Chainsaw Safety and Operation

Chainsaw safety classroom and field training is covered during this three-day USFS curriculum training session. Participants learn basics of chainsaw safety, maintenance, and operations including job hazard analysis, chainsaw techniques, and routine maintenance. Participants practice problem solving field scenarios with USFS-qualified and experienced instructors/certifiers and receive guidance and feedback relevant to their level of experience. Bucking and limbing scenarios will be the focus and felling techniques will be introduced and demonstrated. Certificates will be awarded to all participants and detailed written feedback will be provided.

Participants should bring:

Personal Items

• Pack/backpack for your personal items
• Trail lunch, snacks and sufficient water (suggested 2 liters or more) for full days of field work
• Medications you may need (epi pen, insulin, etc.)
• Tick repellent
• Hair management (if you have long hair you must have some way to keep it up/back out of the way so as not to be a risk of getting caught)
• Appropriate clothing for field work including long pants and sturdy work boots (or the footwear required by your employer for chainsaw operations, for example the USFS requires 8” leather boots)
• Appropriate dress for the forecasted weather including layers and rain gear

Gear and Personal Protective Equipment

• Hard hat
• Hearing protection
• Safety glasses (ANSI Z-87)
• Chainsaw chaps or protective chainsaw pants
• A well-maintained chainsaw (Functioning chain brake, Saw runs and idles well, Air/fuel filters in working order)

Field tools, at a minimum:

• Wedges and something to pound wedges with
• Spare chain or files
• Hi-viz (shirt, jacket, vest, etc. so that no matter the weather, your hi-viz is visible)
• Work gloves with dexterity

RCC will have the following available for class use as needed:

• Supplemental PPE (hard hats, hearing protection, safety glasses, saw chaps, safety vests)
• Supplemental field tools
• Chainsaw

Note: There are no restroom facilities at the field site.