NPTC L2 Award in the Safe Use of a Manually Fed Wood-chipper

Summary

Wood chippers, like any other plant machinery, if used incorrectly can be very dangerous. It is therefore important that anyone who has the need to operate a manually fed wood chipper has the appropriate training in order to reduce the number of risks that can be presented. This course is designed to help you understand the machinery and how to operate it safely without causing risk to yourself, other people or the environment.

This course is designed for any person employed in arboriculture, forestry, horticulture, landscaping and grounds maintenance who is or will be required to operate wood chippers.

• Risk Assessment specific to site, task and machine
• Emergency procedures planning
• Identify and select the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Unloading, loading, hitching and unhitching the chipper
• Guarding requirements
• Inspection and report on service abilities
• Functions of safety devices
• Cutting mechanisms and causes of damage to blades/knifes
• Maintaining cutting systems
• Engine – power source and drive system
• Hydraulic feed mechanisms (if fitted)
• Daily maintenance
• Dangers, hazards and warning signs of highways and different signs
• Producing different sized chips
• Manoeuvring and positioning the chipper
• Start the machine and carry out safety checks
• Noise and how to reduce the effect
• Operation and unblocking of the chipper
• Unblocking, stopping and inspecting the chipper after use
• End uses of wood chip
• Cleaning, transport and storage