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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare and maintain falling equipment
  2. Assess conditions and surroundings
  3. Assess tree and plan falling
  4. Fall tree

Required Skills

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 relating to basic manual tree falling operations

review and accurately identify work requirements

use and maintain relevant tools machinery and equipment

identify problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures

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

accurately locate record and report information

safely operate and maintain a chainsaw

use hand signals with other operators to maintain effective and safe tree falling

recognise own limitations in conditions and trees for falling

assess plan and carry out tree falling operations appropriate to site conditions

recognise common diseases pests and nutrition deficiencies

read and interpret written material

Required knowledge and understanding includes

basic knowledge and understanding of applicable Commonwealth State or Territory licensing legislative regulatory or certification requirements and codes of practice relevant to basic manual tree falling operations

organisational and site standards requirements policies and procedures relating to basic manual tree falling operations

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 and equipment and procedures for their safe use operation and maintenance

identification and evaluation of structural defects in trees

types and purposes of a range of cuts to fall trees

hazards of operating a chainsaw and falling trees

types of tools and equipment and procedures for their use operation and maintenance

operational principles and limitations of a chainsaw

procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring including calculating time to complete tasks

KEY COMPETENCIES

The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered necessary for effective participation by an individual in the workplacePerformance Level at this level the candidate is required to undertake tasks effectivelyPerformance Level at this level the candidate is required to manage tasksPerformance Level at this level the candidate is required to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks

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 to colleagues and report outcomes relating to falling trees

How can information be collected analysed and organised

By collecting organising and understanding information required to plan and undertake tree falling

How are activities planned and organised

By organising and conducting tree falling activities in the correct sequence to complete within the designated timeframes

How is team work used

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

How are mathematical ideas and techniques used

By calculating slopes wind speed and direction time to complete tasks

How are problem solving skills applied

By establishing safe and effective tree falling procedures and processes which anticipate likely problems to avoid wastage and downtime

How is the use of technology applied

By accessing and locating applicable legislative regulatory and environmental guidelines relevant to tree falling operations

Evidence Required

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 and efficiently assess plan and conduct basic manual tree falling operations in accordance with environmental and organisational requirements

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 basic manual falling of trees

Comply with applicable licensing or certification requirements

Effectively communicate and work safely with others including maintaining an awareness of other personnel activity in the work area

Contribute to a tree assessment plan and fall trees within the range of variables for trees and conditions

Select use and maintain appropriate tools and equipment and recognise faults problems or malfunctions

Safely operate and maintain a chainsaw

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 offsite 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 basic manual falling of trees

specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment

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

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 projectrelated 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


Range Statement

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

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

for falling will have the following characteristics: diameter not more than 50 centimetres at position of cut, height not more than 20 metres, lean and weight distribution consistent with falling direction, single leader, sound wood condition in barrel, species and growth conditions not prone to twisting or splitting, ground slope not excessive

Environmental 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

Work plan

is to include information and instructions relevant to tree falling operations including processing location details and trees to be felled and retained. Information may also include general environmental requirements, site plan and environmental features

Appropriate personnel

may include supervisors, clients, colleagues, line management

Tools and equipment

may include warning signs, chainsaw and components, personal protective equipment and clothing, first aid equipment, maintenance requirements, fuel

Maintenance

of chainsaw and components may include sharpening and making adjustments

Communication

may include verbal and non-verbal language, constructive feedback, active listening, questioning to clarify and confirm understanding, use of positive, confident and cooperative language, use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences, control of tone of voice and body language, hand signals

Environmental conditions

may relate to ground growth, canopy, general forest lean, ground slope, ground hazards, wind speed and direction

Conditions

in which falling will be undertaken include minimal canopy affecting free fall, ground slope not excessive, wind not significantly affecting falling characteristics, absence of ground growth or fallen trees preventing free movement around stump or preventing complete fall, absence of stags and hazardous ground features in falling radius, clear falling or sparse tree density

Limitations

may relate to job role and responsibilities, own competency level, industry requirements, own understanding of risk identification processes, own interpretation of legislation, regulations and procedures, complying with OHS requirements

Assistance

may be required in situations where cuts made may lead to loss of control of tree in falling, to confirm and adjust cutting techniques in response to movement and condition of tree, to help clear trees that hang up during falling

Operations

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