“I actually wanted to become a florist, but the flower arrangement course was full. I couldn’t go home to my parents and tell them that I wasn’t going to educate myself at all, so when the career adviser at school suggested a forestry course I jumped to the opportunity. I had no idea what to expect, but the education just became more fun as it went along. It turned out that I had a talent for working with chainsaws and my teacher asked me to participate in the European Championship in Forestry Skills already during my first year. Today, I’m very happy with my choice of profession.”
“My job tasks vary from day to day and consist of everything from planning and doing forest activities and courses with school children, to conducting chainsaw training. I love the versatility of my profession and consider it my dream job.”
“Since I take part in plenty of forestry competitions where there’s a lot of focus on safety, I always stay updated on new requirements and protective equipment. I gather a lot of knowledge from other contestants who bring along experience from all over the world.”
“It’s mandatory for me to bring my protective clothing, to ensure that my wood cutting tools are working well, to be healthy and to be informed of the weather conditions. For example, I can’t work in the forest when there is too much wind.”
“I always bring my first class protective equipment:
chainsaw boots, protective trousers, fluorescent coloured jacket, gloves and a helmet with hearing protection and visor. And I always read up on the latest rules and legislations.”
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“Make sure you use a chainsaw that’s adapted to your line of work. Always respect the safety regulations that apply where you live. Always bring your complete set of safety equipment and make sure that it’s correctly maintained. Don’t forget to take weather conditions into consideration. Never work alone with a chainsaw and never let work become routine.”