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.

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.

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.

FISA 706

Timber Haulage

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.

FISA 705

Steep slope working in forestry

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

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.