Method Statement (Safe System of Work) for Scything Courses run by
Beth Tilston
Location of course:
Working environment restrictions:
First aid kit located:
In the case of an accident:
1)
Introductions to each other and the scythe
Equipment needed: scythe blades and snaths
Potential Hazards: people cutting themselves on blades
Method:
 Students introduce themselves and say why they are interested in scything
 Students are told to tell the tutor if they have any physical problems or to not
attempt anything that might worsen any physical problems they already have.
 Tutor gives a short history of the scythe
 Tutor introduces the Austrian scythe, snath and blades
 Tutor passes around blades for people to look at
 Blade covers should always be on at this point. Any blades without covers
should not be handed out to students. Students should be instructed not to
remove blade covers. Students should be be reminded that scythes are sharp.
2)
Setting up the scythe
Equipment needed: snath, blades
Potential Hazards: people cutting themselves on blades
Method:
 Students are handed snaths and shown how to put them together according to their
own physical requirements.
 Students are handed blades and shown how to attach them. Blades should not be
handed out before students have put their snaths together to encourage them to
wait until correct instruction has been given. Instruction will be given as to how to
attach the blade using the Allan key in such a way that it minimises the risk of
cutting the back of your hand. Students will be instructed not to take their blades
covers off.
 Students are shown how to set the hafting angle and and lay of the blade and are
asked to do this to their own blade.
3)
Basic technique (without the scythe)
Equipment needed: None
Potential Hazards: Back strain
Method:
 Students are asked to deposit their scythe in a predetermined 'safe place'. The
'safe place' should be away from passers by and preferably be where there is a
fence or something similar to hook the blade over. Otherwise, scythes should be
put on the ground with the blade down and handle up. Students will be shown how
to carry and store scythes safely.
 Unencumbered by any equipment, students will be asked to form a circle and
shown the correct motion for scything technique. It will be made clear to them that
using this technique will mean that they don't stress their back.
 Students will be asked to practice this
4)
Basic technique (with the scythe)
Equipment needed: fully constructed scythe
Potential Hazards: students cutting each other
Method:
 Students will be asked to find a space well away from other students or passers by
in which to practice scything
 With the blade covers still on, students will be asked to practice the motion that they
have just learnt
 Students posture will be adjusted where appropriate. Students will be asked to
refrain from removing the blade covers.
5)
Scything practice
Equipment needed: scythes
Potential Hazards: students cutting other students
Method:
 Students are allocated a position from which to start scything. This will usually be in
a line with space in between. Students are asked to keep to their position and to
make sure that they are aware of what is going on around them if they stop/move
off.
 Students are monitored closely by the tutor to make sure that they are not getting
too close to other people/hazards and also to make sure that they are using the
correct technique.
 The students will bring the scythes to the tutor when they feel that they need
sharpening. Students will not be allowed to sharpen their own scythes at this time,
despite skills they might have in this area.
6)
Sharpening
Equipment needed: scythes, stones, kevlar gloves
Potential Hazards:
Method:
 Students are asked to put their scythes in the assigned 'safe place' and gather
around the tutor.
 The tutor will put one kevlar glove on the sharpening hand and demonstrate the two
ways of sharpening the blade
 Before the students pick up their blades again, the tutor will hand out kevlar gloves
and ask the students to put them on the hand that they use to sharpen. They will
also received a stone.
 The tutor will instruct the students to pick up their scythes and will oversee students
while they practice sharpening. Kevlar gloves will need to be worn at all times.
 It is likely that after sharpening, students will want to practice more with the scythe
they have just sharpened. Students will be instructed that if/when they stop and
sharpen again, they will need to put the glove back on.
7)
Peening
Equipment needed: peening block, peening anvil and jig, hammer, garryflex/sandpaper,
old blades
Potential Hazards: students cutting their hands, students hitting themselves with
hammers.
Method:
 One student at a time will be taken aside and taught how to peen whilst the others
practice scything.
 The tutor will explain the concept of peening to the student and will demonstrate
with the jig and the anvil.
 The student will peen using the jig and the small hammer
 If the student feels confident, they will then peen using the anvil and the larger
hammer.
 The student will be shown how to hold the blade so that they don't cut their fingers.
 During this time the tutor will need to monitor both the student who is peening and
the students who are practicing scything and sharpening.
Method statement devised by Beth Tilston 06/02/2012