Elements and Performance Criteria
- Prepare for tree jacking
- Review work plan and check where required with appropriate personnel.
- Identify type and quantity of trees to be tree jacked and assess activities for safety and environmental protection practices.
- Select appropriate equipment and check for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations.
- Plan tree jacking activities in line with workplace health and safety (WHS) procedures and work plan.
- Assess and plan tree jacking
- Assess environmental conditions and use outcomes to plan felling of each tree.
- Monitor location and movement of other personnel and modify work to ensure safety.
- Assess tree, location and stability for conditions likely to affect safety of tree jacking activities.
- Visually assess tree for defects, grade and recovery status.
- Select escape route, clear route and growth around tree manually or mechanically.
- Assess fall direction and allowable degree of error, considering hang ups, damage, extraction constraints and available open space.
- Plan cutting sequence to control direction of fall and minimise damage to tree and surrounding environment; communicate to others.
- Mark trees too dangerous to fell safely and refer to appropriate personnel.
- Tree jack trees
- Complete equipment pre start-up checks.
- Remove and clear leaders in line with tree jacking work plan.
- Diagnose unexpected characteristics of tree and review plan.
- Make jacking slots to provide for placement of tree jacks in line with planned falling direction.
- Adjust cutting technique and use tree jacks to control movement and direction of tree being felled.
- Complete felling and use planned safe exit route in line with safety procedures.
- Monitor ground movement of tree; assess and clear trees that hang up.
- Record and report tree jacking process and equipment faults to appropriate personnel.
- Complete operator maintenance
- Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment.
- Check chain for bluntness or damage.
- Remove, sharpen, adjust and replace chain and other components in line with manufacturer's recommendations.
- Assess and adjust chainsaw set-up to suit cutting conditions.
- Maintain operational condition of chainsaw to meet standards prior to use.
- Check and service tree jacks.