Chainsaw

Chainsaw operatives are at the greatest risk of accident and injury in forestry, for this reason the Accord sees chainsaw work as the key priority for improving forestry safety.  This Working Group will question the status quo, review and aim to offer improvements to the work of the chainsaw operative. 

OBJECTIVE:

  • Review the current chainsaw training system; look at how competency can be better developed and recorded; pilot and offer improvements to this system for the forestry industry to adopt
  • Working in conjunction with Safe Forestry to pilot a skills development system
  • Feed into the FWM/Landowner sectors (Landowner Working Group) to improve planning for chainsaw work: inclusion at pre-commencement of competent chainsaw operators; checking that chainsaw work is only undertaken by suitably competent chainsaw operators, appropriate for the work to be done
  • Review advanced felling techniques, establishing level of competence to undertake advanced work and publishing guidance
  • Ensure chainsaw operatives have suitable welfare provision on site
  • Publish ‘guide rates’ to ensure that chainsaw operatives are resourced to enable them to pay for the safety critical parts of their work (maintenance/PPE/skills development etc..)

 CHAIR - Andy Sloss - FLS

OTHER MEMBERS:

Donald Maclean – FCA
Callum Campbell – Forestry Services Ltd
Neil Gibson  - FE
Des Campbell - NIFS
Sam Canfield - NRW
Kay Maguire - Coillte
Phil Mostyn - NRW
Calum Duffy - Safe Forestry
Simon Wallis - Euroforest
Owen König - Independent 
James Laidlaw - Independent 
Simon Bowes – Independent
Toby Allen - Say it with Wood
Frank Tomlinson - DSH Wood

Rik Metcalfe - Woodland Trust
Neil McKay (support) – FISA

GROUP TARGET:

RESOURCES &/ FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:

 

KEY ACTIONS: