,I Mean Public Searvice) T hey sparkle in the rain and wind all summer....I always bring the kids for the fire works during a good storm. Its commen for the power to be out during a storm for 6 to 12 hrs. But thats ok Hopefuly Ill be starting to build my house this year on my hunting property a few miles back in the woods dont have to worry about the power going out there....................THERE IS NONE!

Ekka · 22nd May 2007, 08:46 PM

Here in Brisbane they contract it out, mainly pro-active trimming to maintain clearance.

The work is generally good, and of better standard than the private work being done. Consideration must be given to the fact that the contractors are not allowed to remove any trees under the lines, so yeah, some radical pruning takes place but it's to target.

DRANO · 24th May 2007, 04:54 PM

thanks for replys,yes we have a good program here with the company we contract thru,we always try too get 10' each side 20 above and all under where feasible.of course in residential area's there is alot of directional and side trimming,its still up too home owner what you can get for clearance.we have about 4 skidder buckets,6 or 8 off road climbing crews and about 20 arial bucket crews on this account,thats a ruff average.people been good for permissions because power outages were a very common thing here till we took contract,of course my best overtime hours come like when we went to fla to work the hurricanes,i feel bad for the people but good for my pockets!!!hope everyone is well!!memorial day weekend!!!!3 days off lol DUANE//DRANO

Sean Freeman · 24th May 2007, 05:17 PM

The company that has the contract for line clearance here in Queensland Eastern Trees is fairly large http://www.easterntrees.com.au/ they have smaller business units operating in the regional centres like Townsville or Cairns. Their work is as indicated by others here slightly better than the loppers, and they have policies and standards to which they should adhere. In the last three (I think three) years they have had a qualified Arborist working in their Qld operation Cassian Humphries. Cassian writes numerous informative articles in one of our professional magazines Arbor Age, and has in the last 12 months developed a very impressive training package for Eastern Trees supervisors relating to recognition of tree defects and proper pruning approaches to manage such defects.

What I'm getting at is that as a utility company Eastern Trees is slowly developing better Arb standards and practices, it is slow, and there are still many problems relating to unskilled crews etc... But it is a start, Cassian is a very passionate dedicated bloke who always gives 110% I take my hat off to him, not sure I could operate in that environment but he is.

JohN Dee · 25th May 2007, 12:48 AM

The company that services the power lines in my servicing areas is Active Tree Services. They started out as a small residential lop n stumpgrind business and they are now a huge corporation, Australia Wide.

With the line clearance work it's generally every three years they renew the contracts. But to get in over those big boys now you'd have to work for fish n chips... Most of the companies have great relationships with the councils.

Clearing the residential lines for vegetation reports that Integral hands out is as much as we have to do with the wires. I particularily hate line clearance with a passion... So much nit picking... But the money is good because the power company threatens to turn off the customers power if they don't comply.

22nd May 2007, 06:35 PM	#1 (permalink)
DRANO Sappling Join Date: May 2007 Location: VERMONT Posts: 25	utility arborist's? hello all!see all the people so far away!!as a isa certified arborist and learning daily which this site is helping by the way!i was just wondering if you guys and gals could tell me about if it is like here in the states as far as regular maintenance trimming/herbicde use/hazard tree removal and so on.do the power companys bid this out as a regular thing or just reactive type(when the power go's out!!)i work as a foreman on a 55 foot arial bucket truck here.planting all the time at home,i think i've got more expieriments going than a scientist!!gotta learn somehow!!!also i have completed all course's davey tree has online institute so if you got any questions i might have info for ya.hope all are well!!keep your outriggers stable!! take care DRANO//DUANE

22nd May 2007, 08:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
Ekka Eric Frei Administrator - Brisbane L5 (Dip) Hort Cert III Arb + some Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Brisbane Posts: 6,606	Here in Brisbane they contract it out, mainly pro-active trimming to maintain clearance. The work is generally good, and of better standard than the private work being done. Consideration must be given to the fact that the contractors are not allowed to remove any trees under the lines, so yeah, some radical pruning takes place but it's to target. __________________ Remember to use the "search" function, if you have answers/questions post them so everyone can benefit. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Qualified Brisbane Tree Lopping Brisbane Tree Care, Consultations and Arborist Reports Forum Sponsors

24th May 2007, 05:17 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sean Freeman PDF King & Arborist Extrodinaire Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Townsville Nth Queensland & Gold Coast Sth Queensland Posts: 1,649	The company that has the contract for line clearance here in Queensland Eastern Trees is fairly large http://www.easterntrees.com.au/ they have smaller business units operating in the regional centres like Townsville or Cairns. Their work is as indicated by others here slightly better than the loppers, and they have policies and standards to which they should adhere. In the last three (I think three) years they have had a qualified Arborist working in their Qld operation Cassian Humphries. Cassian writes numerous informative articles in one of our professional magazines Arbor Age, and has in the last 12 months developed a very impressive training package for Eastern Trees supervisors relating to recognition of tree defects and proper pruning approaches to manage such defects. What I'm getting at is that as a utility company Eastern Trees is slowly developing better Arb standards and practices, it is slow, and there are still many problems relating to unskilled crews etc... But it is a start, Cassian is a very passionate dedicated bloke who always gives 110% I take my hat off to him, not sure I could operate in that environment but he is. __________________ Sean Trees are poems that earth writes upon the sky, We fell them down and turn them into paper, That we may record our emptiness. - Kahlil Gibran

25th May 2007, 12:48 AM	#7 (permalink)
JohN Dee Over mature heritage tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 729	The company that services the power lines in my servicing areas is Active Tree Services. They started out as a small residential lop n stumpgrind business and they are now a huge corporation, Australia Wide. With the line clearance work it's generally every three years they renew the contracts. But to get in over those big boys now you'd have to work for fish n chips... Most of the companies have great relationships with the councils. Clearing the residential lines for vegetation reports that Integral hands out is as much as we have to do with the wires. I particularily hate line clearance with a passion... So much nit picking... But the money is good because the power company threatens to turn off the customers power if they don't comply. __________________ Climber with slow climbing speed, must make up with mighty chainsaw roar. Free Tree and Green Industry Link Directory Red : Green : Blue

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22nd May 2007, 07:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
justoon Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boyne Island Posts: 63	Drano,in Queensland where i am they bid it out for maintanence and they do both preventative (apparently) and reactive maintanence (some of it is more like butchery). Sorry for my tongue in cheek response but ask anyone some of their work is shocking.

22nd May 2007, 07:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
yooper Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Upper Michigan U.S.A. Posts: 73	Im glad to see Vermont has a good trim program. Where i live in Michigans Upper Pennisula (which the lines are owened by Wisconsin Pubic,,,I Mean Public Searvice) T hey sparkle in the rain and wind all summer....I always bring the kids for the fire works during a good storm. Its commen for the power to be out during a storm for 6 to 12 hrs. But thats ok Hopefuly Ill be starting to build my house this year on my hunting property a few miles back in the woods dont have to worry about the power going out there....................THERE IS NONE!

24th May 2007, 04:54 PM	#5 (permalink)
DRANO Sappling Join Date: May 2007 Location: VERMONT Posts: 25	thanks for replys,yes we have a good program here with the company we contract thru,we always try too get 10' each side 20 above and all under where feasible.of course in residential area's there is alot of directional and side trimming,its still up too home owner what you can get for clearance.we have about 4 skidder buckets,6 or 8 off road climbing crews and about 20 arial bucket crews on this account,thats a ruff average.people been good for permissions because power outages were a very common thing here till we took contract,of course my best overtime hours come like when we went to fla to work the hurricanes,i feel bad for the people but good for my pockets!!!hope everyone is well!!memorial day weekend!!!!3 days off lol DUANE//DRANO