This blended learning course is a combination of online self-paced learning in advance and hands-on skill training in-person on chainsaw safety for utility operations. The instructor led portion is one full-day session being held Thursday, July 24th from 8:00 am – 4:00 pm at the NEPPA Training Center (200 New Estate Road, Littleton MA 01460).

NEPPA is excited to partner with North American Training Solutions (NATS) to offer this brand new learning opportunity.  NATS is the only nationally recognized training organization utilizing OSHA Authorized Outreach trainers and performing hands-on training and hands-on competency evaluations which assess and empower workers to perform their job duties to the highest of their abilities. They work alongside utilities to provide safety education to those doing vegatation management in proximity to overhead and underground electric utility lines. 

Utility arboriculture and vegetation management is the largest sector of the arboriculture industry and requires specialty skills to safely perform job tasks in proximity to electrical conductors and hardware. NATS have developed best in class safety curriculums, practices and procedures purposefully designed for those working in proximity to electric utility infrastructure and to ensure safe and reliable power delivery.

Click here to learn more about National American Training Solutions.

Who Should Attend

This program is designed for Electric Lineworkers and Operations Personnel who may we required to do tree work in daily operations or mutual aid deployments.  There are no prerequistes for this course and it is open to new hires as well as those who have recieved previous training and need a refresher on applicable knowledge or skills in identified areas.

Course Overview

This is a two-part course with knowledge-based online learning in addition to hands-on skills training at the NEPPA training facility. 

Part One: Knowledge-based Online Individual Learning

Once enrolled, participants will have 30 days to complete the NATS K-40 Portable Chainsaw General Safety Requirements Class. This self-paced training course is online, which means learners can take the course when their schedule allows. This course is designed to educate workers who use a chainsaw about general safety requirements, proper risk assessment, PPE use, and chainsaw safety features. The course also covers an introduction to maintenance, use, and handling. Participants will gain an understanding of chainsaw reactive forces and
hazards associated with cutting & felling trees and cutting wood or brush. They will learn planning strategies including saw transport, starting, cross cutting/bucking and limbing, understanding compression and tension, and dealing with spring poles as well as basic saw maintenance. These strategies will be demonstrated through video in a safe, online learning environment.

Part Two: Skill-based Hands-on Learning

This instructor-led course will be held at NEPPA training facility at 200 New Estate Rd. Littleton, MA. NATS S-160 Portable Chainsaw Utility Applications course provides an introduction to the function, maintenance and use of portable chainsaws, and their technical application for utility infrastructure. The course meets the challenges utility workers face when a chainsaw is used for pole, cross arm, and tree removal operations located in proximity to utilities and targets such as roads, buildings, and related infrastructure where specialized
technical skills and equipment are required to cut material into designated drop zones. Specialty cutting techniques and equipment will be explained, demonstrated by instructors as well as available for participants to practice skills in a hands-on setting.

Training Yard

The hands-on portion of this course is made possible by using NATS Skills Yard, an outdoor learning lab that can be set up almost anywhere and provides the ability for professionals to learn and demonstrate their skills with minimum impact on the environment. 

The main component of the Skills Yard is the SafeTree (pat. pending), an engineered tree that serves as an environmentally friendly solution to training and assessing skills and competencies of utility tree workers. It is built using a foundation, main pole or beam (ANSI Class 1 – ANSI Class 3 certified), section connections, and limb connections.

Learn more about NATS Skills Yard and SafeTree here

Agenda

(Details below are subject to change)

8:00 am Welcome & Introductions
8:30 am Instruction – Topics to include:
– Hazard Identification and Controls (Hierarchy of Controls, Job Briefing, and Emergency Action Planning)
– PPE for Chainsaws Operations
– Chainsaw Safety Features, Pre inspection, and Reactive Forces
– Introduction to Limbing and Bucking (Wood mechanics, Compression, Tension)
10:30 am Break
10:45 am Instruction – Topics to include:
– Dealing with spring poles and wood under compression and tension
12:00 pm Lunch
12:30 pm Instruction Topics to include:
– Face Notches, Snap Cuts, and Relief Cuts
– 6 Step Cutting Plan
– Putting it all together and practice cutting trees off of lines
2:00 pm Break
2:15 pm Instruction – Hands on Practice
3:30 PM Course Evaluation Debrief and Closing
4:00 pm Adjourn

About the Instructor                                   

What to Bring

Participants shall bring their own PPE which meets the following standards. A PPE inspection will be performed prior to field training beginning, and NATS reserves the right to deny participation in course programming to any individual who it determines, in its sole and absolute discretion, lacks adequate PPE or is otherwise unfit to perform a given course task.

PPE required for this course is as follows:
· Head Protection (ANSI Z89.1)
· Hearing Protection
· Eye Protection (ANSI Z87.1)
· High Viz Shirt (ANSI / ISEA 107)
· Hand Protection (gloves applicable for the task)
· Chainsaw Leg protection (ASTM F1897: look for the UL label)
· Foot Protection (a sturdy work boot that supports to the ankle or above, or ASTM F2412 & F2413
protective footwear)
· Other PPE as may be required by NATS based on applicable site conditions.

Registration

To register, please click the button below. Upon completion of the Program, participants will receive a Certificate of Completion. Registration fees include coffee and lunch. If you have any dietary restrictions or considerations, please make note on your registration.

2025 Registration fees are as follows:

NEPPA Members: $495
Non-Members: $595

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations are accepted until two weeks prior to the start of the class. Substitutions may be made at any time prior to the start of the class.

Questions?

Please contact training@neppa.org or call the office at (978) 540-2200.