Who is the course for?
Any person employed in arboriculture, forestry, horticulture, landscaping and grounds maintenance that is or will be required to operate powered pole pruners. The course is designed to prepare candidates for assessment for NPTC Certificate of Competence unit CS 48. A Lantra Certificate can be provided, please ask for details
The course
• Risk Assessment
• Legislation
• Personal Protective Equipment
• Pre-use checks
• Safety Features
• Routine checks and maintenance
• Start machine and carry out safety checks
• Preparation of site , machine and materials
• Operation of Powered Pole Pruner
• Cleaning, transport and storage
The course is designed to enable course members to:
• Identify the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) required
• Report on its condition and locate standard marks
• Identify health and safety features required on a pruning saw
• Identify faults and defects on a pruning saw and equipment and decide which the operator can remedy and which require a service engineer’s attention
• Carry out routine operator maintenance in accordance with the manufacturer’s instruction book and/or the Lantra Awards workbook
• Prepare the pruning saw for use with the correct fuel/oil mix and saw chain lubrication
• Start the pruning saw for use with the correct fuel/oil mix and saw chain lubrication
• Carry out pre-cutting safety tests and state the procedures if the pruner fails these tests
• State the possible hazards / risks when carrying out maintenance or operation tasks
• Assess and explain the terms ‘tension’ and ‘compression’ in timber
• Adopt safe procedures to remove a trapped guide bar
• Use correct pruning methods
• Clear the pruned branches in a safe manner
• Organise site safety, state the procedures required and complete a risk assessment
The use of the manufacturer’s instruction book is stressed at all times to ensure maintenance and adjustments are carried out to manufacturers’ recommendations.
Do you have a group?
Our instructor may be able to come to your site/workplace – please ask for details
What should you bring to the course?
• Powered Pole Pruner complying with safety regulations
• Operators’ instruction books and service manuals for machine
• Safety Helmet, ear defenders, visor or Safety goggles
• Protective gloves
• Chainsaw boots
• Hi-viz clothing
• Fuel and oil in appropriate
• Container(s) for own machine
• Tool kit for own machine
All trainees must be over 18 years of age, in good health. Persons with certain ailments or on certain medication may not be able to take part in the practical sessions