Forest Industry Safety & Training Alliance, Inc.

FISTA comes to your job site and provides every participant with hands-on experience. Using current technology, tools and cutting techniques, FISTA customizes the training to fit your needs and stays on the cutting edge of new information and equipment. FISTA offers 4 different levels of Chainsaw Safety Training based on your previous experience and skill level – basic, two levels of intermediate and advanced. After attending a basic workshop, we encourage attendees to practice the techniques they have learned for several weeks before attending the Intermediate or Advanced workshops. This allows an individual to be completely comfortable with the equipment and techniques before learning how to deal with more hazardous situations.

This chainsaw class is for people with little to no chainsaw experience. We will be covering the following areas in chainsaw safety and operation.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Chainsaw features

Reactive forces of the chainsaw

Safe use of the chainsaw

Introduction to daily maintenance – how to properly maintain your saw and address problems you may accrue with the saw

The Bore Cut

Hinge establishment and importance in tree felling

Open Face Notch

Evaluation before felling and hazards

45 degree exit plan

Spring pole evaluation and how to handle them

Limbing and bucking techniques

Each person must come to class prepared to cut wood. This means wearing the proper PPE, which includes chainsaw chaps/pants, hard hat with full visor and/or safety glasses, gloves, protective toe boots (cut resistant if available), and hearing protection, a chainsaw in proper working order, and fuel/bar oil for the chainsaw.

This course is intended for participants who have completed the basic chainsaw training. This course involves more hands- on training, reading pressure, more practice on limbing and bucking techniques as well as additional felling practice.

Refresher on body mechanics and proper body positioning

Refresher on PPE

Chainsaw safety feature overview

Hands-on chainsaw sharpening in the field

Proficient use of wedges

Proper tree felling evaluations

Spring pole demonstration and proper spring pole cutting techniques

Proficient use of the bore cut

More field time demonstrations

Each person must come to class prepared to cut wood. This means wearing proper PPE, which includes chainsaw chaps/pants, hard hat with visor and/or safety glasses, gloves, protective toe boots (cut resistant if available) and hearing protection, a chainsaw in proper working order (make sure chainsaw is sharp), and fuel/bar oil for the saw.

NOTE: Students should have completed basic chainsaw training prior to this class

This course is designed for participants who have completed the basic and intermediate chainsaw courses. Unlike the basic and intermediate courses, this training spends more time in the field applying all the applications we covered in the basic and intermediate courses. Proper evaluation of each person and their sawing techniques.

Precision felling

Hands-on application of felling trees of various size

Dangerous tree and hazardous situation evaluations

Various pressure cut methods

Tree processing and bucking techniques

Dealing with hung trees

Storm damage trees and proper way to deal with them

Bore cutting evaluation

Each person must come to class prepared to cut wood. This means wearing proper PPE, including chainsaw chaps/pants, hard hat with visor and/or safety glasses, gloves, protective toe boots (cut resistant highly recommended) and hearing protection, a chainsaw saw in proper working order and fuel/bar oil for the chainsaw

NOTE: Students should have completed basic and intermediate chainsaw training prior to this class

Chainsaw Safety Training Sponsored By Menominee Industrial Supply and Oregon