City and Guilds 0039-38 Use of a Chainsaw from a MEWP: what the handbook says

This page reports what the official source says. It is not legal advice: ask the office named here. The pages used are the City and Guilds NPTC handbook for the award, the NPTC scheme page, the City and Guilds 2026 fees list and the Lantra Awards specification. The award is the Level 3 certificate of competence for chainsaw work from a mobile elevating work platform (MEWP). The guide on chainsaw and tree work tickets by country gives the short summary. This page adds the handbook detail.

At a glance

Item	What the official source says
Awarding body	City and Guilds, under the NPTC name
Title	Level 3 Certificate of Competence in Use of a Chainsaw from a Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP)
City and Guilds number	0039-38
Ofqual number	603/7651/X
Guided learning hours	24, with a total qualification time of 27 (handbook version 1.4, December 2025)
Age	16 or over
Grading	Met or not met
Unit	309, Use of a chainsaw from a Mobile Elevating Work Platform
Status in the 2026 list	Open to certification, registration expiry December 31, 2027, certification expiry December 31, 2030

What the handbook says it covers

The handbook says the award covers hazards, risks, controls, emergency procedures, industry guides, legislation, safe working loads, setting up and operating a MEWP, and using a chainsaw from a MEWP. It says it supports progression into jobs where chainsaw work from a MEWP is part of the role. It is not part of an apprenticeship framework.

Entry requirements

The handbook says candidates must meet the minimum age of 16 and must have achieved 0039-20, Chainsaw Maintenance and Cross-Cutting, 0039-21, Felling Small Trees up to 380mm, and either 0017-01 or 0017-02, the Level 2 Award in the Safe Use of a Mobile Elevated Work Platform, or a relevant IPAF training certificate or card, in each case or an equivalent version. The qualification structure table lists the MEWP unit as a prerequisite with 15 guided learning hours and the note "or equivalent regulated qualification" and "or relevant IPAF training certificate or card". The version history shows the entry requirements were updated in version 1.1, August 2022. The utility arboriculture version of this award, 0038-35, names the MEWP award 0017-03 or an IPAF certificate or card.

Assessment

The handbook describes one assessment type: a one to one practical assessment with oral questioning by an approved City and Guilds NPTC assessor. Grading is met or not met. The handbook says the practical observation and oral questioning should take between 1 and 2 hours. The version history shows the assessment timing was updated in version 1.4, December 2025. Candidates have to finish within 24 months of the date of initial registration, and registration is valid for two years. The unit text says assessors must hold a current First Aid at Work certificate and candidates should be familiar with the machine they are going to operate.

What the unit text lists

The unit has one learning outcome with five criteria: hazards, risks, controls and emergency procedures; industry guides; setting up and operating a MEWP; rescue from a MEWP; and using a chainsaw from a MEWP. The industry guides it names are the Arboricultural Association technical guide 5, Use of mobile elevating work platforms in tree work, and the tree work recommendations in BS 3998.

For site set up it lists warning signs, traffic bollards, warning tape and barriers. For the machine it lists following the operator's manual, examining ground conditions, and deploying stabilisers, outriggers and jacks. It lists the effects of going over the rated load of the platform as structural collapse, the machine not working and overturn. For an injured operator who cannot bring themselves down, the handbook lists stopping all work, rescue with a second MEWP if there is one, and using the manual override at the ground controls as the maker describes. The rescue steps it lists have a trained MEWP operator place the platform close to the casualty, connect the casualty to an attachment point, help them into the basket, disconnect them from their original system and make the descent.

The chainsaw part reuses the cut names from the rope and harness award: sink cut, step cut, inboard and outboard cuts, vertical and horizontal cuts, V cut and holding cut. For a trapped saw it lists switching off or applying the chain brake, releasing the saw from the harness or the MEWP where the cut section could take it, a handsaw, and a second saw cutting at least 300mm from the trapped saw. It lists the pre-start checks on chain tension, safety features, bolts, fuel and chain oil, and battery charge. For casting sections it lists an audible warning, a pull or tag line in good condition, clear instructions to ground staff and no one in the drop zone. At the end it lists lowering the platform slowly in the right sequence, converting the MEWP to its transport position, and inspecting it after use for debris, damage and roadworthiness.

The Lantra Awards MEWP award

Lantra Awards has its own Level 3 Award in Use of a Chainsaw from a Mobile Elevating Work Platform, Ofqual number 600/6732/9. Its specification gives 15 guided learning hours and a total qualification time of 17, with one mandatory unit. The operational start date is September 1, 2025. It sets no formal entry requirement. It is graded pass or fail. The Lantra aerial pruning and rigging awards each name this award, or the Lantra aerial cutting award, as one of their prerequisites.