Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to climb trees with ropes, harnesses and specialist equipment using advanced techniques for the purpose of mobility around the required sections of trees for work positioning.
This unit applies to individuals 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. 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.
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 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 determine 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 static and dynamic rope as required 2.6 Select and use triple locking carabiners 2.7 Determine limits, relative advantages and disadvantages of friction hitches |
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 safe approach distances and vegetation clearances 3.4 Select low risk anchor points in accordance with strength, suitability requirements and branch weight |
4. Prepare climbing spurs and gaffs for dismantling operations | 4.1 Prepare climbing spurs and gaffs for dismantling operations 4.2 Check all components of climbing spurs for defects and wear 4.3 Check gaff tip profile for correct dimensions using gaff gauge 4.4 Sharpen gaff tip cutting edge with file at defined angle using gaff gauge 4.5 Adjust climbing spurs to provide correct operator fit 4.6 Access and perform dismantling work using climbing spurs 4.7 Maintain separation of spurs 4.8 Maintain clearance distance between spurs and ropes |
5. Access and ascend tree | 5.1 Access and ascend tree using low risk access route with harness and lanyard 5.2 Ascend using single rope, double rope and selected friction hitch as required 5.3 Ascend using uni-ascenders, foot and hand ascenders, and other ascension devices as required 5.4 Use micrograbs, grigris and micro-pulleys as required for mobility and work positioning 5.5 Demonstrate ability to carry out change-overs as required 5.6 Set up redirects and belays using slings and anchors as required 5.7 Select multiple lines to climb trees and tree parts as required 5.8 Select multiple lines to perform tree operations as required |
6. Descend from tree | 6.1 Descend tree in a controlled manner 6.2 Remove all access equipment in a controlled manner 6.3 Check, clean and store access equipment 6.4 Clean and store personal protective equipment |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be observed ascending and descending trees using advanced tree climbing practices.
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 static and dynamic rope as required
selecting and using triple locking carabiners
determine limits, relative advantages and disadvantages of friction hitches including: Tautline, Blake’s, Prussik, Klemheist, Valdetain, French Prussik and specialised variations
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 safe approach distances and vegetation 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 single rope, double rope and selected friction hitch as required
ascending using uni-ascenders and foot ascenders as required
using micrograbs, grigris and micro-pulleys as required for access and tree operations
demonstrating ability to carry out change-overs
setting up redirects and belays using slings and anchors
selecting multiple lines to access trees and tree parts
selecting multiple lines to perform tree operations
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.
Evidence of Knowledge
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 and static 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 action carabiners
friction hitches including:
Tautline, Blake’s, Prussik, Klemheist, Valdetain, French Prussik and specialised variations
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
single and double rope techniques
uni-ascenders and foot ascenders
micrograbs, grigris, micro-pulleys
use of climbing spikes of various lengths
change-overs
redirects and belays using slings and anchors
use of multiple lines to access trees and tree parts
advanced climbing techniques
low risk anchor points
maintenance of awareness of power lines
power line safe approach distances and vegetation clearances
controlled descent operations
controlled removal of access equipment
cleaning of equipment
storage of equipment.
Assessment Conditions
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 advanced 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:
single rope technique (SRT) climbing kit
harness
chaps
climbing friction hitches
high decibel whistle
personal protective equipment (PPE)
first aid and emergency kit
rescue kit
traffic management kit
trees
materials:
climbing techniques form - advanced
climbing log record – advanced
tree inspection form
hazard identification and risk control form
equipment and PPE check form
knot identification form
work communications form
rescue form - aerial
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)