Somerset Rural Training Courses
NPTC CHAINSAW & ARBORICULTURE
Related courses
Chainsaw operations for occasional users – LANTRA assessment
- 3. Chainsaw operations for professional users – National Proficiency Tests Council (NPTC) certification
- 3.1 NPTC unit CS 30 - Chainsaw maintenance and crosscutting
- 3.2 NPTC unit CS 31 - Felling small trees (up to 380mm diameter at felling height) (Pre-requisite unit CS 30)
- 3.3 NPTC unit CS 32 - Felling medium sized trees (up to 760mm at felling height) (Pre-requisite units CS 30 & CS 31)
- 3.4 NPTC unit CS 35 – Clear multiple windblown trees (Pre-requisite unit CS 30, CS 31 & CS 32 includes/credits CS 34)
- 3.5 NPTC unit CS 38 – Climb trees and perform aerial tree rescue
- 3.6 NPTC unit CS 39 – Operate the chainsaw from a rope and harness (Pre-requisite unit CS 30, CS 31 + CS 38)
- 3.7 NPTC unit CS 40 – Carry out pruning operations (Pre-requisite unit CS 30, CS 31, CS 38 + CS 39)
- 3.8 NPTC unit CS 41 – Carry out dismantling operations Pre-requisite unit CS 30, CS 31, CS38 + CS 39)
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own chainsaw, tools, fuel, protective clothing and boots.
3.1 CHAINSAW MAINTENANCE AND CROSS-CUTTING (NPTC UNIT 30):
Course Content:
- Work shop and site safety
- Machine components and controls
- Guide bar, saw chain and engine maintenance
- Health and Safety features
- Personal protective clothing (PPE)
- Starting and precutting tests
- Cross-cutting timber
Course duration: Usually 2 days of training and an additional assessment day
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own saw, tools, fuel and protective clothing and boots.
Price:
Training - £80 + VAT per day
NPTC Assessment - £120.00 no VAT
3.2 FELLING SMALL TREES UP TO 380MM DIAMETER AT FELLING HEIGHT - (NPTC UNITS cs 31):
Course Content:
- Site safety and Personal Protective Equipment
- Environmental and legal requirements
- Felling, takedown and snedding trees up to 380mm in diameter
- Conversion and cross-cutting
- Use of felling and timber handling aid tools
Course duration: Usually three days of training and an additional assessment day
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own saw, tools, fuel and protective clothing and boots.
Price:
Training - £80 per day + VAT
NPTC Assessment - £90.00no VAT
3.3 FELLING MEDIUM TREES – UP TO 760MM DIAMETER AT FELLING HEIGHT (NPTC UNIT cs 32):-
Course content:
- Site safety and Personal Protective Equipment
- Environmental and legal requirements
- Felling, de-limbing and snedding trees up to 760mm in diameter
- Take down of hung up trees using hand winches
- Conversion and cross-cutting
- Use of felling and timber handling aids
Course duration: normally three days, but may vary depending upon the experience of the trainees
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own saw, tools, fuel and protective clothing and boots.
Price:
Training - £80 per day + VAT
NPTC Assessment - price on application
3.4 CLEAR MULTIPLE WINDBLOWN TREES – (NPTC UNIT CS 35):
This unit covers multiple windblown and broken stems. Typically in a windblown crop situation, whose diameters range up to twice guide bar length.
Course content:
- Use winch to control root plates and/or side tension
- Fell leaning and half blown trees
- Fell broken trees
- Sever multiple wind blown stems
- Course duration: one to two days, depending upon the experience of the trainees
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own saw, tools, fuel and protective clothing and boots.
Price:
Training - £80 per day + VAT
NPTC Assessment - price on application
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, SAWS AND ACCESSORIES REQUIRED FOR GROUND BASED CHAINSAW TRAINING COURSES:
The following items of equipment and clothing are required when attending chainsaw courses.
- Chainsaw: Chainsaw in good working condition with guide bar no longer than 380mm and to relevant safety criteria - see HSE chainsaws at work INDG 317 NB. Top-handled saws are not acceptable on ground based courses.
- Supply of chain lubricating oil.
- 2-stroke mixture fuel (unleaded).
- Clean filter funnel
- Full tool kit for chainsaw maintenance including appropriate file for the chain size being used
- Combination spanner
- Felling lever, large or small with cant hook
- Small plastic wedges
- Hand cleaning materials
Protective Clothing:
- Any chainsaw boots or wellingtons which are Class 1-3 are acceptable for chainsaw courses. NB. Chainsaw wellingtons however, are not suitable for aerial tree work.
- Safety helmet complete with ear defenders and visor (in date)
- Chainsaw safety gloves - class 0
- Chainsaw protective trousers with special safety fabric (type c or b) - type c is recommended for beginners because it offers 360 degree all round leg protection
- Jackets and overalls to be made of non-snagging fabric with no cuffs, belts, flaps etc.
- Chainsaw safety jacket (optional)
- NB. Spats are not acceptable
- Waterproof, clothing and spare clothing for the end of the day
- First aid kit with large wound dressing
- Whistle
- Gloves for carrying out maintenance
- Overalls
3.5 TREE CLIMBING AND AERIAL RESCUE (NPTC UNIT CS 38):
This unit does not involve the use of the chainsaw but covers the minimum requirements for a ground person working with a climber in arboriculture. Course content:
- Regulations and industry best practice
- Climbing equipment
- Techniques for access
- Movement within the tree to achieve work positions
- Use of hand tools
- Aerial rescue
Course duration: Five days.
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own hard hat with chinstrap, harness with legloops, 12mm climbing line, triple action karabiners x 4, adjustable strop – preferably, suitable footwear and safety clothing.
Price:
Training - £80 per day + VAT
NPTC Assessment - £110.00 no VAT
3.6 OPERATE CHAINSAW FROM ROPE AND HARNESS (NPTC UNIT CS 39):-
This unit covers the use of the chainsaw in the tree to carry out a range of cutting techniques.
- Course content:
- Regulations and industry best practice
- Working in the tree crown
- Starting procedures
- Correct handling of the saw
- Accurate use of the saw to cut lightweight and medium weight branches
- Course duration: Two days.
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own hard hat with chinstrap, harness with legloops, 12mm climbing line, triple action karabiners x 4, adjustable strop – preferably, suitable footwear and safety clothing, chainsaw, tools and fuel.
Price:
Training - £80 per day + VAT
NPTC Assessment - £80.00 no VAT
3.7 CARRY OUT PRUNING OPERATIONS (NPTC UNIT CS 40)
This unit covers the use of the chainsaw and /or other pruning tools working from a rope and harness in conjuction with a ground person in medium sized open grown trees
Course content:
- Crown thinning
- Crown reduction
Course duration: Two days.
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own hard hat with chinstrap, harness with legloops, 12mm climbing line, triple action karabiners x 4, adjustable strop – preferably, suitable footwear and safety clothing, chainsaw, tools and fuel.
Price:
Training - £80 per day + VAT
NPTC Assessment - £115.00 no VAT
3.8 CARRY OUT DISMANTLING OPERATIONS (NPTC UNIT CS 41)
This unit covers the use of the chainsaw and/or other pruning tools working from a rope and harness in conjuction with a ground person in medium sized open grown trees. It also includes the use of climbing irons
Course content:
- Use lowering equipment
- Carry out sectional felling
- Course duration: 5 days.
Maximum number of trainees per course: Four
NOTE: Trainees will be required to bring their own hard hat with chinstrap, harness with legloops, 12mm climbing line, triple action karabiners x 4, adjustable strop – preferably, suitable footwear and safety clothing, chainsaw, tools and fuel.
Price:
Training - £80 per day + VAT
NPTC Assessment - £115.00 no VAT
Equipment for tree climbing and operating chain saw from rope and harness (for NPTC units CS38, CS 39, CS 40 & CS 41):
Equipment required:
- Harness complete with leg straps.
- Karabiners: three of three point gate. SWL 2000 kg.
- Rope. 12mm climbing line.
- Adjustable strop or lanyard
- Climbing helmet with chinstrap (in date) to British Standard. Complete with visor and ear defenders. BS 5240 and EN352.
- Gloves: optional.
- Prussic loops x 2 or split tails.
- Boots: chainsaw class 1
- 360 degree type chain saw trousers. Type C class 1.
- First Aid Kit.
- Knife with retractable blade
- Whistle
The following equipment is advised for trainees undertaking Unit CS 39
- Top handled chainsaw
- Pruning saw.
- Ropes for pulling branches and equipment up.
- Spare Karibiners.
- Bag for kit.
- Climbing strop
NPTC Certification is done on an "independent assessment" basis, requiring candidates to be assessed on an additional day after completion of training by an NPTC assessor unconnected with the training.
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