Safety Guides & Technical Notes

FISA Safety Guides are listed below and are all downloadable for printing direct. They are numbered in series groups for example Chainsaw Guides all numbered 300. Use the search bar and type in either the guide number or subject title.

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

FISA Technical Notes can be found here.

Categories: News, Safety Bulletins, Chainsaw Operations

Chainsaw injury

SSE shared alert

During planned vegetation management on a 33kV overhead line, a subcontracted operative sustained a chainsaw-related injury while pollarding Willow trees.

It is understood that the Injured Person (IP) was using the chainsaw at or above shoulder height — a known high-risk position. The chainsaw experienced a “kickback” (a sudden uncontrollable upward motion of the chainsaw) resulting in a deep cut to the collarbone area, between the neck and shoulder.

Chainsaw kickback can cause life-altering injuries and is the cause of a significant proportion of injuries.
Chainsaws must not be used at or above chest height (as per UK HSE INDG 317 advice).

Documents to download

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Safety Guides

FISA Safety Guides are numbered in series groups for example Chainsaw Guides all numbered 300. Use the search bar and type in either the guide number or subject title.

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

Technical Notes

  • TN001 - Using Tree Jacks
  • TN002 - Planning Chainsaw Operations
  • TN003 - Inspection of Work Equipment & Machines
  • TN004 - Chainshot - Manage the Risk

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.