Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

AHCARB312 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Use standard climbing techniques to access trees

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency AHCARB312 - Use standard climbing techniques to access trees
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to climb trees with ropes and harnesses using standard techniques for the purpose of accessing required sections of trees.This unit applies to workers who have a range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, ropes, equipment and information to complete routine activities and provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems. Work is implemented with low risk work procedures and to comply with Safe Work Method Statement documentation.Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction. Specific determination should be sought through the relevant State or Territory. Works involving this unit of competency may be subject to local tree protection and preservation laws, and the relevant content of applicable Australian Standards.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

It is an industry requirement that delivery of training and assessment in this unit provides for the explicit conditions of work team capability for aerial rescue operations. It is an industry requirement for competency in this unit that assessment must include a log record of two hundred (200) hours of standard climbing.

Assessment must be demonstrated consistently over time in a suitable range of contexts and have a productivity-based outcome. No single assessment event or report is sufficient to achieve competency in this unit.

Assessment may be conducted in a simulated or real work environment, however determination of competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.

The mandatory equipment and materials used to gather evidence for assessment include:

equipment:

standard climbing kit

harness

high decibel whistle

personal protective equipment (PPE)

first aid and emergency kit

rescue kit

traffic management kit

trees

materials:

climbing techniques form- standard

climbing log record - standard

hazard identification and risk control form

equipment and PPE check form

emergency preparation form

work communications form

knot identification form

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs in the assessment of arboriculture units of competency.

Assessment must be conducted only by persons who have:

arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed

current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed

Prerequisites/co-requisites
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare site and inspect equipment
  • Determine appropriate method for accessing tree – climbing or using an elevated work platform (EWP) – through discussion with work team
  • Determine location of above-and-below-ground services
  • Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
  • Confirm first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures
  • Ensure work team member present, capable, willing and equipped to assist or perform aerial rescue operations
  • Prepare and carry out pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment
  • Select and use personal protective equipment
  • Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures
       
Element: Select climbing equipment
  • Select harness and appropriate equipment for climbing
  • Inspect tree to determinelow risk access route through discussion with work team and seek feedback
  • Estimate tree height and load in relation to safe working limits of ropes and equipment
  • Determine the hold, release and grip attributes of rope
  • Select and use dynamic rope
  • Select and use triple locking carabiners
       
Element: Prepare to access tree
  • Tie, dress, set and finish climbing knots and hitches
  • Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals
  • Maintain awareness of power line clearances
  • Select low risk anchor points in accordance with strength, suitability requirements and branch weight
       
Element: Access and ascend tree
  • Access and ascend tree using low risk access route with harness and lanyard
  • Ascend using double rope with prussik technique
  • Ascend using trunk walking technique and foot ascenders as required
       
Element: Descend from tree
  • Descend tree in a controlled manner
  • Remove all access equipment in a controlled manner
  • Clean and store access equipment
  • Clean and store personal protective equipment
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare site and inspect equipment

1.1 Determine appropriate method for accessing tree – climbing or using an elevated work platform (EWP) – through discussion with work team

1.2 Determine location of above-and-below-ground services

1.3 Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk

1.4 Confirm first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures

1.5 Ensure work team member present, capable, willing and equipped to assist or perform aerial rescue operations

1.6 Prepare and carry out pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment

1.7 Select and use personal protective equipment

1.8 Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures

2. Select climbing equipment

2.1 Select harness and appropriate equipment for climbing

2.2 Inspect tree to determinelow risk access route through discussion with work team and seek feedback

2.3 Estimate tree height and load in relation to safe working limits of ropes and equipment

2.4 Determine the hold, release and grip attributes of rope

2.5 Select and use dynamic rope

2.6 Select and use triple locking carabiners

3. Prepare to access tree

3.1 Tie, dress, set and finish climbing knots and hitches

3.2 Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals

3.3 Maintain awareness of power line clearances

3.4 Select low risk anchor points in accordance with strength, suitability requirements and branch weight

4. Access and ascend tree

4.1 Access and ascend tree using low risk access route with harness and lanyard

4.2 Ascend using double rope with prussik technique

4.3 Ascend using trunk walking technique and foot ascenders as required

5. Descend from tree

5.1 Descend tree in a controlled manner

5.2 Remove all access equipment in a controlled manner

5.3 Clean and store access equipment

5.4 Clean and store personal protective equipment

The candidate must be observed climbing trees using standard climbing techniques in a safe manner. The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:

appropriate method for accessing tree – climbing or using an EWP – through discussion with work team

determining location of above-and-below-ground services

undertaking a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk

confirming first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures

ensuring work team member present, capable, willing and equipped to assist or perform aerial rescue operations

preparing and carrying out pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment

selecting and using personal protective equipment and safety equipment

recording and implementing work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures

selecting harness and appropriate equipment for climbing

inspecting tree to determine low risk access route through discussion with work team and seek feedback

estimating tree height and load in relation to safe working limits of ropes and equipment

determining the hold, release and grip attributes of rope

selecting and using dynamic rope

selecting and using triple locking carabiners

tying, dressing, setting and finishing climbing knots and hitches

communicating with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals

maintaining awareness of power line clearances

selecting low risk anchor points in accordance with strength, suitability requirements and branch weight

accessing and ascending tree using low risk access route with harness and lanyard

ascending using double rope with prussik technique

ascending using trunk walking technique and foot ascenders as required

descending tree in a controlled manner

removing all access equipment in a controlled manner

cleaning and storing climbing equipment

cleaning and storing personal protective equipment

use of industry standard-terminology to describe climbing and the work environment.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

appropriate method of tree access

selection of climbing or EWP access

determination of location of above-and-below-ground services

site-specific risk assessment

first aid personnel, equipment and procedures

rescue personnel, equipment and procedures

work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures

pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment

personal protective equipment

types of climbing ropes

dynamic ropes

rope characteristics

uses of climbing ropes

safe working limits of ropes

safe working limits of equipment

defects in ropes, tools and equipment

climbing harnesses and lanyards

climbing equipment

triple locking carabiners

arborist knots

tying knots

dressing knots

setting knots

checking knots

finishing knots

industry voice, hand and whistle signals

low risk access routes

estimation of tree height

estimation of load

safe working limits

tree access techniques and equipment

strength and suitability requirements

double rope with prussik technique

trunk walking and foot ascenders

standard climbing technique

low risk anchor points

maintenance of awareness of power lines

power line clearances

controlled descent operations

controlled removal of access equipment

cleaning of equipment

storage of equipment

work health and safety measures relating to own work.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare site and inspect equipment

1.1 Determine appropriate method for accessing tree – climbing or using an elevated work platform (EWP) – through discussion with work team

1.2 Determine location of above-and-below-ground services

1.3 Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk

1.4 Confirm first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures

1.5 Ensure work team member present, capable, willing and equipped to assist or perform aerial rescue operations

1.6 Prepare and carry out pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment

1.7 Select and use personal protective equipment

1.8 Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures

2. Select climbing equipment

2.1 Select harness and appropriate equipment for climbing

2.2 Inspect tree to determinelow risk access route through discussion with work team and seek feedback

2.3 Estimate tree height and load in relation to safe working limits of ropes and equipment

2.4 Determine the hold, release and grip attributes of rope

2.5 Select and use dynamic rope

2.6 Select and use triple locking carabiners

3. Prepare to access tree

3.1 Tie, dress, set and finish climbing knots and hitches

3.2 Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals

3.3 Maintain awareness of power line clearances

3.4 Select low risk anchor points in accordance with strength, suitability requirements and branch weight

4. Access and ascend tree

4.1 Access and ascend tree using low risk access route with harness and lanyard

4.2 Ascend using double rope with prussik technique

4.3 Ascend using trunk walking technique and foot ascenders as required

5. Descend from tree

5.1 Descend tree in a controlled manner

5.2 Remove all access equipment in a controlled manner

5.3 Clean and store access equipment

5.4 Clean and store personal protective equipment

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Determine appropriate method for accessing tree – climbing or using an elevated work platform (EWP) – through discussion with work team 
Determine location of above-and-below-ground services 
Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk 
Confirm first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures 
Ensure work team member present, capable, willing and equipped to assist or perform aerial rescue operations 
Prepare and carry out pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment 
Select and use personal protective equipment 
Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures 
Select harness and appropriate equipment for climbing 
Inspect tree to determinelow risk access route through discussion with work team and seek feedback 
Estimate tree height and load in relation to safe working limits of ropes and equipment 
Determine the hold, release and grip attributes of rope 
Select and use dynamic rope 
Select and use triple locking carabiners 
Tie, dress, set and finish climbing knots and hitches 
Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals 
Maintain awareness of power line clearances 
Select low risk anchor points in accordance with strength, suitability requirements and branch weight 
Access and ascend tree using low risk access route with harness and lanyard 
Ascend using double rope with prussik technique 
Ascend using trunk walking technique and foot ascenders as required 
Descend tree in a controlled manner 
Remove all access equipment in a controlled manner 
Clean and store access equipment 
Clean and store personal protective equipment 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

AHCARB312 - Use standard climbing techniques to access trees
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

AHCARB312 - Use standard climbing techniques to access trees

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: