Community Hands-On Training (CHOT) - Illinois Arborist Association

Community Hands-on Training for only $20.00

Aerial Lift Safety and Pruning is being hosted by Village of Romeoville Public Works

Date: Wednesday, May 14th, 2025
Time: 8:00am to 3:00pm (Please bring a bag lunch)
Location: Village of Romeoville Public Works
Address: 615 Anderson Dr., Romeoville, IL 60446
Instructors: Phil Prohaska
Class Limit: 20 Students
CEU’s Available: 7

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 Department of Natural Resources.

Thank You Illinois Department of Natural Resources!

All attendees attending the training must bring:

Eye protection meeting the ANSI Z87 Standard
Head protection meeting the ANSI Z89 Standard
Hearing protection

Recommended (but not required)

Handsaw w/scabbard
Pole tools (pole saw & pole pruner)
Hand pruners
Loppers
Gloves are optional but recommended

Aerial Lift Safety, Rescue & Operation and rescue goes over pre-trip inspection; flying the unit, to make sure it’s holding pressure, before leaving the yard; aerial lift positioning for the task at hand; leveling using the stabilizers; proper unfolding and folding procedures; using the platform controls to lower the booms; rescue techniques (bringing an injured or incapacitated operator down to a flat surface to begin 1^st aid or CPR).

The Pruning Course is a “hands-on” class. All class participants will be cutting woody plants using the following arborist tools: handsaw, pole saw, pole pruner, hand pruner and loppers. This class will focus on the proper pruning of shade trees and ornamentals, following the ANSI A300 Standard-Part 1. A pruning “collar cut” will be demonstrated, showing the proper angle of the cut that will promote the health, vigor and wound sealing of the plant. The instructor will explain using the proper tool for the task at hand. The removal of deadwood, thinning of interfering or rubbing limbs, water sprout thinning/removal and basal sprout removal will all be covered. The different pruning terms will be reviewed, and some will be demonstrated, i.e.; crown raising, crown thinning, subordinate pruning

Meet on site. Explain the objectives for this class. Review the ‘Branch Bark Ridge’ and demonstrate proper collar cuts on shade trees and ornamentals. Demonstrate the “3 cut” technique on larger limbs. Demonstrate the use of a handsaw, pole saw, pole pruner, hand pruner and lopper. Proceed onto the “hands-on” portion of the class for the rest of the day, using all of the provided tools. There will be a practical test at the end of the day. Each participant will prune a small tree or ornamental from the ground and be graded on their pruning quality and pruning cuts.

Upon completion of the Pruning module, each participant will gain the knowledge of, or be able to perform the following tasks:

Identify the “Branch Bark Ridge”
Know how to use a handsaw, hand pruner, pole saw, pole pruner and lopper
Prune trees and ornamentals according to the ANSI A300 Standards
Make proper pruning cuts
Identify crossing, interfering and weak limbs
Identify weak branch unions and how to reduce weight to help prevent breakage
Directional pruning
Subordinate pruning

Please fill out the form to register to attend.

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Community Hands-On Training *

May 14th Aerial Lift Safety and Pruning – $20.00

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All major credit/debit cards accepted. The CVV Code must be entered for payment to be received. *

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ILLINOIS ARBORIST ASSOCIATION (IAA) A COMPONENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF ARBORICULTURE (ISA) IAA TRAINING PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT AND RELEASE

You must read, accept, and sign this Agreement before participating in the Illinois Arborist Association (IAA) Training. In consideration of being permitted to participate in the IAA Training conducted and/or hosted by the Illinois Arborist Association (a Component of the ISA) I understand and agree that:

Risk of Injury: Risk of serious bodily harm, injury, paralysis, or death, as well as damage to my equipment, personal property may occur with respect to my participation in the IAA Training, including, but not limited to, activities related to climbing, aerial lifts, the use of equipment and facilities. *

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Assumption of Risk: I accept and assume the risks, known and unknown, related to my participation in the IAA Training, including, but not limited to, injury or damage arising from, or related to, the negligence or actions of the IAA, instructors, and other parties. *

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No Physical or Medical Limitation: I am unaware of any disease, injury, or any other physical or medical condition that would impair or limit my ability to participate in the IAA Training. I understand that IAA encourages all participants to maintain appropriate health insurance throughout their participation in the IAA Training because of the risks of serious injury. *

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Release of Claims: I release and discharge the IAA, their officers, directors, members, employees, volunteers, representatives, instructors, and respective successors and assigns (Releasees) from and against any present and future loss, damage, action, liability, or claim (claims), known or unknown, relating to or arising from my participation in, or association with, the IAA Training. *

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Indemnification of Releases: I will indemnify, defend, and hold the Releasees harmless from and against any loss, damage, claim, demand, action, judgement, fine, penalty, or liability, including costs and attorney fees, incurred by the Releases resulting from, arising out of, or related to my participation, involvement, or association with, the IAA Training. *

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Insurance: I understand that IAA strongly advises all IAA Training participants to maintain personal health insurance throughout their participation in the IAA Training. IAA has also advised that it currently maintains a supplemental medical insurance policy on behalf of participants in the IAA Training. This supplemental medical insurance policy may provide a benefit up to $250,000 (USD) for medical costs associated with an injury sustained during participation in the IAA Training. I further understand and agree that this medical insurance policy is: (a) applicable only to the IAA Training that occurs in the United States and Canada; (b) conditioned on my compliance with, and satisfaction of, the terms and conditions of all Agreements between IAA and the insurance carrier, and the insurance policy; (c) supplemental and secondary to my own personal health insurance; and, (d) limited only to eligible costs in excess of my personal insurance benefits, and may not apply to co-pays, deductibles, and other insurance costs. I further understand and agree that IAA does not covenant, agree, or promise to continue to provide the supplemental medical insurance policy, and it may cancel such policy at any time. *

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Compliance with Event Rules: I will comply with and abide by: all rules and regulations issued, adopted, by the IAA related to the IAA Training including, but not limited to, the IAA instructor and facilitator direction and/or all instructions, rulings, and directions of the IAA volunteers and on-site personnel. *

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Agreement Term: This Participant Agreement and Release will remain valid for twelve (12) months from the date I have signed below and applies to all IAA Trainings held during that period, or until such time as I expressly revoked the Agreement in writing delivered to the IAA. I understand that if I revoke the signed Agreement, it will be for future events not ones that happened previous to the notification. I understand that I will not be permitted to participate in any IAA Trainings upon revocation of this Participant Agreement and Release. *

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Governing Law: This Participant Agreement and Release will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois. To the extent permitted by governing law, I hereby waive any applicable law, rule, or regulation that would invalidate or otherwise limit any term of this Participant Agreement. If any court of competent jurisdiction determines any term in this Participant Agreement to be invalid or unenforceable to any extent, such term(s) shall be severed, and the remaining terms of this Participant Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. *

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Parties: All of the terms of this Participant Agreement and Release, apply to, and bind, me and my heirs, assigns, personal representatives, and executors. *

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I have read and understand the terms and conditions of the IAA Training Participant Agreement and Release. By checking the box below labeled “I AGREE,” I hereby accept and agree to all such terms and affirm that I am 18 years of age or older. I understand that I am voluntarily giving up legal rights by accepting this Agreement and Release. *

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