ELEVEN people employed as chainsaw operators at Ramu NiCo (MCC) Kurumbukari Mine in Madang were certified recently.
The operators were awarded their Level One and Level Two certificates following a training conducted by the Timber and Forestry Training College (TFTC) recently.
The eleven chainsaw operators attended a 10-day training from June 19 to 28 to recognise them as qualified chainsaw operators at a mine logging site. It is also part of the continuing efforts to improve and meet safety compliance standards set by the Mineral Resources Authority for its logging operations at the mine operated by Ramu NiCo (MCC)
TFTC is the subsidiary of the University of Technology and the only qualified institution in the country to train and certify qualified chainsaw operators.
Ramu NiCo engaged the institution following a temporary cease order stopping previous logging activities to continue due to couple of fatalities encountered by a former local logging contractor.
Instead of sourcing out the logging contract, the miner decides to conduct the logging itself and engaged TFTC to conduct the 10 days Certified Chainsaw Operators Level 1 and 2 training for nine Chainsaw Operators and two Supervisors from the Mine Development Department.
Certified Trainer, Daniel Marika from TFTC was engaged and took the 10 days to cover areas including basic safety, log cutting techniques, tree felling techniques, basic background on chainsaws including repair and handling technique.
The training also included skills on tree selection, tree diameter estimation, felling direction, how to calculate tree volumes and scaling trees.
Ramu NiCo Development Department Logging Controller, Sobbie Giok said all the operators who attended the training have been working with other logging companies and have skills on how to use chainsaws but the additional training now certify them as qualified operators at a mine site.
“MRA required for the training by a certified trainer so Ramu NiCo decided to engage the recognised institution. We are confident with our manpower now,”
“With the additional training and ongoing practical session, we are confident to meet MRA’s safety standard and logging can be done professionally with high safety consciousness,”Mr.Giok said.
He said with the training and current manpower, he will now have five teams of two operators each with one team targeting 10 trees each day by clearing 0.06 hectors per day.
Vice President of Kurumbukari Mine, Zhao Deqian and General Manager, Sarimu Kanu were present during the certificate presentation said maintaining a high safety standard is the aim of Ramu NiCo and the training adds value and confidence to its safety standards.
Principal of TFTC, Vagi Logo was present during the ceremony and thanked Ramu NiCo for engaging his institution.