Dealing with Individual Windblown Trees

Course Objectives

To enable course members to:

• Assess a windblown tree and the safest method of dismantling
• Inspect and prepare the site and state danger zones
• Prepare a risk assessment for operation
• Select and use tools in a safe manner
• Check on the safety of tools including load rating, CE marks and PUWER regulations
• Make accurate cuts in the correct positions
• Select and use winches, ropes, strops and shackles safely
• Select suitable anchor points when winching
• Remove the root plate in a safe manner using the correct sequence of cuts
• State all unsafe practices which must not be adopted

NB: This course covers individual windblown trees and does not include techniques for dealing with multiple windblow in dense coniferous plantations which present very significant hazards and require specialist skills and knowledge.

Who is the course for?

This training-only course is for people who are required to deal with individual windblown trees in open areas, have attended the basic chainsaw courses in this series, or their equivalent.

Duration/Format

Practical course, 1 day.

Course Content

• Introduction
• Site safety
• Dealing with windblown, hung-up trees
• Severing the root plate
• Restraining an overhanging root plate
• Use of winches
• Side tension and broken trees
• De-limbing, cross-cutting and stacking