In
1996, STA developed a training programme for chainsaw operators. Training began
in August of the same year by the late Mr. Jean Mato, a Forest Industries
Training and Educational Council (FITEC) registered trainer from New Zealand. This
innovative programme was drawn up to train tree-felling operators in logging
camps throughout Sarawak.
As
training requirements grew significantly, STA Training Sdn Bhd (STAT), a
subsidiary company of STA, was incorporated on 26 March 2002 to take over the
training functions of STA to ensure forestry workers employed by members of STA
can comply with the then Section 54B of the Forests
Ordinance, 1958 which is now Section 51(1) after passing of the Forests Ordinance, 2015 on 19 May 2015.
This Section requires all logging companies (as employers) to hire properly
trained workmen to carry out forestry activities, including harvesting
operations.
Since
then, STAT has been working closely with the Sarawak Government through the
Forest Department Sarawak (FDS) to implement an integrated training system for
the industry. On 19 December 2016, STAT
was appointed as a Training Provider by FDS to provide skills training for five
(5) prescribed forestry activities as listed in Schedule 1 of The Forests (Trained Workmen) Rules, 2015.
The Rules require workmen in the 5 prescribed forestry activities (namely tree felling, log
extraction, log loading, clear-fell site preparation and mechanical site
preparation) to be trained and certified prior to carrying out forestry
activities.
With
staff strength of nine (9), STAT manages the provision of training programmes to
the industry.
TRAINING ACTIVITIES
A. Skills Training
Skills
trainings in forestry activities have been
designed to provide forest workmen with basic knowledge and practical skills
required to work safely in the forests. It also help create awareness on the
environment, sustainable forest management as well as occupational safety and
health.
STAT
currently trains workmen or operators working in the forests and provides opportunity for trained workmen to upskill as in-house trainers.
Training of Workmen
or Operators
The
skills training offered by STAT is not limited to its members. Any companies in
the industry can contact STAT to discuss training arrangements. Presently,
there are twelve (12) skills sets conducted by STAT:
1. Tree Felling – Chainsaw (Natural Forest)*
The scope
of training covers basic maintenance of chainsaw and tree felling using proper
techniques that minimise breakage and facilitate extraction.
2. Log Extraction – Tractor (Natural Forest)*
The scope
of training covers maintenance of a tractor (crawler or skidder) and
operational requirements for log extraction.
3. Log Loading – Front End Loader (Natural
Forest)*
The scope
of training covers basic maintenance of a log loader, moving logs from stack
and position logs securely on logging truck.
4. Clear-Fell Site Preparation – Chainsaw
(Forest Plantation)*
The scope
of training covers maintenance of a chainsaw and the use of chainsaw for land
clearing operations for forest plantation establishment.
5. Mechanical Site Preparation – Excavator
(Forest Plantation)*
The scope
of training covers basic excavator maintenance, the use of excavator for forest
plantation site preparation, including spreading and crushing.
6. Tree Felling – Chainsaw (Forest Plantation)
The scope
of training covers clearfell forest harvesting operations, basic maintenance of
chainsaw and felling of trees in a forest plantation in a safe and cost
effective manner by using proper felling techniques.
7. Log Extraction – Bulldozer (Forest
Plantation)
The scope
of training covers clearfell forest harvesting operations, maintenance of
bulldozer and operational requirements for log extraction in a forest
plantation environment.
8. Log Extraction – Cable Hauler (Forest
Plantation)
The scope
of training covers clearfell forest harvesting operations, maintenance of cable
hauler, cable harvesting equipment systems, rigging, usage of wire ropes in
forest harvesting as well as planning and setting up cable hauler.
9. Breaking Out – Cable Hauler (Forest
Plantation)
The scope
of training covers clearfell forest operations, usage of wire ropes in forest
harvesting, maintaining rigging, coordinating breaking out process as well as
planning and carrying out lineshifts.
10. Log Loading – Excavator (Forest Plantation)
The scope
of training covers clearfell forest operations, maintenance of excavator type
loader as well as moving logs from stack and position logs securely on logging
truck.
11. Tree and Log Identification
The scope
of training covers usage of recommended tools and equipment, identifying tree
species by examining leaf, bark and types of buttress as well as identifying
log species by examining outer bark.
12. Log and Timber Identification
The scope
of training covers usage of recommended tools and equipment, identifying log
species by examining outer bark, identifying timber species by examining the
anatomical features and basic timber identification techniques.
* Prescribed forestry activities as listed in Schedule 1 of The Forests (Trained Workmen) Rules, 2015.
Courses offered by STAT, HRD
claimable
Starting from 1 January 2024, all the 12 skills
sets offered by STAT are charged at RM750.00 per day per skills set for STA
members and RM1,500.00 per day per skills set for non-members together with the
travelling expenses (air tickets, transportation, accommodation and daily allowance
of the trainers/assessors). These 12
skills sets are also claimable under the HRD Claimable Courses Scheme (Appendix
1).
Appendix
1
For more information, please contact Mr Denis Aman/ Mr Wong How Chu, Training Officers at 082-332222.
Training
of In-house Trainers
STAT also
provides Unit 7108: Conducting On-Job Training for Adults to support capacity building within the
industry. By enrolling
successfully trained workmen in this
course, company can create a pool of in-house trainers to carry
out training for their workmen.
B. Management Training
Forest
management is becoming increasingly complex as forest industries move towards
sustainable management practices. Forest managers are now being called on to
deal not only with matters relating to forests operations, but also on
environmental and social issues.
To meet
the skill needs of forest managers, STAT together with Lincoln University of
New Zealand jointly developed and offered the Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Science
(Sustainable Tropical Forest Management / Planted Forest Management) from 2004
until 2018. The 3-year part time
Postgraduate Diploma consisted of twelve (12) subjects covering diverse
environmental, social and economic aspects of sustainable forest management and
forest certification are tailored to meet the skill needs by forest managers in
the timber industry.
The
Postgraduate Diploma had produced sixty-seven (67) graduates who benefited from
the classroom lectures and hands-on field practical assisted by local forestry
specialists/experts and lecturers from Lincoln University.
STAT is
proud to be one of the driving forces behind the creation of a properly trained
workforce in the management levels and the active role that these graduates
play in ensuring that forests in Sarawak are managed sustainably, efficiently
and effectively is a testament to the quality of the course.
Currently,
STAT is not accepting application for the Postgraduate Diploma.
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