Are you a … estate worker?

What you need to know

Most estates have a chainsaw, which may be used for everything from cutting firewood and topping fence posts, to thinning coppices and felling large hardwoods. Some estates use more complex machinery.

Chainsaws cause serious accidents in treework and you use one you should read Working with chainsaws[67]. All forestry machinery, particularly chainsaws, should be used by people who:

  • Have been trained
  • Understand the risks
  • Know how to maintain the equipment in good working order
  • Know about the correct protective clothing
  • Know the communication arrangements

Chainsaws

The free leaflet Chainsaws at work (PDF) [68] contains everything employers and workers need to know about working safely with a chainsaw.

If you use a chainsaw on or in a tree, you should have received appropriate training and obtained a relevant certificate of competence or national competence award. In agriculture, this only applies to first-time users of a chainsaw, unless:

  • It is done as part of an agricultural operation (eg hedging, clearing fallen branches, pruning trees to allow clearance for machines) by the occupier or their employees and
  • They had used a chainsaw before 5 December 1998 and
  • The work is being done by the estate owner or their employees.
  • Any overhead electric lines are further than two tree lengths from any tree to be felled
  • You have agreed with your local energy network operator when the power is to be turned off
  • You have agreed with your local energy network operator when the power is to be re- energised
  • The position of roads, footpaths, or public access have been taken into account, and warning signs or barriers provided, or roads closed if necessary the directional fall of the tree is known and suitable, with a clear escape route selected
  • No-one (including third parties) is within two tree lengths of the tree being felled
  • The operator has a secure foothold, an escape route and as clear a site as possible.

Circular saws

When using circular saws:

  • Always use push-sticks or log grippers.
  • Make sure all saw guards, including the riving knife, are in position. Adjust guards as close as possible to the work.
  • Regularly examine blades for cracks or missing teeth. Do not use any blades which have teeth missing, which are cracked, or which show signs of welded or brazed repairs.
  • Check that the blade will run at the correct speed, and that it is still sharp and correctly tensioned.
  • Ensure the saw bench is at a correct height, securely anchored, protected against the weather, and that you can disconnect the drive or power effectively. If it is tractor-powered, ensure the PTO guard is fitted and maintained.
  • Keep the circular saw in good working order.
  • Make sure it has a braking system if the rundown time of the blade after switching off power is greater than 10 seconds. This is not necessary on machines where the blade is fully enclosed while it comes to rest.

Other machinery

A standard estate tractor is not suitable for forestry use without substantial modification to protect vulnerable equipment, improve stability, and increase traction.

Winch tractors must be properly anchored by the use of spades, a winch butt plate or dozer blade. Winching is always better than towing, but if you must use a conventional tractor for towing, then attach the cable to the drawbar in its lowest position and in line with the direction of pull. Never tow across a slope.

When using log splitters, firmly position the timber before splitting begins, avoid splitting into a knot and never use hands or feet to hold the log in place during splitting.

Log loading cranes are potentially hazardous to people nearby. The operator must have a good view of the work area, and no one should be within the risk zone (twice the reach of the boom) or on the trailer during loading. Beware of overhead power lines.

Your employer should provide:

  • Suitable personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • Adequate training for the job in hand, including training in how to deal with dangerous situations that can arise during the work, eg hung-up trees or clearance of windblow
  • Communication, transport arrangements and location details in case of an accident
  • First aid arrangements at the worksite.

Never use a chainsaw without the correct PPE - the risk of injury from the chainsaw cannot be controlled in any other way. Check that the PPE you provide or wear is to British or European Standards (BS or EN).

Working with chainsaws off the ground

Chainsaws should never be used off the ground unless the operator has been trained in safe working techniques. Work off the ground involving the lifting and lowering of people or loads, including work-positioning techniques will be subject to the Work at Height Regulations 2005 (WAHR) and the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).

Mobile elevating work platforms

When working at height, eg lopping overhanging branches that interfere with fieldwork operations:

  • Never access branches to be removed by using ladders, grain buckets, or by standing on the top of other machines
  • Always use a use a purpose-built platform such as a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP)
  • Never use a chainsaw while standing in a tree unless you have been properly trained. This requires specialist skills and a competent arboricultural contractor should be used.

Work from ladders

Do not use a chainsaw when working from a ladder. Chainsaws require both hands to be operated safely. Working from a ladder requires one hand to hold the ladder to maintain a steady position. Ladders are normally only used as a means of access into the crown of the tree.

Ropes and harnesses

Using a chainsaw from a rope and harness requires special skills. You should only do this if you have obtained the relevant NPTC Certificates of Competence for:

  • Climbing trees and doing aerial rescue
  • Using a chainsaw from a rope and harness.

Find out more

Farm and estate forestry operations Agricultural Safety Leaflet AS15(rev) only available from books.hse.gov.uk[69]

Link URLs in this page

  1. Tree workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/index.htm
  2. New to health and safety?https://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/newto.htm
  3. What causes tree work injuries?https://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/treework-incidents.htm
  4. Safety topics Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/index.htm
  5. Overview - Aerial tree workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/aerial-work.htm
  6. Aerial (PPE)https://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/ppe.htm
  7. Lifting equipment in arboriculturehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/arboriculture.htm
  8. Overview - Working with chainsawshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/chainsaw-operator.htm
  9. Chainsaw (PPE)https://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/chainppe.htm
  10. Overview - Forestry operationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/forestry.htm
  11. Lifting equipment in forestryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/lifting-equipment-forestry.htm
  12. Steep ground workinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/steep-ground.htm
  13. Overview - Working with vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/vehicles.htm
  14. Use of ATVs and quad bikeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/atv-quad.htm
  15. Excavators used in tree workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/excavators.htm
  16. Debogging of forest machineshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/debogging.htm
  17. Machine assisted takedownhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/machine-assisted.htm
  18. Winches in directional fellinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/winches.htm
  19. Plantinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/planting.htm
  20. Working with machineryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/handtools.htm
  21. Working on the groundhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/ground-worker.htm
  22. Working near power lines and cableshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/power-lines.htm
  23. Overview - Working at heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/height.htm
  24. MEWPShttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/mewps.htm
  25. Tree Climbinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/climbing-operations.htm
  26. Site management overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/site-management/index.htm
  27. Training and certificationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/site-management/training.htm
  28. Lone workinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/site-management/lone-working.htm
  29. Public access/third party interfacehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/site-management/public-access.htm
  30. First aidhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/site-management/first-aid.htm
  31. Traffic managementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/site-management/traffic.htm
  32. Overview - Health topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/health/index.htm
  33. MSDhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/health/msd.htm
  34. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/health/noise.htm
  35. Vibration HAV / WBVhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/health/vibration.htm
  36. Pesticideshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/health/pesticides.htm
  37. Overview - Are you ahttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/index.htm
  38. Tree surgeonhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/tree-surgeon.htm
  39. Chainsaw operatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/chainsaw-operator.htm
  40. Overview - Forestry workerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/forestry-worker.htm
  41. Forest machine operatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/machine-operator.htm
  42. First aiderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/first-aider.htm
  43. Planterhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/planter.htm
  44. Sprayerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/sprayer.htm
  45. Quad bike riderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/quad-bike.htm
  46. Forestry work managerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/forestry.htm
  47. Migrant workerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/migrant.htm
  48. Site safety coordinatorhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/site-safety.htm
  49. Landownerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/landowner.htm
  50. Estate workerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/estate.htm
  51. Overview - Employer/Employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/employer.htm
  52. Contractorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/contractors.htm
  53. Self employed personshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/employed.htm
  54. Workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/areyou/workers.htm
  55. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/index.htm
  56. Case studieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/casestudies.htm
  57. Overview - Key lessonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/lessons.htm
  58. Chainsaws and tree felling continues to killhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/chainsaws-tree-felling-kill.htm
  59. Good practice for tree climbing operationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/climbing-operations.htm
  60. Overview - AFAG Publicationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/publications.htm
  61. Arboriculture and Forestry Advisory Group (AFAG)https://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/afag.htm
  62. Articles and newslettershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/articles/index.htm
  63. Researchhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/research.htm
  64. Useful Linkshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/links.htm
  65. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/resources/contacts.htm
  66. Share good practicehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/share.htm
  67. Working with chainsawshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/chainsaw-operator.htm
  68. Chainsaws at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg317.pdf
  69. books.hse.gov.ukhttps://books.hse.gov.uk/
  70. INDG 317 - Chainsaws at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg317.pdf
  71. Safety Topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/index.htm
  72. Healthhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/health/index.htm
  73. Aerial (PPE)https://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/ppe.htm
  74. Chainsaw (PPE)https://www.hse.gov.uk/treework/safety-topics/chainppe.htm
  75. Report an incidenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/riddor/index.htm
  76. Agriculture safetyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/agriculture/index.htm
  77. Migrant workers micrositehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/migrantworkers/index.htm
  78. Safety bulletinhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/index.htm
  79. Tell us about a health and safety issuehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/tell-us-about-a-health-and-safety-issue.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

MEWPS
Mobile Elevating Work Platforms
MSD
Musculoskeletal disorders
HAV
Hand-arm vibration
WBV
Whole-body vibration

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2021-05-18