Elements and Performance Criteria
- Plan and prepare to operate a yarder
- Confirm production plan targets for felling and processing and assess wood flow requirements to ensure efficient machine operation and overall productivity
- Confirm type, size and quantity of stems and/or logs to be moved with yarder to ensure that loads, machine and cable system are in line with safe working load requirements and industry standards for operations
- Confirm, identify and report health, safety, environmental and heritage risks of operation in line with standard operating procedures and site safety management plans
- Apply risk control measures in line with standard operating procedures, site operational plan, legislative requirements and industry standards to eliminate or minimise risks
- Identify emergency plan procedures to follow in the event of an emergency
- Use production plans to identify location of landing area, extraction routes and entry points for efficient extraction of stems and/or logs and minimum interference with other forestry operations
- Assess terrain characteristics to establish machine stability
- Set up yarder
- Use industry-accepted warning signs, vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems and procedures to maintain communication and workplace safety during yarder set-up and operation
- Move yarder to the landing in line with industry standards
- Position yarder on landing for stability in line with planned system design by adjusting the technique in response to terrain conditions and ensuring a stable level support base for outriggers
- Check that tower or spar is rigged to suit system design and raised in line with manufacturers' recommendations and industry standards
- Work with other personnel to tension lines with enough slack to facilitate yarder movements
- Inspect and maintain cable system
- Observe mechanical system components during normal operations, note faults and take corrective actions
- Routinely inspect system components and maintain, repair or replace in line with industry standards
- Routinely inspect guylines and adjust tension to equalise load in line with industry standards
- Lubricate blocks to maintain operational condition
- Identify repetitive damage of cable system and review and amend operational practices
- Haul stems and/or logs
- Carry out pre-operational checks on machine and cable system in line with workplace procedures or manufacturers' recommendations to ensure optimal production performance and operational effectiveness
- Perform yarder operations only in response to breakout, landing signals or own transmitted signals
- Monitor, manage and control yarder mechanical systems to maintain log alignment and satisfy safe operating limits
- Control tension in running and standing lines to balance the lift and deflection consistency with payload and rope capacities
- Anticipate hang-ups and obstacles, halt haul and clear in cooperation with the rigging slinger
- Use haul speed, line swing and bridling to position logs on the landing, control payloads and work with the chaser to optimise workflow
- Position and construct stacks of stems or logs to avoid product damage, provide stability, restrict height for efficient extraction and facilitate safe access and conduct of other landing and machine operations in line with worksite layout and production plan requirements
- Return rigging to extraction point and position in line with signals from the rigging slinger
- Operate yarder to minimise breakage and damage to stems and/or logs, standing trees and environment in line with the production plan requirements
- Carry out machine operator maintenance
- Park, shut-down, de-energise and isolate yarder in line with workplace procedures or manufacturers' recommendations
- Clean, check and carry out routine maintenance activities on yarder to maintain optimum operational performance
- Identify and report machine faults, malfunctions or problems in line with workplace procedures or manufacturers' recommendations
- Clean work area of all debris and waste resulting from yarder operation and dispose of or recycle waste materials in line with site environmental management plan
- Record yarder operations and maintenance activities