Training Courses

Arbortec is an experienced training provider to the Forestry, Arboricultural and Land-based industry. We only use Lantra and NPTC-approved instructors and assessors for all our courses run either from our base in Ballycastle, at the foot of the Antrim glens, or from a site arranged to better suit you, the client.

We are able to provide training courses specifically tailored to your needs as well as industry-recognised courses (LANTRA) leading to NPTC assessment. Training is delivered in small groups (maximum 4 trainees) ensuring individual attention and the most effective trainer to trainee ratio.

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) require employers to provide adequate training and to ensure that chainsaws and related equipment are operated by employees who have received appropriate training in their safe use. Anyone working in or on trees is expected to hold a recognised certificate of competence. If you are self employed the regulations still apply.

There are two routes to training and certification for chainsaws and aerial tree work. Each suite of courses follows a logical, pre-requisite, progression:

Arbortec also offers refresher courses which are aimed at the experienced operator. They are a requirement for non-assessed training or ITA every 3 years.

Experienced chainsaw operators and tree climbers should be getting refreshers every 5 years and course lengths are generally much shorter.

Tailor-made advanced climbing and rigging courses are available on request.

Clients include:

  • Clarke Cunningham Tree Maintenance, North Down, Belfast.
  • Belfast City Council.
  • Sierra Communications, Dublin.
  • Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service.
  • Forest Service. Northern Ireland.
  • Penna.
  • University College, Dublin.
  • Park Rangers, Glendalough. Co. Wicklow.

1. Lantra Courses

Lantra courses are training courses which, following successful assessment by an independent assessor, lead to an NPTC Certificate of Competence in the relevant CS unit. This is the industry minimum requirement for working in professional forestry, amenity or arboricultural activities.

2. Training Only & Integrated Training and Assessment (ITA) Courses

These courses are suitable for professional and non-professional operators since there is no industry requirement for independent assessment. They lead to Lantra Awards Certificates of Training, however they need to be updated every three years. Refresher courses are available (see below).  

Chainsaw maintenance & cross cutting
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Safety and health features of a chainsaw
  • Maintenance
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Fuelling and starting a chainsaw
  • Preparing site and chainsaw checks
  • Performing pre-cutting checks
  • Cross-cutting timber
  • Stack timber
  • Adjusting the chainsaw

Chainsaw maintenance & cross cutting and Felling small trees
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Safety and health features of a chainsaw
  • Maintenance
  • Personal protective equipment
  • Fuelling and starting a chainsaw
  • Preparing site and chainsaw checks
  • Performing pre-cutting checks
  • Adjusting the chainsaw
  • Felling demonstration
  • Felling trees up to 380mm diameter
  • Additional felling techniques
  • De-limbing felled trees
  • Cross cutting trunks of felled trees
  • Stack timber
  • Takedown of hung-up trees

Felling Small Trees – up to 380mm
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Felling demonstration
  • Felling trees up to 380mm diameter
  • Additional felling techniques
  • De-limbing felled trees
  • Cross cutting trunks of felled trees
  • Takedown of Hung-up trees

Felling medium trees – between 380 and 760mm
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Felling medium-sized trees
  • Additional felling techniques
  • Snedding and de-limbing
  • Cross-cutting felled timber
  • Takedown using hand tools
  • Winching
  • Stump treatment

Felling large trees – over 760mm
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Site safety
  • Preparing, felling and de-limbing
  • Storage and transport
  • Legislative issues

Dealing with single windblow
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Site safety
  • Dealing with windblown, hung-up trees
  • Severing the root plate
  • Restraining an overhanging root plate
  • Use of winches
  • Side tension and broken trees
  • De-limbing, cross-cutting and stacking

Basic tree climbing & aerial rescue
Course Content

  • Regulations and industry best practice
  • Climbing equipment
  • Techniques for access and movement within the tree to achieve work positions
  • Use of hand tools
  • Aerial rescue

Operate a chainsaw from rope & harness
Course Content

  • Regulations and industry best practice
  • Working in the tree crown
  • Starting procedures
  • Correct handling of the saw
  • Accurate use of the saw to cut lightweight and medium-weight branches

MEWP
Course Content

  • Regulations and industry best practice
  • Preparation, operator maintenance and pre-work checks
  • Safe operation
  • Conversion to transport position

Thorough examination of Arboricultural equipment (LOLER)
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Legal Framework
  • Inspection intervals
  • Record keeping, traceability and reporting
  • Marking of equipment
  • Types of damage and defects
  • Inspection techniques
  • Maintenance and repair
  • Life span and disposal of equipment

Brushcutters and strimmers
Course Content

  • Maintenance (engine, drive system and gear head)
  • Selecting the appropriate cutting head
  • Re-assembly
  • Maintaining and fitting the cutting head
  • Correct personal protective clothing
  • Adjusting the machine and harness
  • Inspecting the site and identifying hazards
  • Environmental considerations
  • Fuelling
  • Starting the machine
  • Cutting a test area
  • After-care and safe transportation.

Manually fed woodchippers
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Risk Assessment
  • Legislation
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pre-use checks
  • Safety Features
  • Routine checks and maintenance
  • Cutter and anvil checks
  • Start machine and carry out safety checks
  • Preparation of site, machine and materials
  • Operation of woodchipper
  • Unblocking woodchipper
  • End uses of woodchip
  • Cleaning, transport and storage

Stumpgrinders
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • Risk Assessment
  • Legislation
  • Personal Protective Equipment
  • Pre-use checks
  • Safety Features
  • Routine checks and maintenance
  • Grinding mechanism
  • Start machine and carry out safety checks
  • Preparation of site, machine and materials
  • Operation of Stump Grinder
  • Unblocking Stump Grinder
  • Re-instate ground and deal with arisings
  • Cleaning, transport and storage

Basic tree inspection
Course Content

  • Introduction
  • PPE
  • Risk Assessment
  • Legal Framework
  • Tree Surveys
  • Tree Inspections
  • Tree Hazard Assessment
  • Determining the scope and limits of the survey
  • Highways
  • Parks, gardens, woodland
  • Hazardous trees
  • Methodology – what to look for
  • Recording pro-formas
  • Survey/inspection exercise

LOLER Inspection Service

Arbortec offers thorough and impartial LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lowering Equipment Regulations) inspections of arboricultural equipment as well as advice on record keeping. These can be carried out at your own facilities.

We are now able to provide the client with a digital record and we then contact the client when re-inspections are due.

Academic Qualifications for Arborists

In response to an increasing demand for arborists to have not only the practical skills but also the accompanying knowledge to provide a full-quality service, we are now offering classroom-based training for candidates wishing to achieve the ISA Certified Arborist examination and the RFS Certificate in Arboriculture.

  • RFS Certificate in Arboriculture (3 weeks)
  • ISA Certified Arborist (3 weeks)

Arbortec

Arbortec

Arbortec