Forwarder qualifications?

[nooie]

I am trying to find out if there is a qualification needed or existing on the use of forwarders? I am going to be using one on our own private land. I have been told by one forestry college that it doesn't exist, but then I'm told HSE says you have to have training. It all seems a bit airy-fairy...Any ideas?

 

Thanks.

[Rich2484]

If its on your own private land then no you don't.

[Charlieh]

yep FMO depending on what the forwarder you have is will dictate which units you have to do.

 

If its on private land you wont need the formal qualification but you will still need to display that you have been correctly trained on the machinery, this can be in house training but it still needs to be recorded along with what you have been taught. If you dont have this and you have an accident and HSE investigate you will probably get the book thrown at you, also are you the land owner or working for someone (eg contractor on on private land?) as this could also have a bearing

 

this should help answer some of your questions

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/ogb19.pdf/$FILE/ogb19.pdf

[nooie]

Thanks for the replies. The work will be done in our own private forest owned by our family. There may be a couple of other smaller jobs on other private forests owned by another family. Getting training somewhere now seems to be the problem..

[Highland Forestry]

Try contacting Donald Maclean at the FCA (Forestry Contractors Association)

Donald does assessments, not sure about forwarder training though.

 

I'd recommend having some sort of training, even if from another contractor that's well versed in the machines as a purpose built forwarder has allot to go wrong with it, and things can go very wrong if you don't know how to use them properly.

 

Even simple things like loading and unloading techniques can save labouring the machine, and putting band tracks on and off can be allot easier if somebody shows you the right way to go about it.

 

 

Matt

[codlasher]

I was sent to bonnie Scotland some ten + years ago to do a course on 'Harvesting and the Environment'. The main reason was that we were moving from motor manual towards mechanisation. This course covered all the aspects of mechanical harvesting and extraction with a good section on 'elf and safety. Brash matting (a no damage policy) and oil spills featured high on the agenda. Ex oil rig pipes were also a handy addition to the tool box as these enabled crossings over watercourses to be made quickly and efficiently.

This was a five day course culminating in a very informative visit to one of the James Jones sawmills where the produce was being hauled to.

There was a good selection of people including machine operators and forestors so the course covered all aspects of the job from the cab to the the overview.

FC Scotland were the hosts although I can't remember the name of the person who organised it.

Worth looking into if it is still run....

Codlasher.

[Charlieh]

Dick Bradshaw runs FMO forwarder training he can be contacted on on 07769 900564 or [email protected].

 

Tony Knell is also a very good instructor but im not sure if he is still in the UK or headed to OZ.

 

further than this contact Callum Rafity at FC in Ae as I think its Callum who draws up the FMO specs so he should be able to give you some instructors names

[nooie]

Great stuff! Thanks again for all the replies. I will look into it tomorrow..

[Kennedy]

Don't think you need it on your own ground or anyone's unless they ask for it. City & Guilds will probably do it, I had to do it with them for forestry commission for tractor and went with Donald Munro in Sutherland for excavator who was fantastic. If you don't need it don't do it, best learning's experience.