Arborist
An arborist, or (less commonly) arboriculturist, is a professional in the practice of arboriculture, which is the cultivation, management, and study of individual trees, shrubs, vines, and other perennial woody plants. An informal term is 'tree surgeon'. Arborists generally focus on the health and safety of individual plants and trees, rather than managing forests (the domains of Forestry and Silviculture) or harvesting wood. An arborist's scope of work is therefore distinct from that of either a forester or a logger, though the professions share much in common.
Utility Arborist
To work near power wires additional training is required for arborists or they need to be Certified Line Clearance trimmers or Utility Arborists.
The British standards of competence and training are offered in NPTC utility UA units, and additional electrical companies training. There is a variety of minimum distances that must be kept from power wires depending on voltage, vicinity zones, live zones, these are important words for a utility arborist.
Before becoming a utility arborist you must already have a certain amount of qualifications in climbing and chainsaw operation.
Utility training incorporates equipment identification, climbing around power lines and using approved tools in the power line vicinity.
This job is potentially fatal and a high standard of training and health and safety rules must be completed daily. Essential training must take place prior to the work and is ongoing with re-qualification every three years.
Tree Surgeons
In the aftermath of a storm such as Haiyan it was all to easy for inexperienced people to pick up a chainsaw and chop at trees indiscriminately.
Many trees could have been saved.
Trees are the future and need to be conserved for the benefit of the local people and their environment.
Thousands of trees were destroyed in Typhoon Haiyan, these trees were a source of income and food to the local people. The income through sale of coconuts and fruits will be a loss that is ongoing through future years and will effect the economy and regrowth of local people.
This is one of the many reasons our team has become established
Arborists who climb (as not all do) can use a variety of techniques to ascend into the tree.
The least invasive, and most popular technique used is to ascend on rope. When personal safety is an issue, or the tree is being removed, arborists may use 'spikes', (also known as 'gaffs' or 'spurs') attached to their chainsaw boots with straps to ascend and work.
An arborist's work may involve very large and complex trees, These may require monitoring and treatment to ensure they are healthy, safe, and suitable to property owners or community standards. This work may include some or all of the following: planting; transplanting; pruning; structural support; preventing, or diagnosing and treating diseases, as well as pruning dismantling and reshaping of trees.
Survival / Shelter Specialist
Shelter is an important aspect in the wake of a natural disaster. Many people go into survival mode, with self preservation and security of their loved ones and possessions, being their priority.
As a team we are able to assist with helping the locals establish their need for shelter by either helping move debris dangerous trees that have been blown in to the dwellings. we have had first hand experience of this, or by re-establishing existing shelters /homes, using materials at hand or temporary shelter equipment that has been brought in or purchased in country. Giving displaced people shelter gives them a sense of security, a place to sleep and move on with their lives.
Shelter is one of the main priorities of survival, it gives shade cover from sun and other of natures elements and safety.
All of our team members have undergone survival course training, and bring there own life skills to the input of the team.
The team are all able to adapt their skills to use what ever materials are available to build a shelter in an emergency or disaster situation.
For the people that DART will be assisting, using materials that can been salvage, could be key as lots of disaster struck country's have people with little or no money.
So by using tarpaulins, or helping to replace sheeting on roofs where needed, has a massive impact for the affected people.
The training life skills and the overall attitude the DART team have, are in the way of true outdoors men.
Theses skills are transferable in the humanitarian aid structure, as the initial response stages requires need to help with the infrastructure, clearing routes, making safe, and rebuilding. We do this buy not only utilising materials that are around, but by working along side of the locals this helps with their motivation and assisting with their skills where needed.
As a team we are all fully able to assist with tent erecting or temporary shelters that are being distributed by different aid charities.
Work at heights specialists rope and harness
The DART team are all trained and competent climbers, riggers and work at height professionals with all the essential experience training qualifications and safety equipment to accomplish the work safely.
The team use their skills to help others. The method of using tools whilst working at height is also an advantage. This type of work is skilled, work positioning comes from experience and takes a lot more than just doing a course.