Forestry, arboriculture and chainsaw work involve some of the most serious injury risks found in outdoor occupations.
Workers may use chainsaws, work at height, fell trees, operate machinery, handle heavy timber and work in remote locations where emergency services may take longer to arrive.
Because of these risks, first aid arrangements need to go beyond simply keeping a first aid box in a vehicle or workshop. Employers and contractors should consider severe bleeding, crush injuries, falls, head injuries, remote access, communication and rescue arrangements before work begins.
This guide explains first aid planning for forestry, tree work and chainsaw operations, including personal first aid kits, emergency arrangements, aerial rescue, lone working and what to consider when serious injury occurs.
Chainsaws can cause severe and potentially fatal injuries. Tree work can also involve falling branches, unstable trees, work at height, ropes, machinery, vehicles and difficult terrain.
Possible emergencies include:
Preventing these incidents through training, safe systems of work and suitable protective equipment is always the priority. First aid arrangements provide the next level of protection if something still goes wrong.
The Health and Safety Executive describes chainsaws as potentially dangerous machines that can cause fatal or major injuries if they are not used correctly.
Anyone using a chainsaw at work must receive adequate training and be competent to use the saw for the type of work they are carrying out.
HSE guidance for chainsaw operators specifically covers:
For the wider legal framework, see our UK First Aid Law Explained guide.
First aid provision should reflect the actual work being undertaken rather than relying on a generic arrangement.
A needs assessment should consider:
See our HSE First Aid Needs Assessment Explained guide for a broader explanation of the assessment process.
| Hazard | Possible injury | First aid planning consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Chainsaw contact | Severe lacerations and life-threatening bleeding. | Rapid bleeding control, suitable personal first aid equipment and immediate communication with emergency services. |
| Falling trees or branches | Head injury, crush injury, fractures and internal injuries. | Emergency access, casualty extraction and monitoring for shock. |
| Aerial tree work | Falls, suspension, trauma or serious bleeding while off the ground. | A competent person must be available to carry out aerial rescue without delay. |
| Forestry machinery | Crush, entanglement and traumatic injuries. | Safe isolation procedures, emergency access and first aid provision appropriate to the risk. |
| Remote working | Delayed discovery or delayed emergency response. | Reliable communication, accurate location information and personal or travelling first aid equipment. |
| Overhead power lines | Electric shock, burns and cardiac arrest. | Do not approach until the electrical danger is controlled and follow emergency-service instructions. |
| Cold or extreme weather | Hypothermia, heat exhaustion or heatstroke. | Weather planning, shelter, hydration and emergency arrangements for exposed workers. |
HSE guidance for top-handled chainsaw work states that, as a minimum, each person should carry a personal first aid kit.
The guidance identifies items including:
This personal kit is separate from any larger first aid provision available at the worksite.
The purpose is straightforward: if someone suffers a serious cut away from the main vehicle, welfare unit or first aid point, essential equipment must be immediately accessible rather than several minutes away.
Yes, where the needs assessment identifies that additional provision is necessary.
A personal kit carried by each worker does not remove the need to consider wider site first aid arrangements.
Depending on the work, this may include:
Equipment should be readily accessible and protected from moisture, dirt, fuel, sawdust and other conditions that could damage it.
You can view our range of first aid kits when reviewing workplace or travelling provision.
A chainsaw can cause deep wounds and catastrophic blood loss very quickly.
If severe bleeding occurs:
Where life-threatening bleeding is a foreseeable workplace risk, the first aid needs assessment should consider whether additional equipment and training are appropriate.
For more detailed emergency guidance, see our First Aid for Major Bleeding guide.
Do not pull out an object that is embedded deeply in a wound.
Removing it may cause additional tissue damage or increase bleeding.
Instead:
Severe bleeding, crush injuries and major trauma can all lead to medical shock.
Possible signs include:
Shock is a life-threatening emergency. Call 999, deal with any obvious life-threatening cause where possible, keep the casualty warm and continue monitoring them.
See our First Aid for Shock guide for further information.
A person hit by a tree, limb or heavy section of timber may have more than one serious injury.
Possible injuries include:
Call 999 for serious injuries and avoid unnecessary movement, particularly where a spinal or pelvic injury is suspected.
Do not place yourself beneath unstable timber or enter an uncontrolled danger area while trying to reach the casualty.
Crush injuries can occur when workers are trapped by trees, logs, machinery or vehicles.
Before approaching:
A casualty who has been significantly crushed may have serious internal injuries even if external damage appears limited.
See our First Aid for Crush Injuries guide for more information.
Tree surgeons and arborists may work from ropes and harnesses, mobile elevating work platforms or other specialist access systems.
A fall can result in:
If a casualty has fallen from height, do not focus only on the most obvious injury. Consider the possibility of multiple injuries and call 999 where significant trauma has occurred.
See our First Aid for Fractures & Dislocations guide for related first aid information.
First aid is much more difficult if the injured person is suspended in a tree and cannot reach the ground.
HSE guidance states that a minimum of two people should be present during tree-climbing operations, with one person available on the ground who is competent and equipped to carry out an aerial rescue without delay.
This means emergency rescue should be planned before climbing begins.
The team should consider:
HSE case studies show that failure to plan an aerial rescue can seriously delay treatment after a fall or other injury.
No. Calling the emergency services is essential after a serious incident, but the work team should not rely on the fire and rescue service as its only aerial rescue plan.
Tree-climbing operations should already have competent rescue capability available on site.
Emergency services may still provide specialist assistance, but waiting for them to organise the initial rescue could create a dangerous delay.
Lone working requires careful assessment because serious injuries may prevent the worker from calling for help.
For higher-risk chainsaw or tree work, employers should consider whether the task is suitable to be carried out alone at all.
Where lone working is permitted, arrangements should consider:
See our Lone Worker First Aid Requirements guide for further information.
Emergency access should be planned before work begins, especially in woodland, forests and remote rural locations.
Workers should be able to provide:
Someone may need to meet an ambulance or rescue team at the nearest road and guide them to the casualty.
Location details should not depend entirely on one injured worker's phone.
HSE guidance emphasises the importance of communication arrangements during forestry and estate work.
Before work begins, confirm:
A whistle can also form part of personal first aid and emergency equipment.
Trees, branches, climbing equipment and machinery can come into dangerous proximity to overhead electricity lines.
If a person or equipment is in contact with a live electrical source, do not approach until the electrical danger has been controlled.
Call 999 and contact the electricity network operator as appropriate.
Once it is confirmed safe to approach, assess the casualty's airway and breathing and provide first aid according to their condition.
For more information, see our First Aid for Electric Shock guide.
Forestry workers may spend long periods outdoors in rain, wind and cold conditions.
An injured person who cannot move may cool rapidly, particularly if they are lying on cold or wet ground.
While waiting for emergency services:
See our First Aid for Hypothermia guide for detailed guidance.
Chainsaw PPE can be heavy and warm, especially during demanding physical work.
Hot weather can therefore increase the risk of heat exhaustion.
Planning should consider:
Heatstroke is a medical emergency and requires 999 assistance.
See our First Aid for Heat Exhaustion & Heatstroke guide.
PPE is part of preventing injury rather than first aid, but it is particularly important in chainsaw work.
HSE guidance identifies protective equipment such as:
The exact PPE should reflect whether the operator is working on the ground or carrying out aerial tree work.
For a broader explanation, see our Workplace PPE Explained guide.
The level of first aid training should reflect the first aid needs assessment.
Because forestry and chainsaw work can involve severe trauma and remote locations, employers should consider whether ordinary low-risk workplace training provides enough preparation for the foreseeable emergencies.
The assessment may justify additional training relating to:
Training should be appropriate to the work actually being carried out.
Yes. Workers should know the site's first aid and emergency arrangements before work starts.
This includes:
There is no universal legal inspection interval for every kit.
However, forestry equipment can be exposed to harsh conditions, so regular checks are particularly important.
Check that:
Once the immediate emergency has been dealt with, the incident should be reviewed.
This may involve:
For more detail, see our Workplace Accident Investigation Guide.
| Area | What to confirm before work begins |
|---|---|
| Risk assessment | Foreseeable serious injuries and medical emergencies have been identified. |
| Personal first aid kits | Workers carry appropriate personal first aid equipment where required. |
| Main first aid provision | Suitable additional equipment is accessible at the worksite. |
| Severe bleeding | Training and equipment reflect the foreseeable risk of major chainsaw injuries. |
| Communication | Phones, radios or other systems work reliably at the site. |
| Location | Workers can provide emergency services with an accurate location or grid reference. |
| Aerial rescue | A competent and equipped person is available where tree-climbing operations are taking place. |
| Emergency access | Ambulance and rescue teams can reach the site and any gates or barriers can be opened. |
| Lone working | Tasks have been assessed for suitability and suitable alarm or check-in arrangements are in place. |
| Weather | Cold, heat, wind and other environmental conditions have been considered. |
| Training | Workers and first aiders have training appropriate to the work and foreseeable injuries. |
The Health and Safety Executive provides dedicated guidance for forestry, arboriculture and chainsaw work, including training, PPE, lone working, first aid and aerial rescue.
You can read the HSE Tree Work guidance and HSE Working with Chainsaws guidance for further information.
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