Welcome back for the first week of '26. The big news this week is the retention of "Arborist" on the Core Skills Occupation List—a massive win for industry staffing. On site, the focus is squarely on heat stress; with temps peaking across the southeast, WorkSafe is cracking down on fatigue management plans. Keep your cool and watch your crew.
Industry Regulation & Safety Watch
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Arboriculture Australia Win: As of late December, Arboriculture Australia confirmed that "Arborist" has successfully remained on the 2025 Core Skills Occupation List (CSOL) following the government review. This protects our ability to source skilled labour from overseas. Read the full release at Arboriculture Australia.
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SafeWork Fatigue Alert: WorkSafe Victoria and SafeWork NSW have both issued reminders that fatigue isn't just about lack of sleep—it’s about thermal stress.
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The Risk: Working 17 continuous hours (common in storm response) causes impairment equivalent to a 0.05 BAC.
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The Requirement: You must have a documented Fatigue Management Plan for high-heat days (over 35°C).
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Equipment & Tech Brief
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Battery Cycle Times in High Heat: Recent field data discussed at the International Arboriculture Summit suggests that lithium-ion battery packs for top-handle saws are seeing a 15% reduction in run-time when ambient temps exceed 38°C.
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Tip: Rotate batteries more frequently to keep internal cell temps down; don't wait for the thermal cut-out to trip.
- Remember to run a sharp chain for high efficiency.
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Vibration Damping: New ISO standards for anti-vibration mounts are being drafted for 2026. This focuses on long-term nerve damage prevention for climbers using rear-handle saws one-handed (which, as we know, is already non-compliant, but the engineering is catching up to the reality).
The Australian Environment
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Biosecurity Update (PSHB): The response to the Polyphagous Shot Hole Borer in WA has officially moved to the "Transition to Management" phase.
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What this means: Eradication is no longer the primary goal; containment is.
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For East Coast Arbos: Be hyper-vigilant with any timber or machinery imported from WA. The borer targets Box Elder, Maples, and Figs. If you see "shot holes" (like a sesame seed) and wet staining, report it to the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline.
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Timber Curing: With the La Niña cycle breaking, we are seeing Ironbark and Red Gum curing faster than last season. Adjust your splitting wedges accordingly if you’re processing firewood this month.
Weekend Weather & Fire Ratings
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VIC (Gippsland/Metro): Extreme Heatwave Warning. Saturday peak 39°C. Total Fire Ban likely.
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NSW (Blue Mountains): Moderate fire danger. Late storm cells predicted Sunday afternoon.
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QLD (SEQ): Severe thunderstorms forecast for Saturday evening. Prepare for emergency call-outs.
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Check your local warnings at BOM.gov.au.
The "Sharpen Up"
Topic: The "Summer Sap" Filter Mix In high heat, Eucalypts (especially Spotted Gum and Manna Gum) exude significantly more atomized sap when cut. This mixes with dry dust to form a "concrete" paste on your air filters that compressed air won't remove.
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The Fix: Don't just blow them out. Wash your nylon filters in warm soapy water (or a dedicated resin cleaner) every Friday night this month. A clogged saw runs lean, and a lean saw seizes in 40-degree heat.