Training Thinking Sawyers

As of July 19, 2017, anyone who runs a chain saw or crosscut saw as a US Forest Service (USFS) volunteer or member of a cooperating partner group is required to be certified through the USFS saw program. The intent of the new National Saw Policy is to standardize training, evaluation, certification and safety procedures for sawyers operating on lands managed by the USFS. It will also increase capacity over time as cooperating partners can start their own saw programs with the approval of the USFS and offer training and certification for their members and other USFS volunteers and employees.

Since the early 1970s, all USFS employees and volunteers had to be trained, evaluated and certified by USFS sawyers to use a chain saw or cross cut on USFS land. This was not the case for cooperating partners.

Until last summer, a cooperating partner needed to ensure that its participants were capable of doing the job and met Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements. It was the partner’s responsibility to make sure the work was being done safely and they accepted the liability as a part of the challenge cost share agreement.

“The saw work that we do, whether it is by volunteers, our partners or employees, is one of the most hazardous things that we do,” said Regional Volunteer Use and Service Program Coordinator Joni Packard. “What we have found over the years is there was inconsistent training, inconsistencies regarding who was accepting certifications or recommendations for certification all over the country [for cooperating partners].”

The goal for the National Saw Policy was to move towards more consistent training, evaluation and certification to facilitate the safe use of saws on National Forest Service lands. After five years of development, the policy went into effect July 19, 2016 with a one-year transition period for cooperating partners to meet the new requirements.

“Everyone who this policy applies to is trained and evaluated to the same standard and then when they are certified they are good to go anywhere in the country because everyone is trained at the same level,” said Packard.

Training is only required for those members of cooperating partner groups that run a chain saw or cross cut. Some of the local partners on the Seeley Lake Ranger District include Seeley Lake Nordic Club, Driftriders Snowmobile Club, Backcountry Horseman, Montana Conservation Corps and Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation.

Sawyers are certified at different levels for bucking and felling based on a complexity analysis. They can hold a different level of certification for each.

An A Sawyer is an entry-level sawyer. They are required to be mentored and coached by a higher-level sawyer at all times.

B Feller and Buckers are the middle ground. Under the past certification requirements, this classification was restricted by tree diameter at breast height (DBH). Now it is based on the complexity of the tree.

Todd Wilson has been a C Sawyer Certifier since 1993 and is the acting regional saw program manager. He has been in charge of the regional saw program since 2004. He said the reason they moved away from DBH restrictions was because of safety and comprehension.

“Just because a tree is a small diameter does not mean it is less hazardous,” said Wilson who gave the example that an 18-inch tree can be extremely complex and hazardous to fall versus a larger tree where there is more room to correct mistakes. “When people were only looking at DBH they were only looking at one aspect. It was a false sense of security. Our goal is to train thinking sawyers. ”

The C Feller and Buckers are considered expert sawyers and can take down and buck the most challenging trees.

“The [bucking classifications] were added because of the [cooperating] groups. Ninety-five percent of their work is bucking trails,” said Wilson. “This gives us more flexibility in the program to better suit people’s needs and accelerate people’s training.”

The training requirements include classroom and field work for two to five days depending on the needs of the cooperating partners. The classes can be tailored to the level and work requirements of the sawyers. The USFS pays for the class if the partner is under a sanctioned agreement with the USFS and is intended for people doing projects specifically on National Forest System Lands. The certification is good for three years after which sawyers must be reevaluated. Sawyers are also required to have first aid and CPR.

“It is an investment of time but the bottom line is we really want folks to come home safe at the end of the day,” said Packard. “We are trying to work strategically with our cooperating partners to say who really needs the training right now. If we have other folks who don’t really use a saw all that much, we can catch them at a later date.”

The new policy also allows for cooperating partners to establish their own saw program if it meets the USFS requirements and is approved by the USFS. The group would need to have someone who is a C Sawyer to do the certification. Because everyone is meeting the same standard, they would not only be able to certify members of their groups but also USFS employees and volunteers.

“The inclusion of the partnership groups was huge because they do an enormous amount of work for the Forest Service,” said Wilson. “To bring them into our fold really added a lot of capacity.”

While the liability still falls on the cooperator partners, Packard said that because the National Saw Policy follows all the OSHA requirements it makes it easier for the groups to demonstrate that they are following these requirements. If groups are not complying with the new saw requirements, their agreement with the USFS can be terminated.

Wilson said the challenge has been embracing the new techniques and getting away from the attitude, “This is the way it has always been done.” He said they are learning new techniques that are helping to build thinking sawyers.

“This is one of the most hazardous things we do,” said Wilson. “We need to give people the techniques, tools, ability and empowerment to work through the problem solving not just ‘I know one cut and one way to do this,’ when that may not fit.”

For more information about the National Saw Policy visit https://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/regulations-policies/saw-policy