The gap that Vygard Forestry closes
A chainsaw kickback happens in a fraction of a second, and the worst of them leave the operator unable to call for help. In a busy yard someone would notice. On a windblown fell, working a felling site alone, nobody does — and the minutes that follow are the ones that matter most. That gap is exactly what Vygard Forestry is built to close, and it is now available on the App Store.
Kickback, detected automatically
With Chainsaw Mode enabled, a paired Apple Watch listens for the vibration signature of a running saw and then watches for the violent jerk a kickback produces. If the worker doesn't dismiss a three-second alert, Vygard fires the full escalation cascade — push, SMS, WhatsApp and voice — to their duty manager and the nearest available responder, with a precise what3words location attached. On a cellular Apple Watch it works even when the phone is back in the truck.
Built for the way forestry actually works
Beyond kickback detection, the app carries the everyday safety load: pre-shift toolbox-talk sign-off, chainsaw and equipment checks, timed check-ins that escalate if they're missed, a live buddy map across the crew, and a tamper-evident audit log for compliance. It's designed around FISA 304 and BS 8484 rather than bolted on afterwards.
Vygard Forestry is one of a family of Vygard lone-worker safety apps, each built for a specific industry. Download it now at https://apps.apple.com/gb/app/vygard-forestry/id6773917553.
Frequently asked questions
- How does Vygard Forestry detect a chainsaw kickback?
- A paired Apple Watch recognises the vibration signature of a running saw, then watches for the sudden violent motion of a kickback. If the worker doesn't cancel a three-second alert, the app escalates automatically with the worker's location.
- Does it work without a phone signal or without the phone?
- On a cellular Apple Watch it can raise the alarm directly when the phone is out of range. Where there's no signal at all, timed check-ins still protect the worker — a missed check-in escalates on schedule to a named responder.
- Is it suitable for FISA 304 lone-working compliance?
- It's designed around FISA 304 and BS 8484, with pre-shift checks, timed check-ins and a tamper-evident audit log to evidence the lone-working controls an assessment requires.
Last updated 2026-08-03