THE ILLINOIS ARBORIST ASSOCIATION
IS INTRODUCING
Community Hands-on Training for only $20.00
Made Possible with Grant money from the Illinois DNR
The IAA is offering Community “Hands-on” training, made possible with grant money from the Illinois Dept of Natural Resources.
The state is divided into 3 sections, Northern, Central and Southern. We will offer a Community Hands-on training in each section this year. Each attendee will only pay $20.00 for the 2 chosen topics in a 7-hour training session. Topics are chosen by the community hosting the training. The trainers are IAA Advanced Training Instructors. The topics to choose from are (1) Chainsaw maintenance, sharpening, safety & ops; (2) Pruning; (3) Rigging; (4) Aerial lift safety & ops; (5) Felling.
Topics descriptions
(1) Chainsaw maintenance, sharpening, safety & ops – basic maintenance including air filter cleaning, unit cleaning using compressed air, bar cleaning and resurfacing (trueing), drive sprocket replacement, checking for missing and loose screws; chain sharpening using a round file for the cutters and a flat file to lower the depth gauges (going over the proper angles and why those angles are important to safe cutting techniques); identifying the 4 built-in Safety Features; going over the 4 reactive forces of a rotating chain; approved starting techniques, proper grip and stance; demonstrating a slicing cut, up cut and bore/plunge cut.
(2) Pruning – pruning techniques following the ANSI A300 Standard on small shade trees, ornamentals, shrubs and evergreens; identifying the ‘branch bark ridge’; identifying the branch collar; 3-cut technique; crown elevating; crown thinning; deadwood pruning.
(3) Rigging – going over rope construction and fiber, and the advantages and limitations of each; going over rescue pulleys and arborist blocks, and the advantages and limitations of each; going over connecting links, carabiners, screw links, screw pin shackles; going over rope friction devices; pulley placement in the tree; tying knots to anchor a limb to be lowered; forces generated at the lowering pulley.
(4) Aerial lift safety & ops – each aerial lift has their own idiocrasies, knowing the proper unfolding and folding techniques, checking the booms for holding pressure; performing a ‘walk-around’; checking fluid levels; checking tire condition and pressure; proper PTO engaging and disengaging; unfold the booms to check for holding pressure from the platform controls; proper boom folding sequence; extricating the operator from the basket if they are incapacitated; full body harness and deceleration lanyard inspection; full body harness donning; truck placement/positioning for best boom maneuverability; proper cone placement; proper PPE required.
(5) Felling – Fact: Tree felling is the single, most dangerous act performed by an arborist. More arborists are seriously injured or killed by this single act, than any other. Using the ‘6-step Precision Felling Plan’ to plan the tree’s notch and drop will help reduce injuries from occurring. [1] Hazards, [2] Height, [3] Lean, [4] Escape/retreat plan, [5] Notch plan, [6] Back cut/hinge plan.
The Instructors for each course are IAA Advanced Training Instructors.
The host provides the classroom, work bench, aerial lift, chipper.
The IAA provides all necessary tools for each course.
If you are interested in attending or hosting any of these trainings, please email or call the IAA office.
illinoisarborist.org – email
877.617.8887 – toll free
Attendance is limited to 20
