This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to verify the application of requirements of Australian Standards to operational pruning specification within a range of arboriculture operations and industry contexts.

This unit applies to individuals who supervise others and provide and communicate solutions to a range of predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems. Work is implemented with low risk work procedures and to comply with Safe Work Method 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 such as AS 4373.

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:

confirming trees to be pruned and the desired outcomes for pruning works in accordance with client brief

determining location of above-and-below-ground services

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

identifying and record tree species using botanical nomenclature and common names

verifying location of tree using fixed reference points of boundary lines, residential housing and fences

determining and document dimensions of tree recording the characteristics of the approximate height, canopy, spread and diameter-at-breast-height (DBH)

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

evaluating tree for pruning

considering tree’s health, growth habit, structure, stability and growing environment

determining class, code, species application and clause of pruning required in accordance with current Australian Standard ‘pruning of amenity trees’

determining compensatory tree care required to offset losses arising from pruning of live tissue

determining requirement to meet biosecurity regulations for transmission of diseases by pruning equipment and materials

verifying smallest diameter of dead branches to be removed.

determining maximum and average diameter of live branches to be pruned

verifying for crown thinning operations: maximum diameter of branches; and total percentage of total crown foliage permitted to be cut

verifying for selective pruning operations: identity and locations of specific branches to be cut

verifying for formative pruning operations: identify and locations of specific branch

verifying for reduction pruning operations: an extent of pruning best described as a percentage, and the approximate dimensions and precise nodes

verifying for crown lifting operations: maximum diameter & location + maximum height (or minimum height)

verifying for pollarding: dimensions of permanent structure

verifying for remedial and restorative pruning: any key reference points in the tree and any key measurement and any objectives

verifying for line clearance: minimum clearance distances

verifying branch location and identity by identification process starting with closest branch to ground labelled as branch number one

readying branch pattern from the ground up, select branch required and label branch with number in sequential order

determining and document direction of branch growth by selecting north, south, east, or west and label branch

estimating and document height of branch attachment from ground

describing structural order of branches: first order - directly off the trunk; second order - immediately off first order; third order etc.

verifying approximation of branch collar diameter at location of pruning point

using photographs to verify and confirm location of pruning cuts

recording information on pro-forma documents

confirming written pruning specifications

clarifying the terminology used and extent of works with the client

documenting a written record of contract for the client as required

providing completed written specification to client and work crew

assessing pruning work performed against anticipated outcomes and record anomalies

seeking feedback from client on work performed

seeking feedback from work crew on clarity of specifications

recording areas of improvement for future use in specifications

signing off on specified work and completing required records

use of industry standard terminology to describe pruning specifications

awareness of work health and safety in the context of own work.

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

site-specific risk assessment

tree species using botanical nomenclature and common names

fixed reference points

dimensions of tree

characteristics of the approximate height, canopy, spread and diameter-at-breast-height (DBH)

tree’s health, growth habit, structure, stability and growing environment

tree age class, code, species application and clause of pruning required in accordance with current Australian Standard ‘Pruning of amenity trees’

compensatory tree care

losses arising from pruning of live tissue

biosecurity regulations

transmission of diseases by pruning equipment and materials

specification for crown thinning operations

specification for selective pruning operations

specification for formative pruning operations

specification for reduction pruning operations

specification for crown lifting operations

specification for pollarding

maximum and average diameter of live branches

total crown foliage

identity and locations of specific branches

extent of pruning best described as a percentage

approximate dimensions and precise nodes

maximum height (or minimum height)

dimensions of permanent structure

specification for remedial and restorative pruning

specification for line clearance

specification for branch location and identity by identification process

key reference points in the tree

minimum clearance distances

branch pattern

sequential order

direction of branch growth by selecting north, south, east, or west

approximation of branch collar diameter

location of pruning point

pro-forma documents

pruning specifications

terminology

written record of contract

specifications

anticipated outcomes

anomalies

specified work.

It is an industry requirement for competency in this unit that assessment includes the assessment of pruning works on each of the maintenance and modification operations:

crown maintenance pruning

crown thinning operations

selective pruning operations

formative pruning operations

reduction pruning operations

crown lifting operations

pollarding

remedial and restorative pruning

line clearance

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:

computer

word processing software

internet connection

digital camera/phone camera

tree

materials:

site-specific risk assessment form

pruning specification 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)