City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in The Safe Use of a Manually Fed Woodchipper (Unit 0020-57)

Description

Course Overview:

The City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in The Safe Use of a Manually Fed Woodchipper (Unit 0020-57) is a specialised course designed for individuals who wish to operate a manually fed woodchipper for the disposal of brushwood, short round wood, and long round wood up to the machine’s capacity. This course covers essential safety procedures, maintenance, and operational skills to ensure efficient and secure use of a woodchipper in various environments.

Upon completion of this course, participants will have the knowledge and skills to operate a woodchipper safely, conduct routine maintenance, and understand how to safely dispose of wood chips while adhering to relevant safety and environmental regulations.

Course Objectives:

• To understand relevant legislation and safety guidelines for operating a woodchipper.
• To identify and select appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and perform maintenance on it.
• To carry out operator checks and perform routine maintenance on the woodchipper, including inspecting the cutting mechanism and safety features.
• To create site-specific risk assessments for safe wood chipping operations.
• To understand how to safely operate the woodchipper, including machine positioning, starting, checking, and stopping.
• To prepare the work area and materials for chipping and identify hazardous materials to avoid.
• To use safe and effective methods for chipping both brash and different sections of timber.
• To know the procedures for safely removing blockages.
• To understand the environmental impact and disposal methods for woodchips.
• To clean and tidy the site to specification and prepare the machine for transport and storage.

Course Content:

• Woodchipper Legislation & Safety Guidelines: Understand the relevant legislation and safety guidelines for using a woodchipper.
• PPE Selection & Maintenance: Select the appropriate PPE for woodchipping tasks and understand its maintenance requirements.
• Operator Checks & Routine Maintenance: Carry out operator checks and routine maintenance, focusing on the cutting mechanism and safety features of the woodchipper.
• Site-Specific Risk Assessment: Produce a site-specific risk assessment for woodchipping operations to ensure safety on-site.
• Woodchipper Operation: Learn how to position the woodchipper for safe operation, start the machine, perform safety checks, and stop the machine when necessary.
• Work Area Preparation & Material Identification: Prepare a work area and materials for chipping and identify hazardous materials that should be avoided during the operation.
• Chipping Techniques: Use safe and effective methods for chipping woody brash and both short and long sections of timber to meet operational requirements.
• Blockage Removal Procedures: Understand the correct procedure for removing blockages safely without compromising safety.
• Woodchip Disposal & Environmental Considerations: Know the safety and environmental factors associated with the disposal of woodchips, and understand various uses for the chips, such as mulch, compost, or fuel.
• Site Cleanup & Machine Storage: Clean and tidy the site to specification and prepare the woodchipper for transport and storage.

Assessment: Participants will undergo practical and theoretical assessments to demonstrate competence in the safe use of the woodchipper, in preparation for the City & Guilds NPTC Unit 0020-57 certification.

By the end of the course, delegates will be equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to safely operate a manually fed woodchipper and complete wood chipping tasks efficiently and with confidence.