This course covers trees that have been windblown or uprooted by storm damage, earth movement or other physical agent. The trees will be intermeshed in a complex fashion so that a planned order of approach will be necessary to complete the work. The order of work will often involve the severing and extraction of part-blown and wind-snapped trees prior to severing root-plates from fully blown stems. The trees will be both over and under guidebar length in diameter and will be both fully and partially uprooted. This also includes the severing of root-plates that overhang the chainsaw operator’s cutting position using mechanical or other appropriate machinery for restraint.

This also describes the severing of partly blown (leaning) trees and the felling of wind-snapped (broken) trees with and without the tops attached. Winches or other appropriate machinery may also be used for restraint of trees with side tension or where the stem is likely to roll. Your work must conform to all current legislation and codes of practice. If you are working with chemicals or machinery you need to be appropriately trained or certificated in line with current legislation.

WHAT WILL BE COVERED?

This advanced Level 3 Award in Severing Uprooted or Windblown Trees using a Chainsaw will equip you with the skills and underpinning knowledge of how to deal with fully windblown, partial windblown (heaved root-plate) and hung-up windblown trees.

Windblown trees may be relatively simple to deal with, but they are potentially extremely dangerous due to the severe tension and compression forces that may exist; the ability to correctly identify the stresses within the tree and then manage the process of severing the stem using winches where necessary is very important to maintain operator safety, and of those around you. The course can be taught with either hand-winches, vehicle mounted winches or tractor-mounted winches.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. Participants state the safety requirements & regulations in relation to tree felling operations (conifers and/or broadleaved trees).
2. Participants prepare for use, inspect and maintain rear handled chainsaws in workshop and field conditions. Includes starting procedures and pre-work checks.
3. Participants state the importance and functions of a fully trained & competent chainsaw operator.
4. Participants recognise and use approved techniques for safe and efficient cross-cutting operations.
5. Participants make the correct sequence of cuts to sever lightweight branches during snedding operations.
6. Participants understand and demonstrate safe take down of hung-up trees using a winch and hand tools.
7. Participants identify potential hazards and use appropriate techniques to overcome them, including tree felling techniques and tree inspection.
8. Participants undertake and demonstrate a knowledge of risk assessment methodology.
9. Sever wind blown or otherwise uprooted tree, both under and over effective guidebar length in diameter
10. Restrain overhanging (forward Weighted) root plates prior to severing stems.

ARE THERE ANY PER-REQUISITES -You must be at least 16 years of age to undertake the training and assessment. All candidates are requested to have personal protective equipment chainsaw, boots gloves trousers and combination helmet. Participants must hold City & Guilds/NPTC Units 201, 202 & 203.

DURATION – 3 Days

ACCREDITATION – Upon successful completion candidates will be assessed for City and Guilds/NPTC Unit 302.

Please feel free to contact us for upcoming course dates and locations