Forestry - working with chainsaws and brushcutters

The checklist is divided into three parts that can be used separately: 1. Supervision – questions about organisation, procedures, instructions, knowledge training, and equipment. 2. The workplace – issues of planning and safety at the workplace. 3. The sawmill operator – questions about the handling of the saw, safety devices, and personal protective equipment. Parts 1 and 2 are intended to be used by the manager and the supervisor together with the safety representative to assess the risk of the use of chainsaws or brushcutters in the business. Parts 3a and 3b are for the sawmill operator to use to ensure safe work with a chainsaw or brushcutter.

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Area/location

Date

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Questions

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Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
1. Are there instructions for particularly dangerous tasks?
2. Can a risk assessment be conducted based on the Tract Directive?
3. Is there consultation between businesses taking place at a shared workplace?
4. Is the work planned in a way that avoids stress and jerky tempo?
5. Is there a documented introduction program for new employees and temporary staff?
6. Are there procedures available in understandable language for foreign employees?
7. Is working alone avoided?
8. Are there procedures for working alone in cases where working alone cannot be avoided, e.g. regular contact, information about positioning and homecoming control?
9. Is there a readiness for rapid assistance in an emergency, e.g. via a mobile phone or alarm device?
10. Do employees know where to turn if they need help in case of problems?
11. Are there functioning systems for reporting and investigating incidents and accidents, as well as a procedure for reporting to the Swedish Work Environment Authority after a serious accident incident?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
12. Is the employee trained for the tasks?
13. Do the employees have knowledge of work techniques to prevent musculoskeletal disorders?
14. Is appropriate personal and CE-marked protective equipment provided?
15. Are there procedures for maintenance and daily control of work equipment and protective devices, and are these recorded?
16. Do employees have sufficient knowledge of first aid?
17. Are appropriate first aid equipment provided, as well as first aid for sawmill operators to carry with them?
18. Are the employees knowledgeable about fire safety and the handling of fire equipment?
19. Are only environmentally friendly fuels and oils, e.g. vegetable oil, used for chain lubrication?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
20. Are employees informed about current work and safety practices and what protective measures are necessary for the work?
21. Can the employee quickly call for help in an emergency situation and convey the position coordinates, e.g. via mobile phone or alarm device?
22. Do the necessary tools and spare equipment for the work to be performed exist?
23. Is there lighting if the work is carried out in the dark?
24. Are there transport vehicles available for easy access to the area?
25. Is there fire extinguishing equipment in the workplace?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
26. Is there usually a heated and adapted staff area with laundry facilities?
27. Is there first aid equipment available?
28. Are there cleaning routines for the staff area?
29. Is relevant information available, e.g. on the bulletin board?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
30. Are warning signs used to demarcate the work area at access routes?
31. Is the safety distance of at least twice the tree length respected when there are two or more people working with tree felling?
32. Are there work and safety instructions for pegging?
33. If the felled tree cannot be rolled down immediately, is the area marked with strips?
34. Are there work and safety instructions for working in storm-felled fire-damaged forests?
35. Do co-workers have continuous contact with each other, e.g. radio contact?
36. Are there work and safety instructions for working on power lines?
37. If trees are leaning against or hanging from power lines, should the power company be contacted for power removal and await confirmation before work begins?
38. Is a fall arrest device used to prevent falls when working from the work platform?
39. Are the work areas cordoned off and warning signs placed on roads and access routes to warn unauthorized persons of work in progress?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
40. Has the area been marked if necessary?
41. Is a safety distance of at least 15 metres always maintained from other people?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
42. Do you have the work equipment to carry out the work safely?
43. Do you have the necessary education and a chainsaw operator's license for the tasks?
44. When working with a chainsaw,
a) Is it a safety helmet?
b) Hearing protection?
c) Eye protection and face protection?
d) Do the protective trousers come with saw protection in the trouser boxes?
e) Are you referring to safety boots with saw protection?
f) Are you referring to work gloves for protection in the workplace?
g) Is high-visibility clothing required on the upper body?
45. Is the chainsaw equipped with and checked for functions on a daily basis?
a) Chain, sword, and top pulley?
b) Does the chain brake provide kickback protection?
c) Are there hand guards at the rear handle and a chain catcher?
d) Start and stop devices and the barrier against accidental influence of operating controls?
e) Is the chain stationary at idle, and what is the function of the clutch and the engagement speed for chain drive?
f) Protective covers over fan and sprocket?
g) Is the fuel tank clogged?
h) Vibration-damping elements? vibrationsdämpande element?
46. Can you quickly call for help in case of an emergency and convey position coordinates?
47. Is first aid easily accessible?
48. Do you know about fire hazards and whether there is fire protection equipment in the workplace?
49. Are chemical protection gloves used when handling fuel oils?
50. Are saws and fuel containers securely and firmly anchored in the vehicle?

Question	Risk assessment:
	Low	Medium	High
51. Do you have the work equipment to carry out the work safely?
52. Do you have the knowledge to carry out the work safely?
53. When working with a brushcutter,
a) Hearing protection?
b) Eye protection, such as mesh visors or goggles?
c) Is a safety helmet required if the trunks are higher than 2 meters?
d) Are you referring to the use of work gloves in the context of occupational safety and health?
e) Safety boots or safety boots with saw protection?
f) Is high-visibility clothing required on the upper body?
54. Is the brushcutter equipped with and checked for functions on a daily basis?
a) Blade guard and its position in relation to the blade? What is the position of the blade guard in relation to the blade?
b) A working start-stop device?
c) Clutch device that disengages the blade at idle (stationary blade at idle)?
d) Do mufflers work properly?
e) Is the fuel tank clogged?
f) Transport security?
g) Carrying device and suspension device? Carrying device and suspension device?
55. Are there guards adapted for these tools if the saw is used for lawn clearing or tillage?
56. Does the brush cutter need to be carried in a baby carrier that distributes the weight evenly on the shoulders and has quick release of the saw or harness?
57. Can you quickly call for help in case of an emergency and convey position coordinates?
58. Is first aid easily accessible?
59. Is the blade removed or does it have transport protection when transporting to and from the jobsite?
60. Do you know about fire hazards and whether there is fire protection equipment in the workplace?
61. Are chemical protection gloves used when handling fuel oils?
62. Are saws and fuel containers securely and firmly anchored in the vehicle?

Forestry - working with chainsaws and brushcutters

General information about the checklist

Part 1. Work management - organization, routines and instructions (1-11)

Are there instructions for particularly dangerous tasks?

Can a risk assessment be conducted based on the Tract Directive?

Is there consultation between businesses taking place at a shared workplace?

Is the work planned in a way that avoids stress and jerky tempo?

Is there a documented introduction program for new employees and temporary staff?

Are there procedures available in understandable language for foreign employees?

Is working alone avoided?

Are there procedures for working alone in cases where working alone cannot be avoided, e.g. regular contact, information about positioning and homecoming control?

Is there a readiness for rapid assistance in an emergency, e.g. via a mobile phone or alarm device?

Do employees know where to turn if they need help in case of problems?

Are there functioning systems for reporting and investigating incidents and accidents, as well as a procedure for reporting to the Swedish Work Environment Authority after a serious accident incident?

Knowledge training and equipment (12-19)

Is the employee trained for the tasks?

Do the employees have knowledge of work techniques to prevent musculoskeletal disorders?

Is appropriate personal and CE-marked protective equipment provided?

Are there procedures for maintenance and daily control of work equipment and protective devices, and are these recorded?

Do employees have sufficient knowledge of first aid?

Are appropriate first aid equipment provided, as well as first aid for sawmill operators to carry with them?

Are the employees knowledgeable about fire safety and the handling of fire equipment?

Are only environmentally friendly fuels and oils, e.g. vegetable oil, used for chain lubrication?

Part 2. Workplace - planning of work with chainsaws and brushcutters (20-25)

Are employees informed about current work and safety practices and what protective measures are necessary for the work?

Can the employee quickly call for help in an emergency situation and convey the position coordinates, e.g. via mobile phone or alarm device?

Do the necessary tools and spare equipment for the work to be performed exist?

Is there lighting if the work is carried out in the dark?

Are there transport vehicles available for easy access to the area?

Is there fire extinguishing equipment in the workplace?

Staff space (26-29)

Is there usually a heated and adapted staff area with laundry facilities?

Is there first aid equipment available?

Are there cleaning routines for the staff area?

Is relevant information available, e.g. on the bulletin board?

Special task - chainsaw (30-39)

Are warning signs used to demarcate the work area at access routes?

Is the safety distance of at least twice the tree length respected when there are two or more people working with tree felling?

Are there work and safety instructions for pegging?

If the felled tree cannot be rolled down immediately, is the area marked with strips?

Are there work and safety instructions for working in storm-felled fire-damaged forests?

Do co-workers have continuous contact with each other, e.g. radio contact?

Are there work and safety instructions for working on power lines?

If trees are leaning against or hanging from power lines, should the power company be contacted for power removal and await confirmation before work begins?

Is a fall arrest device used to prevent falls when working from the work platform?

Are the work areas cordoned off and warning signs placed on roads and access routes to warn unauthorized persons of work in progress?

Special work step - brushcutter (40-41)

Has the area been marked if necessary?

Is a safety distance of at least 15 metres always maintained from other people?

Part 3a. For the chainsaw operator (42-50)

Do you have the work equipment to carry out the work safely?

Do you have the necessary education and a chainsaw operator's license for the tasks?

When working with a chainsaw,

a) Is it a safety helmet?

b) Hearing protection?

c) Eye protection and face protection?

d) Do the protective trousers come with saw protection in the trouser boxes?

e) Are you referring to safety boots with saw protection?

f) Are you referring to work gloves for protection in the workplace?

g) Is high-visibility clothing required on the upper body?

Is the chainsaw equipped with and checked for functions on a daily basis?

a) Chain, sword, and top pulley?

b) Does the chain brake provide kickback protection?

c) Are there hand guards at the rear handle and a chain catcher?

d) Start and stop devices and the barrier against accidental influence of operating controls?

e) Is the chain stationary at idle, and what is the function of the clutch and the engagement speed for chain drive?

f) Protective covers over fan and sprocket?

g) Is the fuel tank clogged?

h) Vibration-damping elements? vibrationsdämpande element?

Can you quickly call for help in case of an emergency and convey position coordinates?

Is first aid easily accessible?

Do you know about fire hazards and whether there is fire protection equipment in the workplace?

Are chemical protection gloves used when handling fuel oils?

Are saws and fuel containers securely and firmly anchored in the vehicle?

Part 3b. For the brush cutter operator (51-62)

Do you have the work equipment to carry out the work safely?

Do you have the knowledge to carry out the work safely?

When working with a brushcutter,

a) Hearing protection?

b) Eye protection, such as mesh visors or goggles?