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Woodland Coppicing Risk Assessment — Generated Instantly for £29
A woodland coppicing risk assessment is required under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and PUWER 1998 for anyone undertaking coppice management with hand tools or powered equipment. Anyrisks generates a fully written, UK-compliant assessment covering chainsaws, manual handling, lone working and all relevant forestry hazards in under 2 minutes.
Used by woodland owners, forestry contractors, conservation charities and community woodland groups across the UK
🌳 Using chainsaws or brushcutters? Mention your certification level (CS30, CS31, CS38) and the assessment will include appropriate controls for powered equipment, PPE requirements and maintenance procedures under PUWER 1998.
Legal requirements for woodland coppicing
Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, specifically Regulation 3, employers and self-employed persons must conduct a suitable and sufficient risk assessment for all work activities. Woodland coppicing involves multiple hazards — falling timber, chainsaw operation, manual handling of coppice material, slips and trips on uneven ground, and often lone working in remote locations.
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) apply to all powered equipment used in coppicing, including chainsaws, brushcutters and forwarding machinery. Regulation 5 requires that equipment is suitable for the task, maintained in safe working order, and that operators are adequately trained. For chainsaw work, this typically means holding relevant Lantra or NPTC certification (CS30 for maintenance and crosscutting, CS31 for felling small trees, CS38 for ground operations).
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a general duty on employers to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare of employees and others who may be affected by the work. For woodland operations, this includes providing appropriate personal protective equipment, training, supervision and emergency procedures.
While not legislation, the Forestry Industry Safety Accord (FISA) publishes industry guidance for safe woodland operations. FISA guides (such as FISA 301 for chainsaw operations and FISA 804 for manual handling in forestry) represent accepted good practice and are referenced by the HSE. A comprehensive risk assessment aligned with FISA guidance demonstrates compliance with the general duties under health and safety law.
How it works
1. Describe the coppicing work
Tell us the woodland type (hazel, sweet chestnut, ash, mixed coppice), the tools and equipment you will use (hand tools, chainsaw, brushcutter), site access, ground conditions and whether you will be working alone or with others. If you have specific hazards like steep slopes or waterlogged ground, mention them.
2. Let the app take the strain
Anyrisks produces a fully written, UK-compliant woodland coppicing risk assessment referencing the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, PUWER 1998 and FISA guidance where relevant.
3. Instant download and use
Download as PDF and Word. Use it for your own woodland management, submit it to grant funders or conservation bodies, or include it in your forestry contractor RAMS documentation. £29, no subscription.
What it covers
Every woodland coppicing risk assessment is written in full — covering all forestry and site hazards relevant to your operation.
Chainsaw operation — crosscutting, felling and ground operations
Brushcutter and powered hand tool use
Manual handling of coppice poles, brash and timber
Slips, trips and falls on uneven woodland terrain
Striking and being struck by falling timber or tools
Working at height — tree climbing, pruning, habitat surveys
Lone working in remote woodland locations
Emergency procedures and first aid provisions
PPE requirements — chainsaw trousers, boots, gloves, helmet, visor
Chainsaw maintenance and refuelling procedures
Manual handling of heavy or awkward coppice material
Vehicle and machinery access on woodland tracks
Weather conditions — wind, rain, frost and reduced visibility
Wildlife and environmental considerations during operations
Works for
From traditional hazel coppice to commercial firewood production, Anyrisks covers every type of woodland coppicing operation.
What customers say
"I manage 12 acres of neglected coppice and needed a risk assessment for grant funding. Anyrisks covered chainsaw work, manual handling and lone working — exactly what the Woodland Trust wanted to see."
Richard M.
Woodland owner, Kent
"We run coppicing courses for volunteers and needed something that covered group working and different skill levels. The assessment was spot on and referenced all the right FISA guides."
Hannah P.
Conservation manager, Surrey
"I work alone cutting firewood from coppice. The assessment covered chainsaw use, emergency procedures and lone working controls — all the things my insurer asked for."
Tom B.
Firewood contractor, Devon
Anyrisks vs DIY templates
| Anyrisks | DIY / Templates | |
|---|---|---|
| Written in full — not a blank form | ✓ | ✗ |
| MHSWR 1999 and PUWER 1998 referenced | ✓ | ✗ |
| FISA guidance aligned | ✓ | ✗ |
| Chainsaw and powered equipment controls included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Covers both hand tools and mechanised harvesting | ✓ | ✗ |
| Lone working and emergency procedures included | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ready in under 2 minutes | ✓ | ✗ |
| Instant PDF and Word download | ✓ | Sometimes |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a risk assessment for coppicing on private woodland?
Yes — the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 requires a risk assessment for all work activities. If you employ anyone or work as part of a forestry business, a written risk assessment is mandatory. Even as a sole woodland owner doing your own coppicing, a risk assessment demonstrates competence and duty of care.
Does this cover both traditional hand coppicing and mechanised harvesting?
Yes — describe your working method (billhook, bowsaw, chainsaw, brushcutter, forwarding equipment) and the assessment will be tailored accordingly. Traditional hand tools and powered equipment have different control measures and both are covered.
What if I'm working alone in woodland?
Mention that you're working alone and the assessment will include lone working controls — emergency contact procedures, check-in systems, first aid provisions and proximity to mobile signal or emergency access routes.
Does it reference UK forestry regulations and FISA guidance?
Yes — the assessment references the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER), and aligns with Forestry Industry Safety Accord (FISA) guidance for woodland operations.
Can I use this for coppice restoration projects or commercial firewood production?
Yes — whether you're restoring neglected coppice for conservation purposes or running a commercial firewood or charcoal business, describe the scale, frequency and purpose of your coppicing work and the assessment will reflect it.
What about wildlife and environmental considerations during coppicing?
While the primary focus is health and safety, the assessment can reference timing considerations to avoid nesting season, protection of retained trees and habitats, and biosecurity measures to prevent disease spread between woodland sites.
How long does it take to generate the assessment?
Under 2 minutes. Describe the woodland site, coppicing method, tools used, access arrangements and any specific hazards (steep slopes, wet ground, overhead hazards) and Anyrisks produces a complete, regulation-referenced coppicing risk assessment instantly.
Is this suitable for community woodland groups and volunteers?
Yes — if you're coordinating volunteer coppicing days or community woodland activities, describe the group size, supervision arrangements and experience level of participants and the assessment will include appropriate controls for group working and volunteer management.
Also see: The Ultimate Guide to Risk Assessment · Do I Need a Risk Assessment? · Risk Assessment Legal Requirements · Risk Assessment Generator