Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to examine trees from the ground in order to evaluate the increased likelihood of failure of trees or tree parts.
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, the relevant content of applicable Australian Standards and Safe Australia Code of Practice.
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. Determine evaluation requirements | 1.1 Confirm trees to be evaluated in accordance with client brief 1.2 Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk 1.3 Determine targets that need to be considered 1.4 Determine tree hazard benchmarks appropriate for project 1.5 Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures |
2. Examine visual tree indicators | 2.1 Inspect tree from ground 2.2 Determine tree health 2.3 Examine tree anatomy and morphology for past failures 2.4 Examine tree for outwardly apparent defects 2.5 Examine tree for visual indicators of concealed defects 2.6 Examine tree for visual indicators of disease leading to structural failure 2.7 Examine tree for visual indicators of organisms causing damage leading to structural failure 2.8 Determine if failure is likely to result in target being impacted |
3. Undertake basic testing | 3.1 Sound for cavities suggested by openings and visual indicators 3.2 Probe any accessible cavities and openings 3.3 Expose root crown where required 3.4 Remove loose bark where appropriate 3.5 Determine whether tree or tree parts are a hazard in accordance with benchmarks |
4. Record tree attribute and indicators | 4.1 Photograph and record tree species and site of tree 4.2 Record the health and approximate dimensions of the tree 4.3 Record and photograph the defects and visual indicators 4.4 Describe, illustrate and indicate on image or device, the approximate location on the tree 4.5 Record approximate dimensions of affected tree part and defect 4.6 Record results of evaluation |
5. Mitigate risk and document actions | 5.1 Advise client immediately of evaluation, where a tree poses an imminent threat 5.2 Take action as instructed in accordance with work place policies and client brief 5.3 Isolate the tree or move target as instructed in accordance with work place policies and client brief 5.4 Document immediate actions taken |
6. Document and report hazards and recommendations | 6.1 Compile hazard evaluation documentation 6.2 Recommend further action of including aerial inspection and load testing or seek further advice from a consulting arborist 6.3 Determine and document any tree work required to mitigate risks 6.4 Submit tree hazard evaluation report to client or employer |
Evidence of Performance
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 evaluated in accordance with client brief
undertaking a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
determining targets that need to be considered
determining tree hazard benchmarks appropriate for project
recording and implementing work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures
inspecting tree from ground
determining tree health
examining tree for past failures
examining tree for visual indicators of outwardly apparent defects
examining tree for visual indicators of concealed defects
examining tree for visual indicators of disease leading to structural failure
determining if failure is likely to result in target being impacted
sounding for cavities suggested by openings and visual indicators
probing any accessible cavities and openings
exposing root crown where required
removing loose bark where appropriate
determining if tree exceeds tree hazard benchmarks for project
photographing and recording tree species and site of tree
recording health and approximate dimensions of the tree
recording and photographing defects and visual indicators
describing, illustrating and indicating on image or device, the approximate location on the tree
recording approximate dimensions of affected tree part and defect
recording results and advising client of evaluation
advising client immediately of evaluation where a tree poses an imminent threat
taking action as instructed in accordance with work place policies and client brief
isolating the tree or move target as instructed in accordance with work place policies and client brief
documenting immediate actions taken.
compiling hazard evaluation documentation
recommending further action of aerial inspection and load testing or seek further advice from a consulting arborist
determining and documenting any tree work required to mitigate risks
submitting tree hazard evaluation report to client or employer
use of industry standard terminology to describe hazard evaluation.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
client briefs
site-specific risk assessment
work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
targets and the role of targets in tree risk assessment
tree hazard benchmarks
work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures
tree inspections
tree health
methods of determining tree health
tree anatomy and morphology for past failures
tree examinations for outwardly apparent defects
tree examinations for visual indicators of concealed defects
tree examinations for visual indicators of disease leading to structural failure
tree examinations for visual indicators of organisms causing damage leading to structural failure
likelihood of target impaction
cavity sounding and probing techniques
visual indicators of root crowns and bark
determination whether tree or tree parts are a hazard in accordance with benchmarks
photography and recording of tree species, site of tree, approximate location of trees, and defects and visual indicators
health and approximate dimensions of the tree and affected tree part and defect
imminent threat
tree isolation methods
methods of moving targets
documentation of hazard evaluation
risk mitigation
recommendations of aerial inspection and load testing
advice from a consulting arborist
presentation of reports.
Assessment Conditions
It is an industry requirement for competency in this unit that assessment includes a minimum of twenty (20) ground-based tree defect evaluations, and requires a minimum of at least one (1) consultation with a consulting arborist to participate in a ground-based tree defect evaluation. The evaluations are required to cover twenty separate and individual trees, of a minimum of fifteen (15) different tree species, and each of the evaluations is required to be a whole-of-tree investigation.
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:
trees
cross-sectioned tree visual indicators of defects and diseases
materials:
site-specific risk assessment form
defect evaluation form
tree evaluation report
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)