ArbNet Explained

Introduction

ArbNet has brought together the combined needs of corporate clients and servicing contractors into a unique, high quality solution.

Corporate clients require national and regional capability. They require consistency and quality, and a single source that co-ordinates the many contractors who are capable of delivering part, but not all, of any solution. And most of all they require clear understanding of competency and health and safety. The consequences of not demonstrating a "duty of care" in terms of liability and industry compliance are potentially enormous - especially when contracting with an industry dominated by small businesses often comprising less than five employees.

The best Contractors want to show clear differentiation in the market - to demonstrate levels of professionalism, to obtain an objective certification of competence and Health and Safety, and to be able to provide quality services to corporate clients requiring national solutions to local needs.

ArbNet simply brings these two needs together and provides a comprehensive and integrated solution.

Scheme Structure

Through the website and supporting structures, contractors can apply, be assessed, and join the existing network. Failure to comply with competency and health and safety assessment requires remedial action, and re-application and re-assessment only once that action has been taken. Once certification has been achieved, it provides a once and for all consistent benchmark for every client requiring access the Network.

Clients need contract only once, with ArbNet, and do not need to re-test or audit individual contractors, nor do they need to source individual contractors for every single job. ArbNet ensures that the right contractor is in place at the right time for every job, and acts as a single focus for the client.

The Importance of Health and Safety

Not only is the industry dominated by small companies, it is inherently risky. The nature of the work, ropes and heights, and equipment being used makes tree contracting one of the most hazardous of all occupations. Putting health and safety at the core of the ArbNet scheme was our first priority.

Duty of Care

There are many reasons for adopting the ArbNet scheme into a corporate organisation's contractor selection process. There are sound business reasons - best value, work force procurement regulations, and the demonstration of control and value for money. There are also regulatory and legal duties imposed upon employers: Section 2(3) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires all companies employing five or more people to have a written statement of their health and safety policy. Various regulations further impose responsibilities on employers to assess the health and safety competence of a contractor used by them to undertake work on their behalf. This is designed to protect the employer's staff and others affected by their undertakings. Employers also have a duty to monitor contractors to ensure they are working safely.

Many contractors employ less than five staff. The ArbNet certification process requires them to demonstrate an understanding of their health and safety responsibilities even though they are not normally required to have them in writing. Companies who contract with companies of this size and who have not demonstrated this clear duty of care are exposed to clear liability risk should an accident occur.

Consultation on Best Practice

Practice and Procedures have been put in place based on extensive internal knowledge and experience, consultation with corporate clients and their requirements (including with specialist Health & Safety Managers), and in discussion with the Health and Safety Executive and with reference to HSE guidelines and publications.

The Assessment and Compliance Process

Initial and future assessments are carried out on a rolling process.

  1. Initial assessment is by questionnaire: full compliance proceeds to next stage, partial compliance to the issuing of an improvement notice, complete failure to discarding of the application.
  2. Stage 2 encompasses a site meeting with the managing director and the completion of an 82 point check list. This assesses the company's H&S policies in greater detail. A visit to an active worksite to assess performance will also be undertaken at this point. Again a three tier assessment is made, from success and certifying full ArbNet status, to the issuing of an improvement notice, or complete failure and discarding of application.
  3. ArbNet's approach to the continual assessment of performance and compliance of our contractors is unique to the industry. Unlike other associations, we maintain contact with our contractors on a day to day basis and have a direct line of feed back from our clients, and assessments of on-site performance through our customer satisfaction forms. Complaints and other control issues are monitored centrally.

Our in-house regional consultants also undertake spot-checks during tree work operations to assess contractor performance (6-9 monthly).

In the Event of Failure to Maintain Standards

If necessary, contractors can be temporarily suspended from ArbNet should they fall below standard. Due to the volume of work allocated this is a big financial incentive for them to maintain required standards.

Co-ordination and Management - Substantial Resource

Contractors and Clients alike are supported not just by a core web resource, but by a highly knowledgeable co-ordination and management team. This team supervises workflows and allocates work, co-ordinates with clients and their customers as necessary, and manages issues and feedback as they arise.

There is considerable expertise in this management team regards monitoring and delivering of value for money, highlighting and managing the impact and compliance with legislation and planning restrictions, and applying knowledge and experience gained over the hands-on experience of thousands of jobs. Contact Us gets you direct access to this team.