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About
This Lantra-accredited Customised Award is exclusively developed and delivered by a Lantra-approved Training Provider, who meets our quality standards. The course is specifically tailored to meet learners’ needs. For further details about the course content and delivery locations, please contact the Training Provider using the details provided below.
The minimum age to undertake this course is 16.
This two-day course is designed for individuals responsible for supervising or managing chainsaw operations in forestry and land-based environments. Participants may include Forestry Works Managers, Site Supervisors, Contract Managers, Team Leaders, or others overseeing work where chainsaws are in use—either directly or via contractors.
The course addresses the crucial role of the supervisor or manager in ensuring chainsaw operations are safe, legally compliant, environmentally responsible, and operationally effective. It is not a practical chainsaw use course, but a training event focused on supervisory oversight of chainsaw activity and team management in dynamic forestry settings.
Participants will engage in a mix of indoor learning and outdoor site visits, including real-world demonstrations and practical group exercises. Emphasis is placed on developing a critical eye for safe and unsafe practices, environmental stewardship, incident readiness, and proactive leadership.
The finer details
The course combines indoor sessions on health & safety, legal responsibilities, planning, team management, and environmental considerations with outdoor site visits for demonstrations, inspections, and group exercises. Day 1 focuses on the supervisor’s role, risk assessment, and observing safe and unsafe chainsaw practices in the field, while Day 2 develops skills in planning, inspection, incident readiness, and environmental protection through practical site-based exercises and concluding feedback.Delivery method
Classroom and practicalRecognised by
Lantra AwardsCourse description:
Who should attend?
The course is designed for participants who are involved (or will be involved) in the management of staff, contract, and standing sales operations using chainsaws.
It is recommended that participants have a good understanding of their role as contract manager within the workplace, i.e. Supervisor, Manager, Forestry Works Manager, etc.
What will be covered?
At the end of the course the participant will have an understanding of:
- Their role as a supervisor and/or manager of chainsaw operations, including legal responsibilities under PUWER, LOLER, and relevant industry guidance (e.g., FISA, HSE).
- Site preparation, risk assessment, and the development of safe systems of work, including appropriate use of PPE, exclusion zones, and control measures.
- Chainsaw operation competencies, including tools, equipment, operator requirements, and safe and unsafe working practices.
- Identifying and addressing poor practices, including troubleshooting, learning from incidents and near-misses, and applying alternative approaches to improve safety and efficiency.
- Environmental responsibilities, including recognising good and bad practices, protecting sensitive habitats, preventing pollution, and understanding legal obligations.
- Incident management and emergency planning, including planning for and responding to injuries, environmental breaches (e.g. spills or contamination), and reporting procedures.
- Planning and managing teams on site, including communication, managing fatigue, and lone working.
Learning Objectives 1, 2, and 3 establish the foundation for effective supervision by defining the supervisor’s role and legal responsibilities, site preparation and risk assessment, and chainsaw operation competencies.
Learning Objectives 4, 5, and 6 build on this foundation by addressing poor practices, environmental responsibilities, and incident management.
Learning Objective 7 completes the framework by focusing on planning and managing teams, including communication and fatigue management, to ensure safe and efficient chainsaw operations.
Other areas of interest
Forestry Works Manager AwarenessSearch for providers near you
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