Community Hands-On Training (CHOT)

The Chainsaw Maintenance, Safety & Ops is a hands-on course, designed for those with little experience, or those that have never had any professional training on the safe operation of a gasoline powered chainsaw. We will demonstrate and go over the following:

• The Safety features built into a chainsaw
• The 4 reactive forces of a rotating chain
• Rotational kickback
• Inertia and manually activated chain brake
• Proper starting procedures
• Proper cutting procedures
• Bore/plunge cutting
• Basic maintenance
• Hand sharpening using a round file

The class will review the Safety features, the 4 Reactive Forces of a rotating chain, and then a rotational kickback demonstration. The following will be demonstrated, and all participants will have the opportunity to do: (1) Proper starting techniques; (2) Proper cutting stance and techniques; (3) Proper hand grip; (4) Bore/plunge cutting; (5) Basic maintenance and hand sharpening.

Upon completion of the Chainsaw Safety and Operation course, the participant will gain knowledge of and be exposed to the built-in safety features and the 4 reactive forces of a rotating chain. How incredibly fast rotational kickback occurs and how to avoid it from happening by placing the chainsaw to the right of the body when cutting. The proper starting and cutting techniques of a chainsaw. Basic maintenance including air filter cleaning, changing the drive sprocket, re-surfacing the guide bar and hand sharpening.

*This portion of the class will be entirely demonstration-based, with participants observing. However, you will have hands-on opportunities to explore the saw’s safety features, perform basic maintenance, and practice sharpening.

Felling: Statistics have indicated that tree felling is “the single, most dangerous act” performed by an arborist. This course is designed to drastically reduce the chance of an incident occurring while felling a tree, with heightened safety and situational awareness. The six (6) step precision felling plan is explained and demonstrated in detail. A thorough tree risk assessment is demonstrated to detect any hazards and defects before the felling operation begins. We will explain and demonstrate the “Command and Response” system for Tree Care Operations. The use of non- metallic felling wedges is demonstrated to help prevent “sit-back” and steer the tree into the drop zone. The use of a tag line and using mechanical advantage to safely drop a backward leaning tree is demonstrated. Notch placement inside leaning trees is demonstrated to fell a tree in the designated drop zone. To help prevent “barber chairing”, the plunge (bore) cutting technique is explained and demonstrated on forward leaning trees.

Outcomes

Upon the completion of the Felling course, each participant will gain the knowledge of, or able to perform the following tasks, with safety being the primary objective:

• A thorough “Tree Risk Assessment”
• The six (6) step precision felling plan (handout)
• Tag line placement in the crown of the tree, prior to felling Using a 5 to 1 mechanical advantage system for pulling Cutting an open face notch
• Plunge (bore) cutting a back cut
• Use of felling wedges
• Command and Response System

*This portion of the class will also be entirely demonstration-based, with participants observing.