Do You Need a Ticket to Use a Wood Chipper?

No law in Great Britain names a particular chipper ticket, but anyone who uses a wood chipper at work must be adequately trained for it. PUWER requires adequate training rather than a particular certificate (PUWER 1998 reg 9), and HSE says to "ensure that no-one uses this equipment unless they are trained and competent to do so" (HSE). In practice the usual proof is a course certificate, such as NPTC's Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed Wood-chipper (0020-61), or a LANTRA or manufacturer course.

What the Law and HSE Say

PUWER covers work equipment, wood chippers included. If you employ staff, it applies to you; if you're self-employed, it applies where your work could put other people at risk, which tree work usually can (see our PUWER guide).
Training: employers must make sure everyone who uses work equipment has had adequate training for it (reg 9). The law doesn't say which course.
HSE's tree work guidance lists woodchippers with brushcutters, stump grinders, flails and mulchers, and says no one should use them unless they're trained and competent (HSE).
Chainsaws are different: HSE says anyone using a chainsaw on or in a tree should hold a certificate of competence, unless they're training under supervision (HSE).

New operators shouldn't be left to use a chipper unsupervised until they've been assessed.

Which Courses Count?

NPTC: the City & Guilds NPTC Level 2 Award in Safe Use of Manually Fed Wood-chipper (0020-61). Stump grinders have their own award (0020-59) (NPTC qualifications).
LANTRA and manufacturer-specific training are widely accepted too.

Keep the certificate, and keep a record of any training you give your own staff.

Hiring or Buying a Chipper

Hiring: ask the hire firm what training it expects, and for a handover on that machine before you use it.
Buying used: PUWER duties start when you put the machine to work, so check it's suitable and safe first (PUWER reg 4). Our used wood chipper buying guide has the checks.
Every day: a short pre-use check before the first branch goes in. Our chipper maintenance schedule has a daily checklist.

FAQ

Is there a wood chipper licence?

No. There's no licence, but you must be adequately trained before you use one at work, and a course certificate is the usual way to show it.

Does a chipper course cover stump grinders?

No. NPTC has a separate award for stump grinders (0020-59).

Do I need a chainsaw ticket to feed a chipper?

Not for the chipper itself. You need a chainsaw certificate before chainsaw work on or in a tree (see our NPTC chainsaw tickets guide).