Build and maintain tools and devices used to process coppice and green wood products

This standard covers the activities required to build and maintain the tools and devices used to process coppice and green wood products. It includes the assembly and adjustment of the tools and devices and the maintenance required to keep them in good condition.

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 relevant legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance.

Core requirements and responsibilities
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 work to be carried out, before starting work and throughout the activity
4. 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
5. confirm that relevant training and certification is in place to undertake the work to be carried out and recognise your own competence limitations
6. confirm that the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be carried out is worn at all times
7. select, prepare, use, maintain and store the tools and equipment required to build and maintain the tools and devices safely, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
8. 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
9. remove all waste and surplus materials and deal with them in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
10. implement best practice approaches to sustainability that are appropriate for the work being carried out
11. complete and store all the relevant documentation in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures

Build tools and devices
1. obtain or devise a clear and accurate specification to build tools and devices used to process coppice and green wood products
2. identify and source suitable materials to build the tools and devices to the specification
3. create or obtain the components required to build the tools and devices to the specification
4. assemble the tools and devices in accordance with the specification
5. confirm that tools and devices are safe and fit for purpose
6. adjust tools and devices as necessary
7. identify any faults or improvements that can be made to the tools and devices and carry out modifications
8. store tools and devices used to process coppice and green wood products correctly to maintain their condition and make sure they are safe to use

Maintain tools and devices
1. maintain edged hand tools by identifying and making safe minor defects in the handle or shaft
2. identify any major defects in edged hand tools
3. repair and confirm that the edged hand tool is in a safe working condition
4. identify defective and dull cutting edges and use the appropriate equipment to sharpen and restore the correct cutting edge on tools

Core requirements and responsibilities
1. how to identify and access information relevant to the required work
2. your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation and codes of practice
3. how to identify hazards and assess risks associated with the work to be carried out
4. the relevant health and safety procedures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW)
5. 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
6. 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
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 correct methods of dealing with waste and surplus materials in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
10. your and the organisation’s responsibility for protecting the environment and working sustainably

Build tools and devices
1. the range of tools and devices used to process coppice and green wood products and their different uses
2. the function of each part of the tool or device
3. the different designs and their relative merits
4. how to identify suitable materials to use to build tools and devices to the specification
5. how to create or obtain the components required to build the tools and devices to the specification
6. how to assemble and adjust the tools and devices in accordance with the specification
7. the modifications that can be made to tools and devices to improve their performance
8. the main causes of the deterioration of tools and devices used to process coppice and green wood products and the measures that can be taken to protect them
9. how to protect and store sharp edged hand tools safely to maintain their condition
10. how to label, store and report damaged and dangerous tools

Maintain tools and devices
1. the methods of maintaining the range of tools and devices to ensure they remain effective over time
2. the health and safety implications of defects in edged hand tools, edged tools and shafts
3. the different methods and devices for sharpening edged hand tools
4. the range of tool edge profiles and which are appropriate for different purposes
5. how to identify the bevel and edge characteristics of individual edged tools required for specific functions
6. the importance of “temper” in an edged tool
7. the appropriate use of a range of sharpening stones and the difference between oil and wet stones
8. the correct use of angle grinders and grinding wheels
9. how to safely test the sharpness of a tool and recognise when a tool requires sharpening
10. the different methods of fitting a new handle or shaft
11. how to select the appropriate materials to replace tool handles

Maintaining hand tools includes:
• identifying and dealing with defects in tools
• replacing tool handles and shafts
• protecting tools to prevent corrosion, damage and personal injury
• sharpening edged tools
• regrinding the bevel
• honing the cutting edge
• the correct storage of tools

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.