The refreshed 2019 FISA Guidance on Managing Health & Safety in Forestry (GMHSF).

November 2024 - FISA 808 Feedback Q&A (V1) 20.11.24

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. 

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.

July 2025 - update to Item 19 of FISA 501

This leaflet covers driving tractor base units in forestry operations and other tree work and highlights the machine features and operating requirements.

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.

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.

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

Update August 2025 – FWM competency framework now incorporated; along with some general updates

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

July 2025 - Further Reading section updated

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.

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.

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.

This leaflet covers the safe practices to be followed when operating large goods vehicles (LGVs) in the forest. 

This guide is kindly sponsored by Volvo.

This leaflet covers the safe work practices to be followed when harvesting and extracting trees on steep or difficult ground. 

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed when operating tracked 360 excavators and walking excavators in forestry and other tree work. 

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed when recovering machines that have become bogged down during forestry and other tree work.

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed when using all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). ATVs are sit-in vehicles that are designed specifically for off-road use.

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be adopted when using a sit-astride all-terrain vehicle ( ATV), often known as an ATV quad bike. These are most commonly four-, but can be three- or even six-, wheeled vehicles designed for off-road use.

This document provides guidance on the safe working practices to be followed when operating tree shear and grapple saw equipment.

July 2022 - FISA 608 updated to version 4; Alongside this a suitable training course has been scoped and outlined, this outline will continue to be reviewed in line with the guidance.

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be followed when using firewood processors. It covers machines with a cutting device (either circular saw or chainsaw types) and a splitting ram and includes advice for electrically powered, power take-off (PTO) shaft or petrol-engine-driven machines.

This leaflet covers the safe working practices to be adopted when carrying out mechanical roadside processing in forestry and other tree work.