Wokingham

Forestry and tree surgery can be dangerous work. But the threat of falls and fractures among arboricultural workers is tackled each year by Wokingham District Council’s Environment Service – with a special first aid course designed for the forest.

The Arboricultural Emergency Aid (Appointed Person’s Certificate) - is recognised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and is specifically designed to focus on the types of injuries most likely to occur while working in the arboricultural profession. The certificate is valid for three years and ensures that workers in the woods are aware of how to guard against injury and what to do if an accident occurs.

This year’s Wokingham two day course, held at Dinton Pastures Country Park, Winnersh on July 19 and 20, was attended by 26 tree surgery operatives, including officers from the council’s environment service, countryside rangers and arboricultural contractors from local companies including Boswell and Co, Fernoak, Cedardale Arboricultural Specialists, Bee Tree Services, T&S Tree Surgeons, Calibra Tree Services and Arborfield Tree Care.

Training was given by instructors from ABC Response Training, a company that specialises in this area of concern. The course covered unconsciousness, bleeding, fractures, crush injuries, suspension trauma, amputation, choking, eye injuries, falls from height and burns. Instructors used simulated wounds to make the scenarios as real as possible.

“This is the fourth year we have run this course,” said Anne Ballard from the council’s tree and landscape team. “It has been growing in popularity each year and feedback is very positive.”
Simon Weeks, Wokingham council’s executive member for environment services, said: “We are lucky to have beautiful country parks and wooded areas in the Wokingham district. Our countryside workers provide an excellent service and it can be easy to forget the difficulties and dangers that can be involved. This course provides an important safety update each year and I am glad to see more arboricultural workers taking advantage of it.”

Wokingham District Council