This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to dismantle trees in confined spaces and in difficult or hazardous circumstances.

This unit applies to individuals who have a range of skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, materials and information to complete routine activities and provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems. Discretion and judgement is required. The work requires the application of extensive arboricultural knowledge. 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.

The candidate must be observed removing a tree in a confined space using directional felling and removing a tree in a confined space using a dismantling process. 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 location of above-and-below-ground services

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

inspecting trees to determine appropriate removal methods

confirming appropriateness of selected risk controls

determining access to site and gaining approval by owner or site management

confirming site preparations, including notification of local residents and authorities where necessary

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

determining drop zone and communicate to all personnel

protecting, relocating and securing assets, property and vegetation related to work zone activities from potential damage during tree removal

selecting, preparing, checking and using tools, equipment and machinery

selecting and using personal protective equipment

selecting and using safety equipment

calculating mass of tree section

confirming mass of tree section does not exceed the safe working limit of equipment

dismantling branches and trunk sections using the 'cut and drop' method, and

cutting and lowering sections by ropes and other lowering devices

using dismantling techniques to ensure branches and trunk sections fall or are lowered safely into determined drop zone, with no damage to property and equipment or injury to personnel

using directional felling techniques to ensure trunk of dismantled tree falls safely into determined drop zone with no damage to property and equipment or injury to personnel

using and controlling friction devices where required

using and controlling elevated work platforms as required

reducing dismantled tree section to manoeuvrable lengths without injury to operator

removing plant material and debris from site

cleaning and checking tools, equipment and machinery, replacing if faulty or worn, and storing

recording completion of tree removal and reporting to owner or site manager

use of advanced rigging techniques

calculating tree dimensions, mass of tree section and balance of load

erecting signage, barriers, warning devices and traffic management equipment

coordinating and sequencing work team activities

use of industry standard terminology to describe arboriculture and work environment.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

site and tree hazards that might be encountered

selection of low risk tree removal methods

advanced climbing techniques and rope handling

selecting and tying, dressing, setting and finishing arborist knots

operation of lowering devices where required

types of lowering devices that might be required, including friction devices, and methods for using them

how to estimate density of tree sections

the impact of force, breaking strength, safety factors and cycles to failure

how to identify and evaluate structural defects in trees

how to determine the density of tree sections

safe working limits on all relevant rigging and lowering equipment

methods of estimating mass and balance of load

first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures applicable to tree work

methods of minimising environmental impact

legislation and local regulations governing tree removal.

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:

rigging equipment

single rope technique (SRT) climbing kit

static and dynamic rope kit

harness

lowering and friction devices

gaffs/spurs

high decibel whistle

personal protective equipment (PPE)

first aid and emergency kit

rescue kit

traffic management kit

signage – work zone

trees

materials:

dismantling operations form

chainsaw operations form

pruning operations form

knot identification form

hazard identification and risk control form

equipment and PPE check form

emergency preparation form

rescue form - aerial

work communications form

work site operations 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 essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Arboriculture (ARB)