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

FWPCOT2239 Mapping and Delivery Guide
Trim and cut felled trees

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency FWPCOT2239 - Trim and cut felled trees
Description
Employability Skills
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit describes the outcomes required to trim and cut felled trees with a chainsaw and to complete operator maintenance. It applies to situations where the production of timber is not the primary focus of the activity. The unit applies to forestry worker, chainsaw operator, forest harvester, harvesting technician, aboriculture worker.Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states & territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.

The following resources must be made available:

chainsaws

chainsaw fuel and oil containers

support tools (hammer, wedges, logging tape, cant hook or breaking bar)

maintenance tools and equipment for chainsaws

personal protective equipment suitable for cutting trees and maintaining chainsaws

manufacturers’ instructions for use and maintenance of equipment

work order with specific instructions for tree cutting activities

template reports for recording tree cutting outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements

organisational procedures for tree trimming and cutting activities.

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must:

hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and

be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and

be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
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 for trimming and cutting
  • Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel.
  • Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness.
  • Plan trimming and cutting activities in line with work order and environmental conditions.
       
Element: Visually assess felled trees
  • Assess tree location and stability for conditions likely to affect safety of trimming and cutting activities
  • Visually assess tree for defects and identify stresses within tree.
  • Mark trees too dangerous to cut safely and refer to appropriate personnel.
       
Element: Plan cutting
  • Move or stabilise tree for safe cutting in line with site procedures.
  • Select cutting pattern to optimise time and manageable removal of sections.
  • Identify options for utilisation of product.
  • Plan cutting sequence to maintain control of cut sections and minimise cutting problems
  • Select cutting positions considering tree stresses.
  • Clear debris from work area to allow safe access and prevent saw damage and personal injury.
       
Element: Use chainsaw to trim and cut trees
  • Monitor location and movement of other personnel and modify work to ensure safety
  • Establish and maintain communication to ensure safety
  • Secure tree section on each side of planned cut; evaluate and control potential movement.
  • Operate chainsaw to cut tree and limbs and adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree and limbs
  • Prepare cut sections for removal from the site.
       
Element: Complete equipment 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.
  • Record and report trimming and cutting records, equipment faults and maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel.
       


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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1. Prepare for trimming and cutting

1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel.

1.2 Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness.

1.3 Plan trimming and cutting activities in line with work order and environmental conditions.

2. Visually assess felled trees

2.1 Assess tree location and stability for conditions likely to affect safety of trimming and cutting activities

2.2 Visually assess tree for defects and identify stresses within tree.

2.3 Mark trees too dangerous to cut safely and refer to appropriate personnel.

3. Plan cutting

3.1 Move or stabilise tree for safe cutting in line with site procedures.

3.2 Select cutting pattern to optimise time and manageable removal of sections.

3.3 Identify options for utilisation of product.

3.4 Plan cutting sequence to maintain control of cut sections and minimise cutting problems

3.5 Select cutting positions considering tree stresses.

3.6 Clear debris from work area to allow safe access and prevent saw damage and personal injury.

4. Use chainsaw to trim and cut trees

4.1 Monitor location and movement of other personnel and modify work to ensure safety

4.2 Establish and maintain communication to ensure safety

4.3 Secure tree section on each side of planned cut; evaluate and control potential movement.

4.4 Operate chainsaw to cut tree and limbs and adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree and limbs

4.5 Prepare cut sections for removal from the site.

5. Complete equipment maintenance

5.1 Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment.

5.2 Check chain for bluntness or damage.

5.3 Remove, sharpen, adjust and replace chain and other components in line with manufacturer's recommendations.

5.4 Record and report trimming and cutting records, equipment faults and maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel.

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. If a specific volume or frequency is not stated below, then evidence must be provided that the following requirements have been performed on at least one occasion:

safely and efficiently use a chainsaw to complete these activities:

trim and cut hardwood or softwood trees

delimb trees

trim branches

trim burls and other small growths

use these cutting techniques:

bridging cuts

swinging cuts

side bind cuts

boring

wedge cut

ripping cuts

trim and cut trees in these environmental conditions:

dry weather condition

wet weather condition

low and moderate wind speeds

complete the following maintenance on a chainsaw:

sharpening

refuelling

inspection, identification and replacement of bar, chain, drive sprockets

bar oil checks and top up

air filter, check, clean and replacement

cleaning of saw body, air intake vents and cooling fans

fitting spare chain and tension chain.

A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

environmental protection measures including:

action to limit the impact of noise, wind speed and direction, fallen trees, ground slope, ground hazards and obstacles, general forest lean

action to limit the impact to ground growth, canopy, density of trees

action to limit the impact on flora, fauna and habitat

soil and water protection

cleaning plant, tools and equipment

disposing of, recycling and reusing timber and other waste

key features of these varying environmental conditions and effects on tree cutting and trimming activities:

ground growth

ground hazards and obstacles

ground slope

wet and adverse weather conditions

wind speed and direction

typical tree defects and how they affect tree cutting activities:

splits

falling damage

fire damage

insect infestation

pipe

shake

twist

knots and resin pockets

typical tree stresses and how they affect tree cutting activities

tension (fibres being stretched)

compression (fibres being squashed)

neutral fibres

range of chainsaw cutting techniques:

bridging cuts

swinging cuts

side bind cuts

delimbing

boring

wedge cut

ripping cuts

cutting patterns used to optimise time and recovery of product from trees

cutting sequences used to maintain control of cut sections and minimise cutting problems

purpose, features, operation and basic non-specialist repair and maintenance: of chainsaws

methods for assessing chain condition

organisational procedures specific to tree trimming and cutting activities:

workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out and use of personal protective equipment

communication reporting lines

recording and reporting tree cutting outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements.

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.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1. Prepare for trimming and cutting

1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel.

1.2 Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness.

1.3 Plan trimming and cutting activities in line with work order and environmental conditions.

2. Visually assess felled trees

2.1 Assess tree location and stability for conditions likely to affect safety of trimming and cutting activities

2.2 Visually assess tree for defects and identify stresses within tree.

2.3 Mark trees too dangerous to cut safely and refer to appropriate personnel.

3. Plan cutting

3.1 Move or stabilise tree for safe cutting in line with site procedures.

3.2 Select cutting pattern to optimise time and manageable removal of sections.

3.3 Identify options for utilisation of product.

3.4 Plan cutting sequence to maintain control of cut sections and minimise cutting problems

3.5 Select cutting positions considering tree stresses.

3.6 Clear debris from work area to allow safe access and prevent saw damage and personal injury.

4. Use chainsaw to trim and cut trees

4.1 Monitor location and movement of other personnel and modify work to ensure safety

4.2 Establish and maintain communication to ensure safety

4.3 Secure tree section on each side of planned cut; evaluate and control potential movement.

4.4 Operate chainsaw to cut tree and limbs and adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree and limbs

4.5 Prepare cut sections for removal from the site.

5. Complete equipment maintenance

5.1 Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment.

5.2 Check chain for bluntness or damage.

5.3 Remove, sharpen, adjust and replace chain and other components in line with manufacturer's recommendations.

5.4 Record and report trimming and cutting records, equipment faults and maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel.

Not Applicable
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
Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 
Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 
Plan trimming and cutting activities in line with work order and environmental conditions. 
Assess tree location and stability for conditions likely to affect safety of trimming and cutting activities 
Visually assess tree for defects and identify stresses within tree. 
Mark trees too dangerous to cut safely and refer to appropriate personnel. 
Move or stabilise tree for safe cutting in line with site procedures. 
Select cutting pattern to optimise time and manageable removal of sections. 
Identify options for utilisation of product. 
Plan cutting sequence to maintain control of cut sections and minimise cutting problems 
Select cutting positions considering tree stresses. 
Clear debris from work area to allow safe access and prevent saw damage and personal injury. 
Monitor location and movement of other personnel and modify work to ensure safety 
Establish and maintain communication to ensure safety 
Secure tree section on each side of planned cut; evaluate and control potential movement. 
Operate chainsaw to cut tree and limbs and adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree and limbs 
Prepare cut sections for removal from the site. 
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. 
Record and report trimming and cutting records, equipment faults and maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

FWPCOT2239 - Trim and cut felled 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

FWPCOT2239 - Trim and cut felled 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: