FPICOT2238A
Cut materials with a hand-held chainsaw

This unit describes the outcomes required to prepare and cut materials with a hand-held chainsaw. This unit includes basic operator maintenance checksMore comprehensive servicing and maintenance procedures are covered in FPICOT2237A Maintain chainsawsGeneral legislative, regulatory and workplace requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publicationThis unit replaces FPICOT2206B Cross cut materials with an hand-held chainsaw

Application

The unit involves cutting materials with a hand-held chainsaw in a variety of work settings including a construction, saw mill, forest products factory, timber retail yard or horticultural environment

The skills and knowledge required for competent performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority


Prerequisites

Not Applicable


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for operation

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental, legislative, organisationalrequirements and manufacturer's specifications relevant to cutting materials with a hand-held chainsaw are identified and followed

1.2. Job requirements are reviewed and clarified with appropriate personnel

1.3. Tools and equipment are selected appropriate to job requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations and site procedures

1.4. Tasks are identified and planned in line with job requirements

1.5. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements and site procedures

1.6. Requirements for recycling or disposal of waste material are identified

2. Cut material

2.1. Work area is prepared, checked and cleared in line with OHS requirements and site procedures

2.2. Supports are placed as required to ensure a stable base

2.3. Material is visually assessed for defects in line with site standards

2.4. Cutting techniques are used to maximise volume and quality of recovery in line with work order and industry standard lengths

2.5. Material is cut within site standard tolerances for length and angle relative to centre line in line with OHS requirements

2.6. Chainsaw is operated in line with OHS and site procedures, and manufacturer's recommendations

2.7. Debris is cleared and disposed of in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

2.8. Production and quality records and reports are processed in line with site procedures and organisational requirements

2.9. Problems are identified and reported in line with site procedures

3. Conduct chainsaw maintenance

3.1. Damaged saws or cutting attachments are identified and dealt with according to site procedures and manufacturer's recommendations

3.2. Chainsaw is cleaned, maintained and stored in line with manufacturer's recommendations and site procedures

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Required skills

Technical skills sufficient to safely and efficiently use a hand-held chainsaw and carry out lock-out procedures on associated machinery; use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; use appropriate methods to cut materials with a hand-held chainsaw and maximise volume and quality recovery

Communication skills sufficient to interact effectively with colleagues and others

Literacy skills sufficient to review and accurately identify work requirements and accurately locate, record and report information

Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate and measure lengths and calculate time to complete a task

Problem solving skills sufficient to identify defects and problems and appropriate response procedures

Required knowledge

Applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for cutting materials with a hand-held chainsaw

Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for cutting materials with a hand-held chainsaw; organisational communication channels and protocols; and procedures for the recording and reporting of workplace documentation and information

Environmental protection requirements including the safe disposal of waste material

Operation and maintenance requirements of a hand-held chainsaw including consequences of blunt or damaged saws

Effects of defects on recovery

Common industry terminology

Communication and interpersonal techniques

Industry standard length dimensions

Problem identification and resolution strategies and common fault finding techniques

Types of tools and equipment and procedures for their use, operation and maintenance

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can use a hand-held chainsaw while demonstrating the correct procedures for cutting materials in line with organisational guidelines

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

following applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice, including OHS and environmental, relevant to cutting materials with a hand-held chainsaw

following organisational policies and procedures relevant to cutting materials with a hand-held chainsaw

following applicable licensing or certification requirements

effective communication and safe working practices

safe cutting of materials using a hand-held chainsaw

cutting materials to maximise volume and quality of recovery according to job requirements

cleaning, maintaining and storing saw

identifying and reporting faults, malfunctions or irregular operation of hand-held chainsaw

appropriate recycling or disposal of waste materials

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace

Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements

The following resources should be made available:

workplace location or simulated workplace

materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit

specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of underpinning knowledge

Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on underpinning knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills

Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the essential underpinning knowledge

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English

Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment

Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

OHS requirements:

are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

personal protective equipment and clothing

safety equipment

first aid equipment

fire fighting equipment

hazard and risk control

fatigue management

elimination of hazardous materials and substances

awareness of danger zone for kickback

manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

potential falling objects

procedures for cutting on slopes

location of other workers

Legislative requirements:

are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

Australian Standards

OHS

the environment

equal opportunity

relevant industry codes of practice

award and enterprise agreements

industrial relations

confidentiality and privacy

duty of care

heritage and traditional land owner issues

Organisational requirements may include:

legal

organisational and site guidelines

policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility

quality assurance

procedural manuals

quality and continuous improvement processes and standards

OHS

emergency and evacuation procedures

fire prevention procedures

recording and reporting requirements

equipment use and maintenance and storage requirements

environmental management requirements (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

access and equity principles and practices

Materials may include:

logs

packs of timber

individual pieces of timber

Job requirements relate to:

information and instructions relevant to cutting operations including:

processing location details

materials to be cut

environmental requirements and features

site plan

and may be verbal

Appropriate personnel may include:

supervisors

clients

colleagues

line management

Tools and equipment may include:

chainsaws

specific safety attire

maintenance tools

Communication may include:

verbal and non-verbal language

hand or other agreed signals

eye contact with other operators or personnel

use of electronic devices

Cleared

refers to work area and may include:

clearing the work area of off-cuts and shorts

ensuring saw clearance around material

depositing off-cuts, shorts and debris in recognised areas

clearing surfaces of debris likely to cause saw damage in the cutting area

Supports

are timber or mechanical apparatus that are put under material to stabilise and give clearance to ground and may include:

timber bearers

specific frames/benches

timber/steel trolleys

Cutting techniques may relate to:

cutting positions

work order requirements

industry standard lengths

cutting patterns

maximising volume and quality of recovery

securing the section on each side of the planned cut

cutting procedures to ensure saw clearance around the material to minimise capping and splitting of material

Records and reports may include:

log book recording of maintenance outcomes, faults, malfunctions and damage, hazards and incidents

may be compiled using a computer-based system or other appropriate organisational communication system to record and report

Problems

may occur in relation to:

defects in material

performance of chainsaw

communication

hazards and risks at the work site

capping and splitting of material

danger zone for kickback

Maintained

refers to maintenance during operation to optimise saw performance and includes:

refuelling

bar checks and oil top up

air filter check, clean and replacement

cleaning of saw body, air intake vents and cooling fans

fitting spare chain and tension chain


Sectors

Not Applicable


Competency Field

Common Technical


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor