Chipper Operator Specialist Program

At the 2012 TCIA Winter Management Conference, TCIA announced plans to educate approximately 3,000 chipper operators across the U.S. from September 2012 through August 2013. TCIA’s new Chipper Operations Specialist workshop uses a nationally recognized curriculum to train tree care employees in hazards as well as accepted practices for brush chipper operation and other loosely associated tasks. The training program, built for crew members who often do not receive formal training opportunities, seeks to increase employee involment with overall safety compliance and self-policing. 

More information, including upcoming workshops, can be found on the TCIA website by clicking here.

For more information on Brush Chipper safety, visit the Mobark website, by clicking here.

Legislative Day on the Hill: Laws Effecting the Arboriculture Industry – July 21-23

TCIA is inviting all of its members to gather in Washington, D.C. July 21-23, for the 2013 Legislative Conference and Day on the Hill. TCIA, in conjunction with other green industry partners like PLANET, seeks to influence the law and regulations that come out of Congress. Many of vital concern to commercial and utility arboriculture don’t generate headlines and, therefore, progress can be made. This summer they will be looking at how Congress resolves the issue of temporary work visits and illegal workers; union organizing of small businesses; restrictions on water use in the landscape; ergonomics for repetitive motion injuries; and levels of federal spending on invasive insects and urban forestry. More information can be found on this event by clicking here.

2013 Arborist Industry Events

Upcoming Arborist Industry Events

Click on the Conference name for more info

• ProGreen Expo: January 15-18 – Denver, CO
• Indiana Arborist Association Annual Conference: January 22-24 – Indianapolis, IN
• Up By Roots: Healthy Soils and Trees in the Built Environment: January 25 – Phoenix, AZ
• Wisconsin Arborist Association Annual Conference & Trade Show: January 27-29 – Green Bay, WI
• New England Grows (Trade Show): February 6-8 – Boston, MA
• Midwestern Chapter ISA Conference and Trade Show: February 6-8 – St. Louis, MO [MW-ISA: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Dakota]
• Ohio Tree Care Conference: February 10-12 – Dayton, OH
• TCIA Winter Management Conference 2013: February 10-14 – St. Kitts, Leeward Islands
• ArborCon – Michigan’s Winter Conference: February 19-20 – Lansing, MI
• Ecological Landscaping Association Conference & ECO Marketplace: February 27-28 – Springfield, MA
• Joint ISA Southern Chapter & UAA Conference:  March 23-26 – Memphis, TN [Southern Chapter ISA: Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands]
• Western Chapter ISA Conference and Trade Show: May 7-10 – Indian Wells, CA [WCISA: Arizona, California, Hawaii, & Nevada]
• Trees Florida Conference and Trade Show: June 9-11 – Fort Lauderdale, FL
• ISA Annual International Conference and Trade Show: August 3-7 – Toronto, ON
• Texas Tree Conference and Trade Show: October 2-5 – Waco, TX
• Pacific Northwest ISA Conference: TBA (Fall 2013) – Surrey, British Columbia [PNW-ISA: Alaska, British Columbia, Idaho, Oregon, & Washington]
• Illinois Arborist Association Conference and Trade Show: October 22-23 – Tinley Park, IL

Free or Low Cost Tree Care Industry Webinars

TCIA Webinars (TCIA Membership required)

• “TCIA Accreditation”: (Free) – January 10^th – Click here to register
• “Effectively Documenting Storm Work for Insurance Adjusters”: January 15^th – Click here to register
• “Safety: What Happened in 2012?”: January 17^th – Click here to register
• “2013 Google & SEO Changes To Build Your Business”: January 23^rd – Click here to register
• “Understanding What Storm Work is Covered by Insurance”: February 20^th – Click here to register
• “How to Use Social Media to Build a More Profitable Business”: February 28^th – Click here to register
• “OSHA Compliance Made Simple”: (Free) – March 14^th – Click here to register

Insuring Crane Operation Exposures

Check out this article entitled, "Insuring Crane Operation Exposures." This one was written by Rick Weden of Corcoran & Havlin Insurance Group, and was featured in the June 2012 issue of TCI Magazine.

___________________________

Insuring Crane Operation Exposures

By: Rick Weden

TCI Magazine - June 2012

p. 32-33

www.tcia.org/publications

Employee Misclassification: A Cautionary Tale

Check out this article, published in the June 2012 issue of TCI Magazine, on the consequences of misclassification of workers.

Employee Misclassification: A Cautionary Tale
By: Peter Gerstenberger

TCI Magazine - June 2012
p. 21

www.tcia.org/publications

Protecting Your Assets

Understanding "Negligent Entrustment" May Save Your Business!

Negligent entrustment is a legal doctrine that permits an injured plaintiff to recover damages because an employer provided access to a company vehicle to a person that it knew or should have known posed an unnecessary risk to other motorists. The accident does not need to occur while the driver is working.

Negligent entrustment typically occurs when a company provides a vehicle to an employee (or their spouse) without taking reasonable efforts to ensure that the driver: (1) remains validly licensed; and (2) is free of a past history of crashes, tickets and other indicators showing a careless disregard for the public. An employer need not actually be aware of the problems. All that must be shown is that the employer should have known.

The best way to avoid the snare of negligent entrustment? Be armed with the most comprehensive knowledge possible about your drivers so there are no surprises.

Conducting an annual review of all drivers’ records can be one of the most important steps in “Protecting Your Assets.” Contact your Agent or ArborMAX for more information!

http://www.arbormax.net/