FISA is a wolf in sheep's clothing. In theory the idea of its existence is a good thing. The reality of its existence is very different. Chainsaw refresher training is a recommendation and not mandatory in law - it is probably good practice though. Also given the nature of the equipment and work we do with it, for those who are properly trained and qualified, accidents are thankfully very rare - they usually happen to unskilled and untrained operators who appear on the stats as 'self-employed'.
What is alarming though is that no one can see what is happening here. FISA is a body of self-appointed, self interested individuals who have been allowed to hi-jack the industry and we have all let it happen.
From October - if you want to have a FC contract you need FISA update training provided by a FISA trainer. To be a FISA trainer you have to be 'proposed' by an existing FISA trainer as apparently all the rest the chainsaw trainers out there who deliver chainsaw training under the auspices of LANTRA or the NPTC are clearly not good enough to do it and regulated, approved courses run by the awarding organisations are not good enough either. That this band can dictate who can and cannot deliver training which ultimately affects the grant of government contracts is not only unbelievable but also probably illegal (transparency, fairness and all that!)
That they are being allowed to get away with this is unbelievable - the NPTC and LANTRA, irrespective of your views on them, are regulated training bodies controlled by OFQUAL. FISA are a group of unregulated, self-appointed money grabbers who have seen an opportunity to fleece the rest of the industry and hold it to ransom - hiding under the shield of 'safety'. by creating their own 'special' little courses you have to pay for if you want to work in the industry.
The only member of FISA who spoke up was unceremoniously sacked for his actions.
FISA as an organisation is clearly not fit for purpose. Those who hold office in FISA and who are party to these restrictive and probably illegal practices are not fit to hold office and certainly not fit to represent the 'safety concerns' of the industry as they are clearly acting to their own ends.
If you pay for a FISA course you are paying to line the pockets of people delivering unregulated training to suit their own ends. If the industry standard courses are not adequate then they can and should be changed - I do believe they are adequate as they have been evolved over years.
Everyone in the industry needs to open their eyes to this and soon - or we will all be paying the price - literally and you can all say goodbye to FC work as a subby or otherwise unless you pay FISA dearly for the privilege. At the end of the day - who are they to be dictating who does and does not get government contracts! Here endeth my rant - but mark my words!