Newlands Training supplies a range of basic and intermediate chainsaw courses supporting a wide variety of occupations, the full list can be found on newlandstraining.com.

For more advanced needs, Newlands Training offer an Operate Chain Saw from Rope and Harness course, which allows operatives to use chainsaws in trees, undertaking various activities from simple pruning to crown reduction and sectional felling. Please note this course requires climbing skills as a pre-requisite. NPTC provide the necessary range of qualifications and Newlands Training offer experienced course instructors who teach this programme on a regular basis all year round.

In addition or as an alternative Newlands Training also offer a NPTC certificate (unit 47) Safe Use of a Chainsaw from a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP). This allows competent chainsaw users to access higher levels using a MEWP, the course is ideal for pruning limbs and removing vertical stem sections without the need for a climbing qualification. Please be aware some pre-requisite are required for this course, for more information please contact Newlands Training on 01305 848454.

Lesley Simpson, Managing Director of Newlands Training has said ‘So many jobs within the arboricultural industry require people to work with dangerous machinery. Our chainsaw courses teach people to respect safety procedures, their equipment and eliminate some of the risk involved with this type of work’. She added ‘Our LANTRA Awards and NPTC courses support the Health and Safety at Work Act, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, and are designed to give students the ability to operate machinery with competence and confidence’.

The Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue course is perfect for those already working within the landscaping or conservation sectors and wish to develop their skills or offer a new service. The course will teach trainees how to safely climb trees and branch walk, rescue a casualty from a tree and achieve a safe working position in a tree to use a hand saw. The course will provide each trainee with the knowledge and skill set to be assessed for the NPTC Unit 38 Certificate of Competence ‘Climb Tress and Preform Aerial Rescue’.

Lesley Simpson, Managing Director of Newlands Training said ‘we are so pleased to be able to offer such an exciting and vital course to potential trainees. The skills they acquire will allow them to provide an essential and sometimes lifesaving service’ she added ‘this course is perfect for those who are looking to expand upon existing knowledge and add an extra dimension to their working day’.

The Tree Climbing and Aerial Rescue course is part Newlands Training’s extensive range of chainsaw based courses, which in turn, is part of a wider range of courses available covering all aspects of land based work.

Those who wish to achieve this certification will need a good knowledge of trees and ideally already hold a level 3 qualification. Anyone who is wishing to take part in the course but is unsure whether their current level of skill is suitable should contact a member of the Newlands Training team for advice.

Lesley Simpson of Newlands training says, “Anyone wishing to undertake an initial tree survey from the ground and report their findings to a supervisor or arboriculturalist for further action is welcome to join our Lantra Awards certificated Basic Tree Inspection Course on 3rd February 2011. Because this forms the first steps in tree inspection there are no pre-requisite qualifications required for this course”.

Newlands Training also offers a full range of Lantra Awards chainsaw qualifications and NPTC Certificates of Competence. Workers with current skills and up to date certifications in place are compliant with health and safety and insurance guidelines and are ready to work in the world of trees.

Managing Director Lesley Simpson urges all forestry and arboricultural workers to be sure of the following:

• Is your equipment in good condition? Such as well-maintained chainsaws or good condition ropes and harness.

• Does your protective clothing (PPE) reach the correct specification for the work you do?

• Are you using all of the recommended PPE for your work? Do you have a current LOLER Certificate – 6 monthly checks for climbing and 12 monthly checks for rigging?

When working with dangerous equipment and within hazardous environments, expert training is called for to ensure the health and safety of workers and others around. If your certification, PPE or equipment does not meet the standards required by the HSE, you not only risk serious injury to yourself and others, it could also affect your personal insurance.

Lesley Simpson adds, “Maintaining your certification levels is of the upmost importance when you are working within this industry, if not just for yourself but for people around you as well. Taking an additional or a refresher course can make sure you are aware of developments within the industry, allowing you to carry out your job safely and correctly. A refresher course can also ensure you are competent with new and existing machinery and techniques, allowing you to provide the best service possible”.

Newlands Training can provide tailored courses to refresh or upgrade certifications, enabling workers to adhere to necessary requirements.

The most significant amendment to the chainsaw suite requirements for achievement is that trainees can undergo the new unit 50 module for damaged tree techniques without the previous pre requisite of unit 32. Trainees for the new course will only require unit 30 (maintenance) and unit 31 (cross cutting and felling small trees) in order to take this new module.

‘This is excellent news for arboriculture training budgets,’ commented Lesley Simpson, managing director of Newlands. ‘Not only is it going to save companies nearly £500 but it will also mean less time actually training for workers as unit 32 module is a three day course.’

Other amendments to chainsaw training include; merging unit 32 and unit 33 that previously tackled medium and large tree felling respectively into one new unit 32 designed for trees over 380mm. The new Unit 33 is for specialist tree felling.

‘These changes will make a significant difference to how damaged trees are dealt with and will also offer a swift route to a new and incredibly useful qualification,’ added Lesley.

For more information on the revision to chainsaw training visit the website or contact Newlands Training direct on 01305 848454.
If you want to know more about becoming a tree surgeon or would like more details regarding any of the chain saw classes in Devon and Dorset please contact:

Lesley Simpson
Tel: 01305 848454
Mob: 07976 531649
Email: lesleysimpson@farmline.com