Elements and Performance Criteria
- Assist in preparation of work site
- Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
- Confirm first aid and emergency equipment and procedures applicable to tree work
- Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on ropes and equipment
- Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment
- Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures
- Tie, dress and set arborist knots
- Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals
- Determine work application for knot for ground-based, aerial, rigging and climbing work tasks
- Determine appropriate knot for locking and non-locking attributes, strength, impact on rope strength, loosening and slippage
- Determine loss of rope strength in using selected knot
- Determine appropriate rope for knot application
- Determine requirements for secondary knots and stopper knots
- Tie rope to form intended knot
- Leave appropriate tail length approximately five times diameter of rope
- Dress knot to align all parts of knot
- Adjust knot to appropriate proportions
- Set knot to ‘tighten and load’ knot prior to use
- Finish knot with selected stopper knot, tucked tail or suitable tail length
- Inspect and use knot
- Complete knot operations