{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"sidebar","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EFS120350 \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E(Published April 2022, replacing June 2020)\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EIntroduction\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe following is a short summary of government and industry advice and should be read in conjunction with that.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EChainsaws are potentially dangerous machines which can cause major injury if used by untrained people. Anyone who uses a chainsaw should have received adequate training and be competent in using a chainsaw for that type of task.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn forestry and arboriculture chainsaws caused\u00A05 deaths\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003Ebetween 2004 and 2011\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMany more injuries were caused by sawing and cutting tools:\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E131 suffered major injuries and\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E355\u00A0suffered injuries that kept them off work for more than three days.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHSE\u0027s investigations show that most fatal and major injuries involve chainsaw operators taking shortcuts and not following good practice guidance. Usually the reason is to save time!\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDue to the very high risk from the operation of chainsaws, users should be trained to the levels of competency expected in the workplace.\u00A0\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003EIt is recommended that chainsaws are not operated by persons under 18.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs with all activities, a thorough \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/\u0022 title=\u0022Risk assessments\u0022\u003Erisk assessment\u003C/a\u003E must be carried out, recorded and suitable controls put in place, before any action is taken.\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAlso, remember, you may need to check whether a tree can actually be cut down and has not got a protection order restricting it.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEmergency tree work\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe HSE have issued guidance about the \u003Cstrong\u003EDangers of emergency tree work \u003C/strong\u003Efollowing recent severe weather. Check out their \u003Ca href=\u0022https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKHSE/bulletins/3001566%20-%2014%20Dec%202021\u0022\u003Ebulletin\u003C/a\u003E, especially if you are responsible for managing or operating a headquarters, campsite or activity centre that may become affected by fallen trees.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThey highlight that emergency tree work is complex with many risks, including the tree moving unexpectedly, or the need to carry out work in difficult conditions. The planning and activity itself must be undertaken by a competent person with the necessary training in\u00A0\u003Cu\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.nptc.org.uk/qualificationschemes.aspx?id=12\u0026amp;utm_source=govdelivery\u0026amp;utm_medium=email\u0026amp;utm_campaign=guidance-push-hse\u0026amp;utm_term=external-1\u0026amp;utm_content=agriculture-14-dec-21\u0022\u003Eemergency tree works\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/u\u003E\u00A0such as assisted felling, windblown and part blown trees and emergency planning.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003ELaw\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EThe HSE states:\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EThe Approved Code of Practice,\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003ESafe use of work equipment,\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003Esupporting regulation 9 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) (see \u2018Further reading\u2019) sets a minimum standard of competence for people using chainsaws in tree work:\u003C/em\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u2018All workers who use a chainsaw should be competent to do so. Before using a chainsaw to carry out work on or in a tree, a worker should have received appropriate training and obtained a relevant certificate of competence or national competence award, unless they are undergoing such training and are adequately supervised.\u0027\u003C/em\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETraining and Competency\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe HSE recognises the following as the awarding bodies for the training and competent use of chainsaws.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.nptc.org.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022NPTC homepage\u0022\u003ECity and Guilds NPTC information\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.lantra.co.uk/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Lantra homepage\u0022\u003ELantra information\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]},{"items":[{"type":"Plain","cta":"","body":"\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg317.pdf\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EHSE \u2013 Guidance Chainsaws at Work \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003Cbr /\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022http://www.ukfisa.com\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EForestry Industry Safety Accord \u2013 FISA Safety Guide 805 \u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","link":null,"colour":"#ffe627","title":"Further, more detailed information is available from:","image":null,"imageFocus":"","imageId":0,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"Guidance on the safe use and management of chainsaws.  ","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"15 July 2023","reviewDate":"05/06/2020","redirectUrl":"","id":47448,"nodeName":"How to use a chainsaw safely","title":"How to use a chainsaw safely","type":"contentPage","image":null,"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"How to use a chainsaw safely","headerSubTitle":"An incredibly dangerous piece of machinery\u2026in the wrong hands.  Any user should be a competent person and this guidance will point you in the right direction","headerCta":"","headerCtaText":"","headerCtaLink":"","headerBackgroundColour":"ffe627","showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":[]},"subHeader":"Guidance on the safe use and management of chainsaws.  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