The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely use a chainsaw to carry out advanced tree harvesting operations using a variety of falling techniques in a forest environment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Comply with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice, including OHS, environmental and organisational policies and procedures, relevant to advanced tree harvesting operations

Comply with applicable licensing or certification requirements

Communicate effectively and work safely with others in the work area

Safely and efficiently fall trees without damage to personnel, equipment or surrounding environment

Assess, plan and conduct advanced harvesting of trees using a variety of falling techniques

Plan falling sequence and prepare surroundings for harvesting operations

Prepare, operate and maintain chainsaw and other falling equipment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace

Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements

The following resources should be made available:

workplace location or simulated workplace

materials and equipment relevant to tree harvesting operations

specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI05 Training Package

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge

Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on underpinning knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of key competencies

Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the essential underpinning knowledge

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English

Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment

Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit

Required skills include:

comply with legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices and procedures for harvesting trees

use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment

identify falling problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures

use appropriate interpersonal and communication techniques and methods with colleagues and others

interpret, apply and convey information in written, diagrammatic and verbal form

assess, plan and fall the range of trees and conditions including control of falling direction consistent with this range

plan work to site requirements and extraction methods

efficiently and safely harvest trees using a variety of falling techniques

effectively use unconventional, non-standard and/or multiple back cuts

Required knowledge and understanding includes:

applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements and codes of practice relevant to the full range of processes for harvesting trees

organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for harvesting trees

principles of cultural diversity and access and equity

environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material

established communication channels and protocols

problem identification and resolution

types of tools, material and equipment and procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance

process of assessment, planning and falling for the range of trees and conditions including control of falling direction consistent with this range

chainsaw equipment operational procedures, technical capability and limitations

procedures for recording, reporting and maintaining workplace records and information

appropriate mathematical procedures for estimation and measurement

KEY COMPETENCIES

The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered necessary for effective participation by an individual in the workplace
Performance Level 1 - at this level, the candidate is required to undertake tasks effectively
Performance Level 2 - at this level, the candidate is required to manage tasks
Performance Level 3 - at this level, the candidate is required to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks

Key Competency

Example of Application

Performance Level

How are ideas and information communicated?

By communicating in simple language to confirm work requirements, convey information and requests to colleagues and report and record outcomes

2

How can information be collected, analysed and organised?

By collecting, organising and understanding information required to conduct tree harvesting operations

2

How are activities planned and organised?

By organising and conducting work activities in the correct sequence for tree harvesting operations to be completed within the designated timeframes

2

How is team work used?

By using effective communication and interpersonal techniques with colleagues and others to maximise confidence, satisfaction and productivity during tree harvesting operations

1

How are mathematical ideas and techniques used?

By calculating time to complete tasks and estimating tools, equipment and material requirements

1

How are problem solving skills applied?

By establishing safe and effective processes for tree harvesting operations which anticipate likely problems to avoid wastage and downtime

2

How is the use of technology applied?

By selecting and using equipment to harvest trees

2

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below

OHS requirements are to be in accordance with Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures. Requirements may include:

the use of personal protective equipment and clothing

safety equipment

first aid equipment

fire fighting equipment

hazard and risk control

erection of signs

elimination of hazardous materials and substances

safe forest practices including required actions relating to forest fire

manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

Legislative requirements are to be in accordance with applicable legislation from all levels of government that affect organisational operation. Requirements may include:

award and enterprise agreements

industrial relations

Australian Standards

confidentiality and privacy

OHS

the environment

equal opportunity

anti-discrimination

relevant industry codes of practice

duty of care

heritage and traditional land owner issues

Organisational requirements

may include legal, organisational and site guidelines, policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility, quality assurance, procedural manuals, quality and continuous improvement processes and standards, OHS, emergency and evacuation, ethical standards, recording and reporting, access and equity principles and practices, equipment use, maintenance and storage, environmental management (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Trees

are those of any size, species and condition which can be safely fallen

may include multilegged, hollowbutts, multiple leaders, heavy forward and side leans, stags, culls

Work plan

is to include information and instructions relevant to tree harvesting operations including processing location details, trees to be felled and retained, extraction methods, and environmental care principles. Information may also include general coupe/compartment and environmental requirements, site plan and environmental features

Appropriate personnel

may include supervisors, clients, colleagues, managers

Falling

is to be undertaken with general guidance on specific work site, coupe/compartment and environmental requirements

may require the use of multiple back cuts and/or boring techniques, unconventional or non-standard cuts

will be undertaken in all conditions for which it is safe including slopes up to the maximum allowed by relevant regulations

Conditions

in which falling will be undertaken may include: ground slope not more than 20 degrees, moderate wind speed, ground is clear of growth or fallen trees which may prevent complete fall, absence of other trees and hazardous ground features within planned line of fall

Environment protection measures

may include ground growth, canopy, general forest lean, wind speed and direction, fallen trees, density of trees, ground slope, soil and water protection, ground hazards, obstacles. Measures may also include contingencies for modifying operations during wet or other adverse weather conditions

Communication

may include verbal and non-verbal language, hand or other agreed signals, eye contact with other operators or personnel, active listening, questioning to clarify and confirm understanding, use of electronic communication devices

Tools and equipment

may include support tools, protective equipment, first aid equipment, spares, maintenance requirements, fuel

Visual assessment

may cover size, weight distribution, lean, species, multi leaders, soundness of timber, growth characteristics and stresses

Errors

may relate to hang-ups, damage and extraction

Falling procedures

require minimising splitting including methods of dealing with additional leader(s) where applicable

Clearances

of growth for escape route may require assistance from dozer or other machine

Operations

must include scarf cutting to plan, backcutting to provide planned hinge-wood and maintain control of tree, using wedges to assist in controlling falling direction