This short, one-day course is designed for beginner chainsaw users or those wishing to improve their skills. It covers accepted industry practices for operating, maintaining and starting chainsaws, including rules for tensioning, sharpening, setting depth gauges, use above shoulder height, and chainsaw safety features. The course also addresses personal protective equipment (PPE), first aid requirements, and safe handling and transportation of chainsaw fuel. There are no practical elements, but it provides essential knowledge for safe chainsaw use, relevant to forestry positions such as arborist, groundsman and horticulturist.

Course Content

• Accepted industry practices

• Rules relating to chainsaw safety features

• Rules for tensioning, sharpening, setting depth gauges of chainsaw

• Rules for starting chainsaw

• Chainsaw condition rules

• Testing operation of chain brake

• Use of chainsaw above shoulder height

• Chainsaw maintenance with motor running

• Rules for chainsaw operations on stockpile, staked or heaped logs

• Security and condition of anti-vibration mounts

• Rules for transporting flammable liquids

• Containers for carriage of fuel on site

• Refuelling chainsaw

• PPE and equipment requirements for chainsaw operators

• First aid requirements