Chain Saws and Related Operations
This qualification is designed specifically to meet the needs of the Forestry, Arboriculture and Allied Industries, and the relevant legislation. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER 1998) is the legal requirement for employees and the self-employed to be competent in chainsaw operation relevant to the work they undertake.
The core unit is CS30, which covers maintenance of the saw, recognition of the safety features, chain sharpening, engine care and basic crosscutting of material.
The subsequent units build up in complexity and demand.
| CS31 | Fell and Process Small Trees 200mm-380mm |
| CS32 | Fell and Process Medium Trees 380mm-760mm |
| CS33 | Fell and Process Large Trees greater than 760mm |
| CS34 | Process Individual Windblown Trees |
| CS35 | Process Multiple Windblown Trees |
| CS39 | Use of Chain Saw from Rope and Harness |
| CS40 | Carry out Pruning Operations |
| CS41 | Carry out Dismantling Operations |
| CS42 | Carry out Stump Protection |
| CS43 | Fell Utility Poles |
| CS44 | Fell Standing Stems |
| CS45 | Arboricultural Groundworker |
| CS47 | Use of a Chain Saw from a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP) |
| CS48 | Powered Pole Pruners |
NPTC has recently reviewed the Chain Saw qualification and the revised assessment will come into use at the end of 2009. Also, there will be a new unit, CS50 Damaged Tree Operations.
Climb Trees and Perform Aerial Rescue (CS38)
This is an introductory course for anyone wishing to learn safe and up-to-date tree climbing techniques. It is a pre-requisite for CS39.
The assessment requires knowledge of climbing equipment, accessing the tree with a rope and harness, moving around within the tree canopy and conducting a rescue to get a casualty down from a tree.
