Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to operate motorised stump grinding machines to remove tree stumps from the ground.
This unit applies to individuals who undertake defined activities with specialised tools and methods, work in a structured context, apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy and limited judgement, and provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems. Work is implemented with low risk work procedures, in accordance with manufacturers recommendations 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
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for stump removal operations | 1.1 Determine site location and details and clarify with supervisor 1.2 Determine the depth below ground of stump grinding works 1.3 Determine and confirm location and depth of above-and-below-ground services 1.4 Unload stump grinder machine 1.5 Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk |
2. Carry out pre-operational and safety checks | 2.1 Check maintenance log is complete and up to date 2.2 Check belts are appropriately tensioned and in good order 2.3 Check teeth are sharp 2.4 Check no teeth are missing or loose 2.5 Check tyre pressure is correct or tracks are appropriately tensioned 2.6 Check levels of oils and fluids 2.7 Check hoses 2.8 Check brakes are operational 2.9 Check cutter head rotates freely and is not obstructed |
3. Check stump grinder safety features | 3.1 Check guards for belt, power take-off (PTO) and grinder head are in place 3.2 Check kill switch clearly identifiable and working 3.3 Check that dead-man is working if fitted 3.4 Check debris curtain present and in good order 3.5 Check dust suppression system is working if fitted |
4. Complete preparations for work | 4.1 Select and use appropriate personal protective equipment 4.2 Confirm first aid and emergency personnel, equipment and procedures 4.3 Expose stump surrounds manually and check for and remove foreign bodies 4.4 Moisten surrounds as required 4.5 Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures |
5. Position stump grinder | 5.1 Determine exclusion zone for work operations 5.2 Isolate exclusion zone with barriers and signs 5.3 Position machine level within recommended ranges to avoid rollover 5.4 Avoid holes with machine wheels 5.5 Position machine to minimise impact from flying debris 5.6 Position operator in low risk position 5.7 Position operator to provide a clear view of the stump 5.8 Locate safety screens as required |
6. Undertake removal operations | 6.1 Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals 6.1 Confirm work zone cleared prior to starting cutter head 6.3 Plan to complete a series of grinds across the stump 6.4 Start cutter head 6.5 Stop work if exclusion zone is breached and disengage cutter head if required 6.6 Position cutter head over stump 6.7 Engage cutter head into stump surface 6.8 Maintain engine speed in revolutions-per-minute (RPM) 6.9 Ensure grinding process is accurate, smooth and ergonomic 6.10 Grind stump to recommended depth of cut on each cutting pass 6.11 Ensure the cut size of each pass is not excessively deep causing the machine to labour excessively or to stall 6.12 Grind stump to predetermined spread and depth 6.13 Operate equipment without damaging underground services and surrounding areas |
7. Remove grindings | 7.1 Reposition machine away from ground stump 7.2 Disengage cutter head 7.3 Wait and remain clear of cutter head until cutter head stops moving 7.4 Remove build-up of grindings |
8. Perform ongoing grinding operations | 8.1 Make check in calls at prearranged times 8.2 Inspect grinder as required between stumps and when refuelling 8.3 Shutdown immediately if abnormal vibration or noise develops 8.4 Stop the engine before refuelling and allow engine to cool as required 8.5 Follow Safe Work Method Statement instructions for refuelling 8.6 Replace and secure fuel cap before restarting 8.7 Disengage cutter head and ensure a complete stop before moving to a new stump |
9. Complete stump removal operation | 9.1 Back-fill stump hole to original ground level 9.2 Maintain clean and safe work area throughout work and upon completion 9.3 Collect waste material and dispose of or recycle in a manner causing minimal environmental damage 9.4 Clean, maintain and store tools and equipment 9.5 Perform basic maintenance, including sharpening grinder and replacing teeth as required 9.6 Load grinder in accordance with Safe Work Method Statement 9.7 Secure grinder for transport 9.8 Update records of operator usage in log record 9.9 Update records of maintenance and replacement items |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be observed removing stumps using a motorised stump grinder using low-risk work procedures. 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:
determining site location and details and clarifying with supervisor
determining the depth below ground of stump grinding works
determining and confirm location and depth of above-and-below-ground services
unload stump grinder machine
undertaking a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
checking maintenance log complete and up to date
checking belts appropriately tensioned and in good order
checking teeth are sharp
checking no teeth are missing or loose
checking tyre pressure is correct or tracks are appropriately tensioned
checking levels of oils and fluids
checking hoses
checking brakes are operational
checking cutter head rotates freely and is not obstructed
checking guards for belt, power take-off (PTO) and grinder head are in place
checking kill switch clearly identifiable and working
checking that dead-man is working if fitted
checking debris curtain present and in good order
checking dust suppression system is working if fitted
selecting and use appropriate personal protective equipment
confirming first aid and emergency personnel, equipment and procedures
exposing stump surrounds manually and check for and remove foreign bodies
moistening surrounds as required
recording and implementing work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures
determining exclusion zone for work operations
isolating exclusion zone with barriers and signs
positioning machine level within recommended ranges to avoid rollover
avoiding holes with machine wheels
positioning machine to minimise impact from flying debris
positioning operator in low risk position
positioning operator to provide a clear view of the stump
locating safety screens as required
communicating with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals
confirming work zone cleared prior to starting cutter head
planning to complete a series of passes across the stump
starting cutter head
stopping work if exclusion zone is breached and disengage cutter head if required
positioning cutter head over stump
engaging cutter head into stump surface
maintaining engine speed in revolutions-per-minute (rpm)
ensuring grinding process is accurate, smooth and ergonomic
grinding stump to recommended depth of cut on each cutting pass
ensuring the cut size of each pass is not excessively deep causing the machine to labour excessively or to stall
grinding stump to predetermined spread and depth
operating equipment without damaging underground services and surrounding areas
repositioning machine away from ground stump
disengaging cutter head if risk of making unwanted contact
waiting and remaining clear of cutter head until cutter head stops moving
removing build-up of grindings
making check in calls at prearranged times
inspecting grinder as required between stumps and when refueling
shutting down immediately if abnormal vibration and/or noise develops
stopping the engine before refueling and allow engine to cool as required
following safe work method statement instructions for refueling
replacing and securing fuel cap before restarting
disengaging cutter head and ensure a complete stop before moving to a new stump
back-filling stump hole to original ground level
maintaining clean and safe work area throughout work and upon completion
collecting waste material and dispose of or recycle in a manner causing minimal environmental damage
cleaning, maintaining and storing tools and equipment
performing basic maintenance, including sharpening grinder and replacing teeth as required
loading grinder in accordance with safe work method statement
securing grinder for transport
updating records of operator usage in log record
updating records of maintenance and replacement items.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
site hazard identification methods
site risk assessment systems
control measures for work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control
personal protective equipment
communication systems using voice, hand and whistle signals
first aid
emergency procedures
methods of locating services
pre-operational checks of stump grinders including:
logs
belts
teeth
tyre pressure
oils and fluids
hoses
brakes
cutter head
guards
safety checks of stump grinders including:
guards for belt, power take-off (PTO) and grinder head
kill switch
dead man
debris curtain
dust suppression
exclusion zones
operation of stump grinders
cutter head engagement and disengagement
positioning of stump grinders and operator
work zone
methods of determining spread and depth of cut
recommended depths of cut
cutting plan
engine speed (rpm)
abnormal vibration
methods of back-filling
environmental implications of removal activities
appropriate methods of collecting waste material and disposal or recycling methods
basic maintenance of stump grinders
methods of sharpening stump grinders
methods of teeth replacement of stump grinders
records of operator usage in log record
methods of maintaining records for basic maintenance and replacement items.
Assessment Conditions
It is an industry requirement for competency in this unit that assessment includes a log record, verifying ten (10) hours of operating a stump grinder, and five (5) hours of unloading and loading, setup and pre-operational and safety checks, preparatory work, backfilling and cleaning up, sharpening and basic maintenance, performed by the candidate.
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:
stump grinder
sharpening equipment
refuelling kit
spill kit
emergency communication system
personal protective equipment (PPE)
first aid and emergency kit
traffic management kit
signage – work zone
tree stumps
materials:
stump grinder operations form
hazard identification and risk control form
pre-operational and safety check form
emergency preparation form
work communications form
work records 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
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)