FALLER CERTIFICATION LEVELS

who made the evaluation, will be submitted to the DTO stating the individual is competent at the Faller 1 level. The qualification will be listed on the Incident Qualification Card (Red Card) for fire-qualified employees. For those not fire qualified a saw qualification card will be issued.

Typical high complexity situations routinely require multiple advanced cutting techniques such as variations of face or back cuts, felling trees against the primary lean, directional felling and fire weakened or considerably compromised tree conditions. Close canopy lays, poor escape routes and safety zones, values at risk within cutting safety area, and tree diameters that exceed bar lengths are also good indicators of high complexity situations.

Faller Certification Levels

Training

Certification Requirement FAL3

Refresher Training / S-212 with field evaluation Refresher Training / S-212 with field evaluation Refresher Training / S-212 with field evaluation

Certified by FAL2 or higher Certified by FAL2 or higher

Certified by two Faller 1 Certifiers, or one Faller 1 Certifier and one Faller 1

Capability Low Complexity Moderate Complexity High Complexity

FAL2 FAL1

Currency 3-year Refresher Training and experience 3-year Refresher Training and experience 3-year Recertification

SAFETY In addition to meeting all training standards, all Division employees will wear the appropriate personal protective equipment whenever operating a chainsaw. This includes eye protection, hearing protection, hard hat, gloves, long sleeve work shirt, lace-up boots with lug soles and chainsaw chaps. No trees should be felled when the top of the tree is not visible for any reason including obstruction because of heavy smoke, fog, darkness, canopy, etc. While performing operations on Federal lands, procedures for the governing agency must be followed. For example, the Health and Safety Code Handbook must be followed when performing operations in the Forest Service’s jurisdiction.