Free chainsaw safety training

• Chainsaw Safety Training brochure
• Logging brochure: Minnesota workers' compensation claim characteristics

OSHA enacted its current Logging Operation standard in 1995, but few employers know it covers all activities of cutting down trees, regardless of the end use of the wood. Public works departments may be mostly cutting down storm-damaged wood, the most dangerous kind. This workshop will include:

• understanding the OSHA standard and how it applies;
• personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements;
• chainsaw maintenance procedures;
• chain sharpening procedures;
• proper felling techniques;
• open-face directional felling;
• bore cutting techniques;
• using wedges in felling;
• limbing techniques; and
• hazard identification.

All necessary audiovisual and training equipment will be supplied. If training is canceled due to weather, an agreed-upon replacement date will be scheduled. Although the schedule can be adjusted, morning sessions usually begin at 8 a.m. and end at noon. Afternoon sessions begin after lunch and end when the training is completed, generally about two hours. The class can be of any size, depending on available classroom seating.

Classroom training

Although the schedule can be adjusted, morning sessions usually begin at 8 a.m. and end at noon. Afternoon sessions begin after lunch and end when the training is completed, generally about two hours. The class can be of any size, depending on available classroom seating.

Classroom with hands-on training

After a morning of classroom training, participants have about two hours of hands-on training in the afternoon. Class size should be limited to 10 to 15 students at a time.

Sample schedule

Morning classroom session:

• overview of standard;
• personal protective equipment (PPE);
• chainsaw safety features and maintenance;
• tree-felling techniques; and
• limbing.

Afternoon field session:

• tree-felling demonstration;
• hands-on training with student participation; and
• question and answer session.