The refreshed 2019 FISA Guidance on Managing Health & Safety in Forestry (GMHSF), is now available to the UK forestry industry.

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.

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.

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.

The guide provides a short brief outline of the key safety points; of note in this guide are the QR codes which can be scanned to give the user view of additional set up and safety information from guidance used in New Zealand and Canada.

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

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

May 2021 - further FAQs received by FISA.

February 2021 - Queries raised on Underground services.

December 2020 - FAQs received by FISA post the recent update of FISA 804 Electricity at Work. 

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.

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.