Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) Sawyer Certification Program In accordance with the USDA Forest Service, BCHW is authorized to instruct, evaluate and certify BCHW members (and qualifying friends) in the safe use of cross cut and chain saws to buck downed trees. We do not issue felling credentials. FAQ’S BCHW sawyer certifications are recognized on all US public lands. BCHW may instruct and certify qualified "Friends of BCHW" such as sawyers from other groups and associations who are operating under an individual or group land manager volunteer agreement. In order to receive certification from BCHW, each sawyer’s technical proficiency with a crosscut saw and/or chainsaw must be evaluated by BCHW Instructor/Evaluator (I/E) and assigned a sawyer proficiency level. At the start of every work party the group leader conducts a tailgate safety briefing where the Job Hazard Analyses are reviewed. Sawyers are encouraged to away” from any situation that they feel is beyond their “walk ability to safely address. Sawyer levels: Individual sawyers certified at the or level must recertify • “A” “Apprentice” every year. An A level sawyer must saw under the immediate supervision of a level B or C sawyer Individual sawyers certified as or must recertify every • “B” “Sawyer” two years. Individual sawyers certified as or level sawyers must • “C” “Journeyman” recertify every three years. C level - sawyers with good communication skills are encouraged to become Instructor/Evaluator.
Back Country Horsemen of Washington (BCHW) Sawyer Certification Program In accordance with the USDA Forest Service, BCHW is authorized to instruct, evaluate and certify BCHW members (and qualifying friends) in the safe use of cross cut and chain saws to buck downed trees. We do not issue felling credentials. FAQ’S BCHW sawyer certifications are recognized on all US public lands. BCHW may instruct and certify qualified "Friends of BCHW" such as sawyers from other groups and associations who are operating under an individual or group land manager volunteer agreement. In order to receive certification from BCHW, each sawyer’s technical proficiency with a crosscut saw and/or chainsaw must be evaluated by BCHW Instructor/Evaluator (I/E) and assigned a sawyer proficiency level. At the start of every work party the group leader conducts a tailgate safety briefing where the Job Hazard Analyses are reviewed. Sawyers are encouraged to “walk away” from any situation that they feel is beyond their ability to safely address. Sawyer levels: • Individual sawyers certified at the “A” or “Apprentice” level must recertify every year. An A level sawyer must saw under the immediate supervision of a level B or C sawyer • Individual sawyers certified as “B” or “Sawyer” must recertify every two years. • Individual sawyers certified as “C” or “Journeyman” level sawyers must recertify every three years. C level - sawyers with good communication skills are encouraged to become Instructor/Evaluator.
SAWYER%20FAQ%20v3.4%2020180314.docx