European Utility Arborist (EUARB)

European Utility Arborist (EUARB)

Project No: 2018-1-UK01-KA202-048110

Project Background:
The EU-ARB project has been designed to the meet the needs of arborists involved within high risk UA activities particularly within energy sectors of industry responsible for vegetation/tree management. Recent European & UK statistics indicate a rising workplace fatality rate associated with hazardous work undertaken by arborists. Previous project partner research also reported related health & safety concerns within this sector & developed a framework for common European VET competence standards. These standards can be adapted & developed further for use within the Utility Arboriculture (UA) occupations. At the same time this project aims to facilitate best practice & high quality instruction amongst VET providers & skills trainers of UA courses across Europe & beyond, exchanging knowledge, training innovations & expertise in the process leading to safer trained arborists.

Key Needs:
The ultimate project goal & key needs are as follows:
1. Improve & enhance utility arborists skills, safety & supervision in the workplace through the development of a simplified qualification structure on 3 very practical & industry relevant levels
2. Reduce utility arborist fatality & incident rates particularly where adjacent to energised power lines in the workplace
3. Reduce associated economic & personal costs related to UA accidents

Key Objectives:
Achieving the key needs requires the following objectives to be met:
1. Develop innovative European occupational standards in UA
2. Improve transparency and recognition of UA skills via innovative European qualifications accredited by ABA International
3. Enhance utility arborists mobility and employability throughout Europe
4. Encourage & promote life-long learning and continuous professional development within the UA sector

Project Participants:
The project consists of a very experienced & capable partnership of 7 organisations (not including associates) tasked to ensure its success. Their make-up consists of UA VET & project management specialists, private & public bodies, non-profit organisations, energy industry distribution network operators & government institutions in the education sectors.

Project Activities:
Over the project life-cycle the partnership will undertake numerous tasks in pursuit of the ultimate EU-ARB goal. These include for example:
• UA-Industry consultations
• Meeting presentations
• UA training techniques analysis
• UA competency developments
• Development of a UA training simulator sites
• Project dissemination on many levels across numerous sectors
• International certification events
• Training publications & guidance materials etc

Project Methodology:
The project will be undertaken in 3 stages within its lifecycle as follows.

Stage 1: (Start-Up)
Undertake pre-project planning & preparation meetings
Develop an effective operational work plan, project organisational structure & dissemination plan
Schedule the objectives into an action plan of individual tasks & work packages
Resource & run trainer standard setting/best practice events in partner countries & develop UA VET training standards
Monitor & evaluate feedback & disseminate information gathered till end of project
Promote project information through the web, social media links etc till end of project & beyond

Stage 2: (Implementation)
Resource & facilitate trainer evaluation and verification events in partner countries & develop UA assessment standards
Pilot test new UA competency certifications in partner countries
Undertake post-project sustainability planning & preparation meetings
Develop UA VET trainer QA materials & innovative training simulators
Produce a project interim report & evaluate findings

Stage 3: (Completion)
Live test new UA competency certifications in partner countries
Completion of UA VET trainer QA materials etc
Develop a project ‘Exit Strategy’
Project completion, final report & evaluation of the findings
Continued development, dissemination & enhancement of project products & goals post-project

Project Impact & Longer Term Benefits:
The project will reach its objectives with the support of ABA International & development of new partnership innovations focused on UA safety. The key anticipated results include:
1. Development of 3 new European Utility Arborist qualifications
2. Development of new innovative UA training materials & simulators
3. Establishment of high quality UA training providers & trainers
4. Enhance arborist mobility & professional development internationally
5. Ultimately a reduction of accidents & fatalities to arborists