Cut, process and extract coppice

This standard covers the activities required to cut, process and extract coppice, using the most appropriate method to achieve specified objectives.

Objectives may include:
• coppice management
• coppice restoration
• production of specified coppice products
• habitat conservation/management

When working with equipment and machinery you must be appropriately trained, and hold current certification, where required, in line with the relevant legislation.

Your work must conform to all the relevant legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance.

1. obtain the relevant information to carry out the work activities in accordance with organisational procedures
2. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in accordance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
3. assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, before starting work and throughout the activity, checking and confirming the findings of any existing risk assessments
4. confirm that sufficient control measures are implemented and emergency planning and procedures relevant to the site have been established and recorded
5. select and implement the safest working methods, making use of mechanical methods where this is safer, in accordance with the assessed risks and organisational procedures, and plan work accordingly
6. confirm that relevant training and certification is in place to undertake the work to be carried out and recognise your own competence limitations
7. use appropriate methods to maintain effective communication with other workers and anyone else involved in, or affected by the work, in accordance with industry guidance and organisational procedures
8. confirm that the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be carried out is worn at all times
9. select, prepare, use, maintain and store the tools and equipment required safely, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
10. confirm that all equipment has been checked, tested where required, and is fit for purpose, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer's instructions
11. maintain the safety and security of tools and equipment on site
12. maintain hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, industry guidance and organisational procedures
13. identify the species, mix and estimated age of the coppice
14. produce a work schedule to cut, process and extract coppice
15. cut coppice stool using the current industry best practice in order to promote healthy re-growth
16. process the coppice material, minimising wastage
17. manage standing trees in accordance with industry best practice
18. manage unwanted or un-useable materials in accordance with industry best practice
19. sort/grade and bundle cut coppice according to its designated future use
20. extract coppice using methods appropriate to the site and the materials
21. leave coppice stool in a suitable condition to promote healthy re- growth
22. restock the understory using appropriate methods
23. maintain coppice at the appropriate density
24. remove all waste and surplus materials and deal with them in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
25. minimise damage or disturbance to the site and surrounding area while carrying out the work and confirm that the site is left in a safe and tidy condition
26. implement best practice approaches to sustainability that are appropriate for the work being carried out
27. deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your responsibilities and report issues that cannot be resolved, in accordance with organisational procedures
28. complete and store all relevant documentation in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures

1. how to identify and access information relevant to the required work
2. how to identify hazards and assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out and the importance of site-specific risk assessment and control measures that are appropriate for your area of work
3. the relevant health and safety procedures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW)
4. current legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance, organisational policies, procedures and protocols, business and professional ethics that are relevant to your area of work, and to which you must adhere
5. the legal, industry and organisational requirements for training and certification to undertake the work activities required and the importance of acknowledging your limitations and not undertaking work that is beyond your level of competence
6. why it is important to maintain effective communication with other workers and anyone else involved in, or affected by, the work and the methods of communication that should be used
7. the tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the work and how to safely, prepare, use, carry out operator maintenance and store these, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, manufacturer’s instructions, and organisational procedures
8. the legal requirements for checking and testing equipment and why it is important to maintain all equipment to a high standard
9. the importance of hygiene and biosecurity measures and how to apply these
10. the reasons for coppicing
11. the positive benefits of coppicing for biodiversity
12. how to identify commonly coppiced species, both in summer and winter
13. the importance of planning a work schedule for cutting, processing and extracting coppice
14. the national legislation governing woodland operations
15. the industry best practice with regard to coppicing a stool
16. the different methods of extracting coppice and their suitability for different applications
17. how to maximise the use of cut coppice and provide useable products
18. the management of standing trees
19. the factors that affect coppice regeneration
20. the importance of density and methods of re-stocking
21. how to protect stools from damage by browsing animals
22. the correct methods of dealing with waste and surplus materials in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
23. the potential impact of the work on the site and surrounding area and how this can be minimised
24. your and the organisation’s responsibility for protecting the environment and working sustainably
25. the issues that can occur when maintaining coppice health and productivity, the actions to take and organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
26. the scope and limitations of your competence, responsibilities and accountability
27. the legal and organisational requirements for the completion and storage of documentation

Information required to carry out work activities could include:
• drawings
• plans
• schedules
• specifications
• method statements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• manufacturer’s instructions
• customer requirements
• quality assurance requirements
• industry standards (e.g. British Standards)
• verbal or written instructions
• industry guidance (e.g. FISA)

Organisational procedures refer to procedures set by the organisation you are employed by or the organisation that you are doing the work on behalf of (the client or customer)

Safe System of Work (SSoW) – is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.