A number of chainsaw safety and maintenance courses are being offered by the Provincial Forest section of the Department of Agriculture and Forestry in conjunction with the Island Sustainable Forest Partnership through the Canadian Model Forest Network. The courses, held at various locations between March 3 and 29, will be of interest to casual chainsaw users and woodlot owner managers. There is no charge to those taking the course.
The "cutting firewood safety" course introduces chainsaw users to safety features such as protective clothing, cold and warm starting techniques, safe felling, saw safety trouble shooting and cutting to enhance wildlife habitat. The courses will be offered in Souris, Southampton, Montague, Charlottetown, Kensington, Wellington and O'Leary. The course consists of one evening and a half-day demonstration on a Saturday.
The "chainsaw maintenance and repair course" is a week-long course offered in Charlottetown, Southampton and Wellington. While saws are available for demonstration, participants are encouraged to bring their own saws for repair and maintenance. Participants will be required to supply the required parts for their saws.
"Working in Island woodlots can be very hazardous unless people take the proper precautions in operating chainsaws and carrying out other harvest activities," said Dan McAskill, acting director of the Forestry and Land Resource Modelling Division. "By offering opportunities for people to learn more about the operation and maintenance of chainsaws, we hope to improve safety standards in the forest industry."
More information on the courses can be obtained by contacting the forestry district offices at Southampton (961-7296), Charlottetown (368-4800) and Wellington (854-7260).