Chainsaw Maintenance and Crosscutting (NPTC)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2025-06-11 | - |
| 2025-06-16 | - |
Program Overview
Chainsaw Maintenance and Crosscutting (NPTC)
Overview
Get the knowledge, understanding and skills required to maintain a chainsaw and crosscut timber safely to industry standards, in line with current legislation, in this intensive practical course at Writtle College.
Full Description
This Level 2 Certificate of Competence in Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-cutting is for individuals who operate chainsaws as part of their work in arboriculture, forestry or other industries and is NPTC City & Guilds approved.
You will learn:
- risk assessment
- emergency planning
- legislation
- industry best practice
- manufacturers' recommendations for chainsaw maintenance
- battery powered machine maintenance
- individual components
- maintaining guide bar and chain
- reassembling a chainsaw and cutting system
- waste disposal
- personal protective equipment
- biosecurity and environmental considerations
- cross-cutting timber
- moving and stacking timber
- working methods and considerations
The instructor/student ratio is 1:4.
The module requires reading and interpreting of information such as safety instructions and technical knowledge. To attain this qualification you must successfully achieve a one to one practical assessment with oral questioning by an independent NPTC City & Guilds approved assessor.
Your Tutor
Steve Woodley is a forester, arborist and green woodworker from Essex with 28 years industry experience specialising in urban and woodland tree management. Steve has been teaching ground and aerial units for us since 2004. His professional qualifications include BSc (Hons) Rural Resource Development, Arb Association Tech Cert, NPTC assessor since 2004. Steve is also passionate about hand crafted timber and keeping the skill of axing alive.
Along with Steve we use many excellent trainers and assessors and are confident our training more than meets NPTC City & Guilds standards.
Who Should Attend?
This course is suitable for anyone who operates a chainsaw as part of their work in arboriculture, forestry or other industries.
Dates
- Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 June 2025 (plus one day assessment date to be confirmed)
- Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 June 2025 (plus one day assessment date to be confirmed)
Where You'll Study
Your Faculty
At Writtle College, our courses blending classroom learning with hands-on experience in specialised fields such as sport, agriculture, horticulture, animal studies, equine studies, conservation and floristry.
Our Level 2 and Level 3 programmes are designed to prepare you for your future career or higher education pathways.
Study on our beautiful countryside campus, with dedicated resource centres and state-of-the-art facilities – and be a part of our supportive community.
Where Can I Study?
Writtle Campus
Our picturesque 150-hectare campus is situated in the heart of the Essex countryside.
Fees & Funding
Course Fees
Standard Booking
£550
The cost includes equipment use, personal first aid kit and NPTC registration/assessment.
An additional charge maybe incurred if you do not accept the assessment date offered to you.
Entry Requirements
You will need a good level of physical fitness and an ability to study written technical information.
We are governed by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations therefore you will not be allowed to start the course without the correct Personal Protective Equipment which should conform to CE/EN standards:
- Chainsaw trousers
- Chainsaw gloves – approved pictogram to BS EN 381-7
- Chainsaw boots – BS EN ISO 17249 bearing a shield depicting a chainsaw to show compliance with EN381-3, spats are no longer allowed
- Chainsaw helmet with eye and ear protection
By making a booking you are declaring yourself medically fit to participate in this course.
Suggested Courses That May Interest You
- Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness Refresher CPD (NPTC)
- Use of a Chainsaw from a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) (NPTC)
- Using a Chainsaw from a Rope and Harness refresher CPD
Program Outline
Outline:
Module 1: Risk Assessment and Emergency Planning
- Risk assessment principles and techniques
- Emergency planning and procedures
- Legislation and industry best practices
Module 2: Chainsaw Maintenance
- Manufacturers' recommendations for chainsaw maintenance
- Battery-powered machine maintenance
- Individual components
- Maintaining guide bar and chain
- Reassembling a chainsaw and cutting system
Module 3: Cross-Cutting Timber
- Waste disposal
- Personal protective equipment
- Biosecurity and environmental considerations
- Cross-cutting timber
- Moving and stacking timber
- Working methods and considerations
Assessment:
- Practical assessment with oral questioning by an independent NPTC City & Guilds approved assessor
Teaching:
- Instructor-led training
- Practical demonstrations
- Hands-on exercises
- 1:4 instructor-student ratio
Careers:
- Arboriculture
- Forestry
- Other industries where chainsaw operation is required
You will need a good level of physical fitness and an ability to study written technical information. We are governed by Health and Safety Executive (HSE) regulations therefore you will not be allowed to start the course without the correct Personal Protective Equipment which should conform to CE/EN standards: Chainsaw trousers Chainsaw gloves – approved pictogram to BS EN 381-7 Chainsaw boots – BS EN ISO 17249 bearing a shield depicting a chainsaw to show compliance with EN381-3, spats are no longer allowed Chainsaw helmet with eye and ear protection By making a booking you are declaring yourself medically fit to participate in this course.
