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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Use and service machine
  2. Plan to push tree
  3. Push tree
  4. Undertake mop-up and rehabilitation activities

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

communicate effectively orally

maintain and service machine in nonfire environments

operate machines in a nonfire environment

Required Knowledge

burnover survival techniques

capabilities of support vehicles

environmental factors

machine capabilities and limitations

machine design and safety features

machine maintenance requirements in a fireground environment

organisational operating procedures relevant to machine operations

wildfire control tactics and techniques

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

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to

maintain effective cooperation with support personnel and vehicles

push trees in support of fire operations

communicate effectively with supervisor and other members of the team

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time some performance criteria may be performed in a simulated wildfire environment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in an operational environment or in a fieldbased simulated environment Element should be assessed in a forest environment

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to

trees requiring pushing

machinery

communications equipment

support personnel

Method of assessment

Assessment should be conducted by direct observation in either the workplace through recorded subject matter supervision andor mentoring or the training environment

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industryapproved simulated work environment Forms of assessment that are typically used include

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions

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.

Machine may include:

bulldozer

excavator

front end loader

and must be fitted with

falling object protection systems (FOPS)

roll over protection systems (ROPS)

Safe procedures may include:

ensuring FOPS and ROPS are correctly fitted and used

applying safe work practices

assistance to vehicles and personnel working with machines

communication with fire control line supervisors and support vehicles

maintenance of contact and cooperation with support vehicles

position in relation to live fire edge and fire intensity

survival techniques in burn over situations

wearing appropriate personal protective equipment

wearing seatbelts in the cabin

working within the limits of machine capability

Assessment of trees must include:

entangled crowns

fire burning in the tree

faults

growth characteristics and stresses

hanging and insecure limbs

hollows

lean of tree

multi leaders

potential for ‘domino’ effect

size of tree

slope of land

soundness of timber

species

weight distribution

Topographical and vegetation factors may include:

density and condition of vegetation

proximity to and crossing of, drainage lines and creeks

rockiness of terrain

size, condition and proximity of hazardous trees

soil type

steepness of terrain

Environmental factors may include:

presence of or sensitivity to, environmental diseases or weeds that may be spread by machines

presence of species sensitive to disturbance

protection of flora and fauna habitat

reference/research areas

rock outcrops and caves

soil disturbance and erosion

water quality

Cultural and heritage factors may include:

aboriginal sites

historic sites

structures and earthworks

Sought and gained may include:

notifying supervisor of selected tree/s

confirming permission to push tree/s

confirming tasks are approved in incident action plan

Hazards may include:

buildings and other structures

falling trees and branches

heat, dust, smoke

hot ash

power lines

roads

rock outcrops and caves

Ground preparation may include:

clearing escape route

clearing vegetation and obstacles (such as logs, rocks) around tree

creating ramp for pushing

ripping or severing roots of tree to be pushed

Safe tree pushing practices must include:

avoiding obstacles such as tree roots and rocks rising as a result of the tree falling

direction of approach relative to proposed direction of fall

minimum and gradual power application to effect tree fall

not rocking tree

awareness of point of contact with machine

use of blade and/or tree arm for optimal leverage

Rehabilitation works may include:

breaking up heaps and levelling mounds

removing material from creek and drainage lines

filling in stump holes