Chainsaw Courses in Essex

Delivered By Experienced Lantra Awards Instructors
Getting You Ready For City & Guilds NPTC Assessment

D J Gemmill Chainsaw Training Courses

Our chainsaw courses are NPTC accredited and are delivered by highly experienced instructors and assessors. We only deliver the training in small groups to ensure candidates are given the time and instruction they need and are ready for assessment. We’ve been delivering chainsaw training courses across Essex for over 15 years so we know what it takes to get you through.

View Chainsaw & Maintenance Courses

Do You Need A Chainsaw Licence?

The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires workers to be adequately trained and competent to carry out their job safely. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) requires equipment operators to receive adequate training. If you are not deemed competent and proficient when carrying out tasks with a chainsaw your liability insurance could be negated and you could incur significant costs.

We offer a number of different chainsaw courses depending on your level of experience and expertise. Take a look through our courses to see which one you need, or get in contact and we can talk you through them.

Which Chainsaw Course Do I Need?

Without the correct training and experience chainsaws can be potentially very dangerous with the capability to cause serious harm and even fatality. It is vital that you familiarise yourself with the safe operation of a chainsaw before you begin to work with one. As a qualified Lantra partner D J Gemmill work closely with the awarding body to ensure you receive the training that is right for you.

If you will be using a chainsaw in a professional capacity then we have numerous courses that could be ideal for your needs. You can start out with the NPTC Level 2 Award in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting which will provide the successful attendees an industry recognised qualification.

After this qualification we also offer more specialised chainsaw courses based on your particular professional capacity. If you’re unsure which chainsaw training course is correct for you, then don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be happy to talk you through it.

Working With Chainsaws

As mentioned before, chainsaws have the potential to be fatal so it is essential that adequate training is given to all users. The Health and safety Executive’s investigations show that the majority of chainsaw related injuries and fatalities are caused by operators taking shortcuts. For more statistics on chainsaw related injuries have a read through the below:

Forestry statistics
Arboriculture statistics

By law chainsaw operators must have received proper and adequate training that relates to the type of work the user will be doing. Users also have to wear appropriate chainsaw protective clothing whenever operating a chainsaw. These include the following as a minimum:

Chainsaw safety helmet to BS EN 397
Hearing Protection to BS EN 352-1
Eye protection, either mesh visors or safety glasses to BS EN 1731 or BS EN 166
Chainsaw gloves to BS EN 381-7
Chainsaw leg protection to BS EN 381/5
Chainsaw boots to BS EN ISO 20345

Chainsaw users should always try to avoid working alone, but if it is not possible then operators must have an alarm accessible. You must also ensure a safe site and take into account all of your environment.

How Long Does A Chainsaw Licence Last?

The Lantra Awards Certificate of Basic Skills and NPTC Certificates of Competence both last for life. To ensure skills are kept up to date, however, the law requires training to be updated every 3 to 5 years. D J Gemmill offers refresher courses that are shorter than the original training and there is no need for further assessment.

Chainsaws: Health, Safety & Legislation

Chainsaw maintenance, cross-cutting, felling trees and accessing a tree using a rope and harness are high risk activities, and as such require the operator to have training and independent assessment.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) is the regulation that covers working with equipment and machinery used every day in workplaces. Its aim is to keep people safe wherever equipment and machinery is used at work.

Where Can I Get A Chainsaw Licence?

You should always choose an established company when looking for chainsaw training providers. You should also be sure that your training provider is accredited with the appropriate awarding bodies, such as City & Guilds or Lantra Awards.

D J Gemmill is an approved Lantra partner and has been training people in the safe use of chainsaws for over 15 years across Essex. You can be sure that if you choose D J Gemmill you’ll be undertaking the most thorough and qualified chainsaw training available.

Other Training Services

We have an extensive range of land-based training services that suits people of all abilities, from foundation courses for novices to refresher courses for experts.