Operate and maintain chainsaws

Course Dates

Gain practical skills in safe chainsaw operation and maintenance with our Operate and Maintain Chainsaw course. This nationally recognised training is designed for those working with chainsaws in professional or personal settings. The course will help to improve safety, efficiency, and compliance while minimising risks and extending equipment life.

This hands-on course covers the key aspects of chainsaw use, operation, and care. Over two days (8.30am-4.00pm), participants will learn:

• Chainsaw Fundamentals: Components, safety features, chain brake operation, starting methods, and control techniques.
• Cutting Techniques: Undercutting, top cutting, plunge cutting, vertical and horizontal cuts, and crosscutting fallen timber using compression and tension methods.
• Maintenance Skills: Powerhead, guide bar, saw chain, drive sprocket, and carburettor maintenance, including chain sharpening.
• Safety and Compliance: Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures, PPE requirements, hazard identification and control, shut-down processes, worksite communication, and environmental considerations.

Combining theory with practical exercises, the course prepares you to apply safe practices, manage equipment faults, assess risks, and handle emergencies effectively. It's a solid foundation for responsible chainsaw handling in various environments.

This course is appropriate for a range of participants, including:

• Council operators and local government staff.
• Emergency services personnel (e.g., SES, CFA).
• Farm or home owners.
• Recreational camping and 4WD users.
• Individuals in power, rail, forestry, landscaping, agriculture, horticulture, arboriculture, conservation land management, tree contracting, parks management, ecology, and firewood collection.
• Workplace supervisors focused on team safety, compliance and upskilling staff.

Qualifications and Recognition

Career Opportunities

This course may help you apply for jobs like entry level forestry worker, arborist, landscaper, firefighter, park ranger, farmhand, or vegetation management worker. It makes you safer, more efficient, and more likely to be hired in industries that use chainsaws. It also opens doors to further training and volunteer roles, which may lead to more career options within your community. A popular entry level course for Emergency Services personnel, council operators, farm or home owners requiring to clear and cut fallen trees, contractors requiring to clear and cut fallen trees on fence lines or work sites, and and entry level skills for anyone interested in pathways into horticulture, arboriculture, Forestry and conservation land management industries.

Opportunities for Further Study

N/A

Course Dates