Speaking strictly from the perspective of the workplace, to cut trees over 6" in diameter, you should be a certified faller (CF) (either grandfathered or certified through the BC Forest Safety Council (BCFSC)), or a CUA - certified utility arborist. There is no other recognized certification for cutting standing trees in BC, other than the Enform faller ticket imported from Alberta.
re: http://www2.worksafebc.com/topics/certificationtraining/Certification.asp?ReportID=35474
I realize that there are a lot of old-school types that think the certification route is ass-backwards, and that they know enough to be safe without taking the course, and some may be teaching courses out there. I also know that more people get killed falling trees than any other job in BC, and the old-hands are not exempt from the body count (again, forgive the preaching).
Now, I fully realize that is the purely bureaucratic interpretation, and I know for fact people cut trees every day without holding any of the above certs. This happens in the workplace, in private, and in that grey area of doing vollie work. I think it raises a serious red flag for any organization that sponsors trail work where any cutting is occurring. Fact is, if a tree falls in the forest, and it lands on someone, pleading ignorance will not protect anyone or any organization. So that's my purely technical interpretation, and I would speculate that either Norman didn't present things properly, or presented things in a way that made it difficult to interpret the facts. This is coming from a certified forestry safety auditor in BC and Alberta.
Also, "qualification" and "certification" are very different things. THe latter implies holding a recognized ticket/certificate/license from a recognized training institutions. The former may include training, experience, or a combination of the above.
I do know many "qualified" people that are as or more skilled and knowledgeable than many with tickets. However, qualification is not sufficient for workplaces or to satisfy regulatory requirements in BC, unless you are one of the grandfathered fallers from before the era of licensing and certifying.
Qualification is a good place to start, and to seriously ask yourself, ego aside, if you are indeed qualified to be bringing down a tree. WHo did you learn from? How much time have you had on the saw? In the last year?
There is a big grey area out there in the woods, where you aren't necessarily on the clock. At the beginning of the thread, I mentioned two reasons for starting this discussion. First was out of concern for builders. That is paramount. I will be sick if a builder gets Wile-E-Coyote'd by a tree. Second, is the potential legal implications for everyone if a builder gets squashed. If it happens while doing sanctioned trail work, the sanctioning group (NSMBA, FVMBA, SORCA, whoever) could be in a very very tough place. Regardless of whether they officially approve cutting activities, that it happens under their program could bring on the hounds.
Ultimately, there is no easy solution, or quick-grab course out there to clear people to fall trees. Thus there is a lot of don't ask don't tell cutting going on. I identified earlier the gap in BC chainsaw training and faller courses. THerefore, I would stick to my earlier suggestion that people interested or concerned investigate: A) Basic chainsaw training, B) Wildlife Danger Tree assessment C) Experience with a certified faller (CF or CUA). SHort of becoming a CF or CUA, you can learn a tremendous amount from these avenues.
I lean more towards CFs because they learn to fall in the woods, where CUAs are more oriented around falling near hydro lines, and their training is actually not intended for middle of the woods activity. Pure directional falling techniques are very much the realm of certified fallers (BCFSC). No offense to CUAs, they deal with highly complex jobs that often involve electricity, buildings, roadways, and pulley lines. If you're ever dealing with a tree that is close to a hydro line, goes without saying to stay clear, and get a pro in there. In such a case, a CUA is your person.