Safety Guides

FISA Safety Guides are listed below and are all downloadable for printing direct.
They are numbered in the same format as the previous AFAG Safety Guides.

100s - Establishment 200s - Maintenance 300s - Chainsaw Use
500s - Extraction 600s - Processing 700s - Vehicles
800s - General Safety    

 

FISA 808

CDM in Relation to Forestry

October 2024 - FISA 808 Annex 1 amended to show CDM not required for Forwarder Track (Brash & Stump) - see p8.

September 2024 - This new guide provides a summary for the Construction Design & Management (CDM) Regulations 2015 and how they apply to forestry-related construction work. 

FISA 707

Roundwood in Ports

July 2023 - Shipping of roundwood has steadily increased over the last 18 months, not least with the storm Arwen clear up in NE Scotland. Many ports previously unused for timber for many years are now being utilised for multi modal shipping of timber and it was pertinent for FISA to engage with this sector to create a base guidance document that can be referenced by ports and hauliers / suppliers.

Guidance on Responsibilities for Environmental Protection in Forestry

Everyone involved in forestry work has a responsibility to protect the environment. This guide contains information to help landowners, employers, the self-employed, employees and those in control of work in forestry deliver their responsibilities, meet legal environmental protection requirements and clearly demonstrate this.

FISA 807

Working Near Railways

Undertaking tree work next to railways can pose additional challenges to forestry and arboriculture operations and present a risk to the safe operation of the railway.

December 2022 - FISA Electricity and Utilities Working Group have prepared a brand new FISA Safety Guide 807, which covers the requirements for those that are involved in planning and undertaking work on trees in forests, woodland and other locations next to the railway infrastructure. The guide strongly emphasises the need for consultation with the rail operator.

This guide will be reviewed within 18 months and feedback is welcomed.

FISA 806

Welfare

Forestry workers often work in isolated and challenging locations and are expected to undertake difficult tasks to a professional standard.  The provision  of facilities for their general welfare has been required by law for over 20 years.  The FISA Worksite Operations Working Group in consultation together with forestry safety professionals and the wider industry have produced the FISA 806 Welfare Safety Guide to assist duty holders to understand what the existing Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 require.  

January 2022 - Revised FISA 806 following industry feedback and updated example photographs of forestry industry welfare provision

FISA 805

Training and certification

This leaflet is intended to help employers and the self-employed identify the training and, where necessary, the assessment requirements for tree-work operatives.

FISA 804

Electricity at work: Forestry

March 2023 - Q&A in relation to Live felling in the Amber Zone

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed by those working on forest operations near overhead power lines (OHPLs) and underground electricity cables, who are not working for the Network Operator.

FISA 803

Firefighting

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed when involved in forest or woodland firefighting operations as an individual or part of a team.

FISA 802

Emergency Planning - amended April 2021

April 2021 - reference to helicopter landing sites has been removed. The decision on a helicopter landing site will always need to be made by the pilot and therefore is removed from FISA 802 emergency plan.

October 2020 - FISA 802 has been amended and there is now a template form available online meaning it can be filled in and printed for use on site.

This guide is vital to ensure that those out on site have the key information they require.  

This guide is kindly sponsored by Trackplot.

Additional information

Aerial tree work guides from Arboricultural Association can be found here

A couple of AFAG guides can be found here

Bulk purchase of some of the FISA guides is available - please email technical@ukfisa.com for more detail.