Lone working and Forestry Commission

[Minotaur]

What I should have mentioned is that I would not have been living the last 15 years had I been lone person working because of a freak, but avoidable, mishap.

 

Can't leaving us hanging like that - pray do tell!

[openspaceman]

Can't leaving us hanging like that - pray do tell!

 

Could this wait until I either get made redundant or retire, please?

[StephF]

Sorry no help from here. As far as I know FC will not, under any circumstances, accept lone working with chainsaw, no matter what safety systems you have in place and what 1st Aid certs you have. Doesn't matter whether you're employed by them, working as a contractor, sub-contractor, as a volunteer or anything else. If you're on their ground and want to use a saw you need NPTC's, PLI and at least two of you (second person does not have to be a saw operator, so long as they are there). All machine operators need to be FMOC'd. No exceptions, no relaxations, no nothing, right or wrong that's the way it is.

 

Really sorry to hear that its putting a small rural enterprise out of business, but I'm not surprised that you're in this situation. Despite all the promises of supporting local enterprise etc, the FC will almost always fall back on a rigid set of rules which are much easier adhered to by the big players than the local small guy.

 

 

Take your wife, take someone who's retired in the local village and looking for something to fill the time. So long as they're on site and capable of dialing 999 and communicating with the emergency services they will

 

do!

 

(From 'A wife'!) I got all NPTC's ie CS 31/32/38/39 etc and go out and do the FC contracts involving chainsaw work, with my husband, has been a great experience and means we get work on our doorstep as we live in Kielder Forest. He had often worked alone for many years, but I think out here where there is not even a mobile signal or another human within miles it is a good idea!

Edited September 2, 2012 by StephF
correction

[WoodED]

if ur using a saw u shouldnt be lone workin anyway surly. .. if in doubt get out the old afag leaflet

[Brushcutter]

if ur using a saw u shouldnt be lone workin anyway surly. .. if in doubt get out the old afag leaflet

 

Rightly or wrongly lone working in forestry is a big thing.

[TRADITIONAL LOGGERS]

Talk to the local head person and visit the office. FC can be very difficult at times.

[AlexB]

In your situation they have you by the short and curlys. On the plus side the FC will not quibble over paying you to have a banksman/2nd with you. Ironically I've just spent a week clearing chestnut coppice for the FC in preparation for bike trail updates.

[renewablejohn]

Understand the position with chainsaws but is it a blanket lone policy. Have recently quoted for diseased rhodie removal using excavator and felling shear instead of chainsaw. Will not be a problem as chipper operator onsite but just thinking if I made a start to get ahead before chipper operator arrived.

[renewablejohn]

Understand the position with chainsaws but is it a blanket lone policy. Have recently quoted for diseased rhodie removal using excavator and felling shear instead of chainsaw. Will not be a problem as chipper operator onsite but just thinking if I made a start to get ahead before chipper operator arrived.

[AlexB]

You're fine, have a loan working policy and some kind of buddy system, texting or a quick phone call every couple of hours will do the trick!