The Forestry Commission has produced a guide that will interest anyone involved in the training or assessment of logging operators.This comprehensive document is the Operational Guidance Booklet number 19, produced in 2004, and is titled “Chainsaw and Machine Certification”. It provides guidance and policies on the training and certification for chainsaw and logging machine operators. It focuses on legislation in the UK, but can be applied to logging training in any country. It can also assist specific countries benchmark their certification, or assist countries develop certification schemes if they don’t have their own. Some of the aspects covered include:
- Chainsaw Certification – the certification process, training flow charts, requirements for working on Forestry Commission land, young people and chainsaws, and Forestry Commission contracts.
- Forest Machine Operator Certification Scheme (FMOCS) – Vocational qualifications, assessors and assessment centres, new operators, age limits for operators, specifics for different types of machines,
- Supporting Documents – specific conditions which different operators may encounter, such as felling large or windblown trees. Other relevant documents and procedures are also covered.