Basic Chainsaw

Basic Chainsaw

Objectives:
To enable course members to:· State and identify the necessary protective clothing required, and locate the various standard marks · state and identify safety features in a chain saw· identify faults and defects on a chain saw prior to use and decide which the operator can remedy and which require a service engineer’s attention· maintain guide bar and sharpen chains to manufacturer’s specifications· carry out correctly all routine maintenance in the trainee guide and/or manufacturer’s instruction book· start the chain saw from both cold and hot on a safe manner· check the performance of the saw by cross cutting and taking any necessary remedial action· identify types of timber, potential hazards and stresses, correctly assess if timber is in compression or tension, and select the appropriate technique to deal with the particular situation· correctly assess the situation prior to free felling a straight open grown tree up to a maximum of 380mm diameter, and with the aid of wedges and/or a felling lever, fell it in a chosen direction· remove limbs from felled trees and cross cut, handle and stack timber in a safe and efficient manner· recognise situations where specialist help is required

Content:
Introduction· Maintenance of the chain saw· Protective clothing and safety features of the chain saw· Chain saw sharpening· Fuelling and starting a chain saw· Pre start checks · Testing a chain saw cutting · Cross cutting practice· Felling demonstrations· Practice felling small trees· Sned or de-limb felled trees· Take down of hung up trees using hand tools· Practice alternative felling techniques