Earning his Spurs - Pitchcare

Taking Tree
Work in-house
Chainsaw use on the golf course is usually
classified as ‘occasional’. Even so, strict
regulations are in place to ensure safety for
both the operator and the public.
Jane Carley investigates what regulations
are in place, what qualifications are required
and where to find training courses
There are, of course, plenty of
experienced arborists available to
provide contract services to course
managers - the Arborists Association
can provide a list of members at
www.trees.org.uk - but it may be more
efficient to undertake routine
maintenance in house.
However, it is not just a matter of any
greenkeeper or groundsman picking up
a chainsaw. The Provision and Use of
Work Equipment Regulations 1998
(PUWER) requires that any person who
uses or supervises the use of work
equipment has had adequate training.
In particular, the Approved Code of
Practice accompanying the Regulations
requires anyone working with
chainsaws to hold a Certificate of
Competence award or national
competence award relevant to the work
they undertake.
For professional chainsaw operators
working in forestry and arboriculture,
the adequacy of training for all
chainsaw operations, including aerial
tree work, needs to be confirmed by an
independent assessment, leading to the
award of an accredited NPTC
Certificate of Competence in the
relevant unit or units.
Core NPTC qualifications are CS30.1
‘Maintenance of the Chainsaw’ and
CS30.2 ‘On-site preparation and basic
cross cutting’, which can be completed
in one or two days depending on the
candidate’s experience. Felling
qualifications can then be added on,
along with additional training and
certificates for tree climbing and
arboricultural work, if required.
Chainsaw operators working outside
forestry and arboriculture at a basic
level (occasional users) can attend an
Integrated Training and Assessment
(ITA) course leading to a Lantra Awards
Certificate of Basic Training. This
applies to the operations of chainsaw
maintenance, basic cross-cutting and
felling material up to 200mm diameter.
This will be recognised as meeting the
requirements of the Provision and Use
of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
However, occasional users wishing to
fell material over 200mm diameter
must hold the relevant NPTC
Certificate of Competence.
Under PUWER, chainsaw operators
are required to attend a refresher
course every five years, if in the
professional category, and every three
years if in the occasional category.
Due to the high risk nature of
arboriculture, training is usually
provided by colleges or specialist
training centres and delivered by
trainers who are industry/technical
specialists.
Qualifications are also available for
operating stump grinders and wood
chippers, which can be useful on the
golf course or sports ground.
Hartpury College offers the NVQ
level 2 in Greenkeeping and NVQ Level
3 in Golf Course Supervision, and
chainsaw courses, from the Lantra basic
training certificate up to aerial rescue
and tree climbing, are optional modules
within the two year modern
apprenticeship course. They can also
be taken as add-ons for qualified
greenkeepers, with discounts offered to
mature students.
“Spraying courses are probably the
most popular, but we can offer training
and certification for tree work,”
explains trainer/consultant Chris
Pickles. “The training would be
appropriate for work on a golf course,
as it includes aspects such as setting up
a safe zone to protect golfers and other
bystanders.”
GOSTA Training is a learning centre
used which specialises in training for
greenkeepers and the landscape
industries. Managing director Lesley
Lowrie comments: “Golf courses tend
to have one or two members of staff
who are trained in tree work - if a tree