Education and training for chainsaw operation – other activities
Get your chainsaw operator licence for activities other than timber harvesting. We'll prepare you and your employees for safe work with a chainsaw during maintenance and pruning — complete the theory online and the practical training in person. The course concludes with a valid licence.
Interested in this course?
Leave us your contact and we will get back to you with dates, usually within 24 hours.
What the chainsaw (other activities) course is
The chainsaw course (other activities) is a professional training programme after which you receive the licence card for operating a hand-held motorised chainsaw for other activities — that is, for work that is not timber felling: tree pruning, green-space maintenance, bucking already-felled timber, and work in municipal services and construction.
Under § 3 ods. 1 of Decree No. 46/2010 Coll., a natural person may operate a chainsaw only on the basis of a valid licence card; for these activities the required document is the other-activities licence card (§ 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., Annex No. 1a písm. t), issued by an authorised education and training provider. If your workers fell standing trees, they need the logging/felling course; the forestry machinery course is also related.
Who the course is for
The course is aimed at individuals (horticulture, green-space maintenance, municipal services, construction) as well as companies that need to ensure their workers are licensed to operate a chainsaw.
For an individual
The chainsaw licence card for other activities is in demand in green-space maintenance, horticulture, municipal services and construction. Chainsaw work carries higher risks (kickback, laceration), so a qualified operator is a prerequisite for employment with most employers.
For a company and employer
Under § 6 and § 12 ods. 2 písm. d) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., an employee may operate a chainsaw only on the basis of a licence card and authorisation. The licence card is tied to a specific person; operating without one during an inspection risks a fine, and in the event of an accident also criminal liability.
Other activities versus timber felling
The law distinguishes two separate licence cards according to the scope of work. It is important to choose the correct one — the other-activities licence card does not authorise the felling of standing trees.
| Type | Typical work | Minimum training duration |
|---|---|---|
| Other activities (this course) | pruning, bucking felled timber, green-space maintenance, municipal services, construction | at least 23 hours (15 h theory + 8 h practical) |
| Timber felling (separate course) | felling standing trees, delimbing, cross-cutting during felling | at least 56 hours (20 h theory + 36 h practical) |
If a worker fells standing trees, they need the timber-felling licence card (higher scope). For pruning and bucking already-felled timber, the other-activities licence card is sufficient.
Course content and final examination
The course is based on Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (Annex No. 11, group 10, item 10.3) and has a minimum scope of 23 hours — 15 hours of theory and 8 hours of practical work. It may only be conducted by an authorised education and training provider.
Theory and practical component
In the theory component you cover the legal regulations, chainsaw construction and maintenance, safe-cutting techniques, risks (kickback, laceration) and first aid. The practical component focuses on safe handling, chain maintenance and cutting technique for other activities.
Final examination
Professional knowledge is assessed by a written test and practical examination before an examining board. On successful completion, the chainsaw-operation licence card for other activities is issued.
Legal basis, obligations and penalties
Chainsaw operation is governed by binding regulations — in particular Decree No. 46/2010 Coll. (BOZP (occupational health and safety) in forestry work) and Act No. 124/2006 Coll.
Key regulations
Under § 3 ods. 1 of Decree No. 46/2010 Coll., only a person with a valid licence card may operate a chainsaw. The required document is the licence card pursuant to § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. (Annex No. 1a písm. t). Conditions for issue are a minimum age of 18 years and medical fitness (§ 16 ods. 2 a 4); a secondary vocational school student may operate a chainsaw from the age of 16 during practical instruction under constant supervision.
Penalties for breaches
If the labour inspectorate finds a chainsaw being operated without a valid licence card, fines apply under § 19 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll.:
| Breach | Fine | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| BOZP (occupational health and safety) regulation breach (employer) | up to 100 000 € | § 19 ods. 2 písm. a) |
| Accident with serious bodily injury / death | at least 20 000 € / at least 33 000 € | § 19 ods. 2 písm. a) |
| Serious breach of BOZP (occupational health and safety) obligations | from 1 000 € to 200 000 € | § 19 ods. 3 písm. a) |
| Operating without a valid licence card | from 300 € to 33 000 € | § 19 ods. 2 písm. b) |
Note: the outcome is a licence card (§ 16 ods. 1 písm. a)), not a 'certificate of completion of education and training' (that applies only to machinery operators). The licence card is issued by an authorised education and training provider, not by the labour inspectorate.
Document, validity and renewal
The chainsaw-operation licence card is issued for an indefinite period pursuant to § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. Its validity is contingent on the continuous fulfilment of obligations (§ 16 ods. 12):
- Refresher instruction: at least once every 3 years (§ 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.). Decree No. 46/2010 Coll. on forestry work does not set a shorter interval, so the general rule applies (unlike work at height, where the interval is 12 months).
- Refresher professional training (AOP): within 5 years of issue and then within every 5 years thereafter (§ 16 ods. 8); the minimum scope for other activities is 6 hours.
- Preventive medical examination (LPP): within 5 years (§ 16 ods. 6); if medical fitness is lost, the licence card ceases to be valid.
Refresher instruction (3 years) and refresher professional training (5 years) are two separate obligations — one does not replace the other. We can track and remind you of both deadlines for your company.
How to obtain the licence card — procedure
The path to the licence card has six steps — our team guides you through them from the medical assessment to the issuing of the licence card.
Medical assessment Obtain a medical fitness-for-work assessment — at the time the licence card is issued it must be no more than six months old (§ 16 ods. 4 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.).
Registration and scheduling Contact us with the number of participants and the type of work (pruning, green-space maintenance, bucking). We will agree on the date and scope.
Theory preparation The instructor covers the regulations, chainsaw construction and maintenance, safe-cutting technique, and BOZP (occupational health and safety) principles when working with a chainsaw.
Practical training Under supervision, participants practise safe handling, chain maintenance and cutting technique for activities other than timber felling.
Final examination Professional knowledge is assessed by a written test and practical examination before an examining board.
Issuing the licence card On successful completion, an authorised education and training provider issues you the chainsaw-operation licence card for other activities. We will notify you of the refresher-instruction, LPP and AOP (refresher professional training) deadlines.
Participation conditions, deadlines and legal basis
| Item | Value | Legal basis |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum age | at least 18 years (secondary vocational school student from 16 under supervision) | § 16 ods. 2 of Act No. 124/2006 + § 3 of Decree No. 46/2010 |
| Medical fitness | medical assessment no more than 6 months old | § 16 ods. 4 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Qualification document | chainsaw-operation licence card for other activities (issued by an authorised education and training provider) | § 3 of Decree No. 46/2010 + § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 |
| Minimum training scope | at least 23 hours (15 h theory + 8 h practical) | Annex No. 11 item 10.3 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. |
| Refresher instruction | at least once every 3 years | § 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
| Refresher professional training | within 5 years (minimum scope 6 h) | § 16 ods. 8 of Act No. 124/2006 + Decree No. 356/2007 |
| Licence card validity | indefinite (subject to fulfilment of obligations) | § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. |
Course scope
Participation requirements
Completed compulsory school attendance, age at least 18 years, medical fitness certificate not older than 6 months.
Course scope
Basic course: 14 hours. Repeated familiarization: 3 hours. Update professional training: 4 hours.
Repeated familiarization and update training
Familiarization with regulatory changes every 36 months (§7 para. 5). Update training every 5 years (§16 para. 8 of Act 124/2006).
Why choose Alpha Safety?
- Certified instructors with years of experience
- Official certificates and credentials issued
- Flexible training schedules
- Training throughout Slovakia
- Individual approach to each participant
Duration
14 hours (basic course)
Format
Online theory + practical training
Related courses
Stručná odpoveď
The “Chainsaw operation – other activities” course is intended for companies that need to train employees using a hand-held chainsaw for work other than logging (pruning, green-space maintenance, cross-cutting). It covers both theoretical and practical preparation under Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (group 10.3). The graduate obtains a chainsaw operator's licence card valid throughout Slovakia.
Časté otázky – Chainsaw – other activities
It is intended for employees who use a hand-held chainsaw for activities other than logging – tree pruning, green-space maintenance, cross-cutting already felled timber, municipal and construction work. Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. has a separate group 10.3 for this work, distinct from logging (10.2). A participant must be at least 18 years old and medically fit.
After successful knowledge verification, each participant obtains a chainsaw operator's licence card for other activities under § 16 ods. 1 písm. a) of Act No. 124/2006 Coll. (chainsaw operation is in Annex No. 1a under letter t). It is not a “record of completed education and training” (that is only for operating machinery). The licence card is valid throughout Slovakia.
The licence card is issued by a person authorised to provide education and training and holding an authorisation from the National Labour Inspectorate, not by the labour inspectorate. The labour inspectorate may only withdraw the licence card in the event of a breach of regulations. From 1 April 2021, the issuance of licence cards was transferred from the inspectorates to authorised persons (Act No. 73/2021 Coll.).
The law distinguishes two separate licence cards. Other activities (group 10.3) have a minimum duration of 23 hours (15 theory + 8 practice) and cover pruning, cross-cutting and green-space maintenance. Logging (group 10.2) has a duration of 56 hours (20 + 36), because felling standing trees is riskier. Anyone who fells trees needs the logging course – the other-activities licence card does not authorise it.
Under Annex No. 11 item 10.3 of Decree No. 356/2007 Coll., the minimum duration of basic training for other activities is at least 23 hours – 15 hours of theory and 8 hours of practice. For company groups, we adapt the organisation to your operation.
Under § 7 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., refresher familiarisation is carried out at least once every three years. Decree No. 46/2010 Coll. on forestry work does not lay down a shorter interval, so the 12-month period that applies to work at height does not apply here. In addition, the licence-card holder must complete refresher professional training within five years (§ 16 ods. 8); its duration for other activities is at least 6 hours.
An applicant must be at least 18 years old and medically fit under § 16 ods. 2 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll.; medical fitness is evidenced by a medical assessment no older than six months (§ 16 ods. 4). An exception is a secondary vocational school pupil, who may operate the chainsaw from the age of 16 during practical instruction under constant supervision.
The course covers theory (regulations, chainsaw construction and maintenance, safe cutting technique, risks such as kickback and laceration, first aid) and practical training (safe handling, chain maintenance, cutting technique for other activities). It is based on Decree No. 356/2007 Coll. (group 10.3).
Professional knowledge is verified by a written test and a practical examination before an examination board. After successful completion, a chainsaw operator's licence card for other activities is issued.
Under § 16 ods. 5 of Act No. 124/2006 Coll., the licence card is issued for an indefinite period. However, it becomes invalid if the holder does not undergo a preventive medical examination (within 5 years, § 16 ods. 6), fails to complete refresher professional training (within 5 years, § 16 ods. 8) or has the licence card withdrawn (§ 16 ods. 12).
Under § 19 of Act No. 125/2006 Coll., an employer faces a fine of up to EUR 100 000, for a serious breach from EUR 1 000 to 200 000, and for an activity without a licence card from EUR 300 to 33 000. In the case of an accident causing serious harm the fine is at least EUR 20 000, and in the case of death at least EUR 33 000. The licence card is tied to a specific person.
A licence card issued under Slovak regulations is valid throughout the territory of the Slovak Republic. For work abroad, recognition of the qualification is governed by the rules of the given state and the employer's requirements, so we recommend checking the specific conditions.
Yes. Under § 3 ods. 1 of Decree No. 46/2010 Coll., a natural person may operate a chainsaw only on the basis of a valid licence card. For work outside logging, this is the other-activities licence card; without it, no one may operate the chainsaw.
Yes, we can run the course directly on your premises for the whole group of employees at once, which saves both time and commuting costs. We adapt the date and scope to your operation. The instructor provides both theory and practice on site and, after knowledge verification, issues the participants with licence cards.
Basic course 129,90 € per person (prices exclude VAT). Refresher training 21,90 €. Update professional training (AOP) 44,90 €. We confirm the exact price based on the number of participants and the training format.
Interested in chainsaw training for other activities?
Contact us and we will schedule a training date.