Who is the course for?
Anyone using a chainsaw to fell small trees for work or domestic purposes.

Operators who work for certain organizations (e.g. Railtrack or the Forestry Commission), or who wish to continue to felling trees over 200mm, or to use a chainsaw in trees should attend the five day maintenance cross cutting and felling small trees training course in preparation for the NPTC assessment.

The course
4 days for novice or less experienced users.
2 days for experienced users i.e. 5 years experience recommended.
Includes assessment at end of course; practical assessment with short questions
Takes place in workshop on first day; second, third & fourth days in woodland.

Course Outline:
• Maintaining the guide bar and saw chain
• Engine Maintenance
• Safety features of a chainsaw
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Starting the chainsaw & pre-use checks
• Cross-cutting timber
• Stack timber
• Assessing the tree
• Brashing
• Escape Routes
• Felling using conventional cuts
• Felling using alternative methods
• Delimbing
• Dealing with hung-up trees
• Clearing site and chainsaw checks
• Safe working practices
• Storage & transport.
• Legislative issues.

What should you bring to the course?

Full Personal Protective Equipment:

Chainsaw helmet (with mesh visor & ear defenders) to EN 397 and within manufacturers’ date recommendations (usually 3 years). Mesh Visor to EN1731 or safety glasses to EN166 and Hearing protection to EN352

Chainsaw gloves CE stamped for chainsaw use (EN 381-7)

Steel toe-capped chainsaw work boots, CE stamped for chainsaw use to EN 345-2 – wellington style or forestry boots.

Chainsaw trousers CE stamped for chainsaw use – Class 1 / type C – EN 381-5 Full, all round protection with no damage to fibres. Full protection types are compulsory for tree climbing or inexperienced ground users, Type A are permitted for experienced ground users only.

Jacket protective chainsaw jackets are now widely available and recommended for tree work but not compulsory – all upper body clothing should be non-snag

Chainsaw (maximum recommended guide bar length 380mm 15”, over 40cc in good working order with the manual) Please make sure that the chain on the saw is new or nearly new, if in doubt bring a spare chain with the supplied box

Tool kit to include sharp files, knock-in vice, depth gauge, raker (Guide bar cleaner), plug spanner & screwdrivers, felling lever. Fuel/2 stroke & Chain Oil.

The above – excluding jackets – can be hired for the course.

5 metre tape –for measuring felled timber – a cheap one is ok

Personal First Aid Kit

Passport style Photo – either hard copy or email us a .jpeg file.

Non-snag outer clothing.

Please bring packed lunch and drinks for each day and sufficient warm clothing & wet weather gear to allow for weather conditions. Sun protection is advised for those rare occasions that we see it – minimum recommended is SPF 15 but this can be higher depending on skin type.

Certificate:
Lantra Certificate of Competence
Refresher Training is recommended about every 5 years

For Individuals
Come and join us at our next ‘open course’ – please contact us for details or check
our website for dates and prices

For Groups
Please ask for more details if you would like us to come to your site.

All trainees must be over 16 years of age and be “physically fit”. Anyone under the age of 18 can only use a chainsaw under the supervision of a certificated operator. Persons with certain ailments or on certain medication may not be able to take part in the practical sessions.
First Aid training is strongly recommended by the HSE.

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