Comments on: To sift or not to sift – that is the Question?? http://www.jksl.com/blog/2010/01/to-sift-or-not-to-sift-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question/ Just another WordPress weblog Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:28:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Mike Clough http://www.jksl.com/blog/2010/01/to-sift-or-not-to-sift-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question/#comment-2772 Mike Clough Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:21:15 +0000 http://www.jksl.com/blog/?p=153#comment-2772 ..I really wish the Industry Standards that we proposed last year had been given more of a chance to get off the ground. It seems that everytime we come up with something worthwhile somebody else comes up with a cheap version that doesnt work... Im not having a go at you guys - im having a go at companies that sell the system as a one stop cure all treatment - it devalues the service that is provided by competent companies and makes it difficult (particularly when money is tight) for a QS to choose a more costly option - when somebody is telling him all his problems will go away... ...again only time will tell Mike C ..I really wish the Industry Standards that we proposed last year had been given more of a chance to get off the ground.
It seems that everytime we come up with something worthwhile somebody else comes up with a cheap version that doesnt work…

Im not having a go at you guys - im having a go at companies that sell the system as a one stop cure all treatment - it devalues the service that is provided by competent companies and makes it difficult (particularly when money is tight) for a QS to choose a more costly option - when somebody is telling him all his problems will go away…

…again only time will tell

Mike C

]]> By: Nick http://www.jksl.com/blog/2010/01/to-sift-or-not-to-sift-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question/#comment-2771 Nick Wed, 03 Feb 2010 09:04:32 +0000 http://www.jksl.com/blog/?p=153#comment-2771 Again Mike, I cannot argue with the sentiments of your posts. I think a cautious approach is the best option, I would however take a cautious approach that also allows change. The whole market and industry is changing and requires a pragmatic and "best practice" approach. We are not claiming this to be the miracle cure much as CABI and the authorities are not making similar claims about biological control. What we are doing is giving a choice, and in the current climate that needs to be done. Again Mike, I cannot argue with the sentiments of your posts. I think a cautious approach is the best option, I would however take a cautious approach that also allows change. The whole market and industry is changing and requires a pragmatic and “best practice” approach. We are not claiming this to be the miracle cure much as CABI and the authorities are not making similar claims about biological control. What we are doing is giving a choice, and in the current climate that needs to be done.

]]> By: Mike Clough http://www.jksl.com/blog/2010/01/to-sift-or-not-to-sift-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question/#comment-2768 Mike Clough Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:59:30 +0000 http://www.jksl.com/blog/?p=153#comment-2768 Thanks Nick - sorry - i do tend to write my own personal opinions - the piece was written in reponse to the number of clients who now believe that sifting can sort all of their problems in one quick operation...and who believe that the material produced can then be used on site/or more dangerously taken off site as 'clean'!! You know that any system is only as good as the operatives who are carrying out the work and in most cases (i believe?) this is done by unskilled labour under the supervision of an experienced foreman - i have yet to see this kind of relationship work succesfully and i certainly wouldnt sleep well at night relying on sub contract (foreign?..do Polish people even know what knotweed rhizome looks like?) labour. Im not suggesting putting chemicals onto clean ground for no reason - what I am saying is that to suggest to a client that no follow up treatment is required - is misleading,naive...and b*****t In answer to your statement that your treatment has saved the economy such huge figures - the proof will be in the longer term success of what many industry experts believe to be a floored strategy - only time will tell...watch this space. PS Happy New Year mate Thanks Nick - sorry - i do tend to write my own personal opinions - the piece was written in reponse to the number of clients who now believe that sifting can sort all of their problems in one quick operation…and who believe that the material produced can then be used on site/or more dangerously taken off site as ‘clean’!!
You know that any system is only as good as the operatives who are carrying out the work and in most cases (i believe?) this is done by unskilled labour under the supervision of an experienced foreman - i have yet to see this kind of relationship work succesfully and i certainly wouldnt sleep well at night relying on sub contract (foreign?..do Polish people even know what knotweed rhizome looks like?) labour.
Im not suggesting putting chemicals onto clean ground for no reason - what I am saying is that to suggest to a client that no follow up treatment is required - is misleading,naive…and b*****t
In answer to your statement that your treatment has saved the economy such huge figures - the proof will be in the longer term success of what many industry experts believe to be a floored strategy - only time will tell…watch this space.

PS Happy New Year mate

]]> By: Nick http://www.jksl.com/blog/2010/01/to-sift-or-not-to-sift-%e2%80%93-that-is-the-question/#comment-2766 Nick Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:43:01 +0000 http://www.jksl.com/blog/?p=153#comment-2766 That sounds familiar, and alas also I feel has been subjected to the Mike C "selective reporting" that so often applies. Is the practise of using sections of reports and methodologies to give a one sided view that reflects your personal opinion and not actual fact as much b******t as those you accuse in your blog. As with all new systems, there will be debate over effectiveness and methodologies. Biological Control, Stem Injection, Composting and so on. The proof however is in the pudding and having a system which has now been responsible for effectively treating 250,000 cubic metres of material in sites where landfill was the only option and in the process saving the economy 25,000,000 should be embraced, especially in the current climate. Effective monitoring, identification and communication with the client will see the best results acheived always. Why automatically put chemical into the ground post treatment if it is not needed, surely better to record information and monitor rather than implementing a rash and standard solution that is perhaps not in the best interest of either the client or the environment. As always I think your blog does spark healthy debate and having a cross section of opinions will help clients make informed decisions, after all they are the people who will make the decisions. That sounds familiar, and alas also I feel has been subjected to the Mike C “selective reporting” that so often applies.

Is the practise of using sections of reports and methodologies to give a one sided view that reflects your personal opinion and not actual fact as much b******t as those you accuse in your blog.

As with all new systems, there will be debate over effectiveness and methodologies. Biological Control, Stem Injection, Composting and so on. The proof however is in the pudding and having a system which has now been responsible for effectively treating 250,000 cubic metres of material in sites where landfill was the only option and in the process saving the economy 25,000,000 should be embraced, especially in the current climate.

Effective monitoring, identification and communication with the client will see the best results acheived always. Why automatically put chemical into the ground post treatment if it is not needed, surely better to record information and monitor rather than implementing a rash and standard solution that is perhaps not in the best interest of either the client or the environment.

As always I think your blog does spark healthy debate and having a cross section of opinions will help clients make informed decisions, after all they are the people who will make the decisions.

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