FPICOT2239A
Trim and cut felled trees

This unit describes the outcomes required to trim and cut felled trees with a chainsaw. It is intended for use in situations where the production of timber is not the primary focus of the activity. The unit also includes equipment maintenanceGeneral workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; specific licensing or certification requirements may apply in some states and territoriesThis unit replaces FPICOT2221A Trim and cross cut felled trees

Application

This unit involves trimming and cutting felled trees with a chainsaw in a variety of work settings including a forest, agriculture, domestic, local council and emergency services environment, as relevant to the unit

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace 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 trimming and cutting

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements and manufacturer's specifications relevant to trimming and cutting felled trees are identified and followed

1.2. Site environmental protection measures and enterprise environmental management systems are identified and adhered to in line with relevant legislation and regulations

1.3. Job requirements are reviewed and clarified with appropriate personnel

1.4. Trimming and cutting activities are planned in line with site procedures

1.5. Tools and equipment are selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with organisational procedures and manufacturer's recommendations

1.6. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

2. Visually assess felled trees

2.1. Trees to be trimmed and cut are identified in line with job requirements

2.2. Environmental requirements are identified and used to plan the trimming and cutting activities

2.3. Tree, location and stability are assessed for conditions likely to affect safety of trimming and cutting activities

2.4. Tree is visually assessed for defects

2.5. Stresses within the tree are identified

2.6. Trees unable to be cut safely are identified and referred to appropriate personnel

3. Plan cutting

3.1. Tree is moved or stabilised for safe cutting in line with site standards and regulations

3.2. Cutting pattern is selected to optimise time and manageable removal of the sections

3.3. Options for utilisation of product are identified

3.4. Sequence of cuts is planned to maintain control of cut sections and minimise cutting problems

3.5. Cut location is determined with consideration of tree stresses

4. Conduct trimming and cutting

4.1. Debris is cleared from the work area to prevent saw damage or injury in line with OHS requirements

4.2. Pre start-up checks are carried out on equipment in line with site requirements

4.3. Movement and whereabouts of other personnel is monitored and work is modified in line with OHS regulations

4.4. Tree section on each side of planned cut is secured and potential movement is assessed and planned

4.5. Chainsaw is operated to cut tree and limbs with cutting techniques adjusted in response to movement and condition of the tree/limbs

4.6. Trimming and cutting is completed in line with OHS and job requirements

4.7. Trimming and cutting records are prepared and problems reported to the appropriate personnel

5. Conduct equipment maintenance

5.1. Equipment is inspected on completion of trimming and cutting activities

5.2. Damaged saws and cutting attachments are identified for repair or replacement in line with organisational requirements and manufacturer's recommendations

5.3. Chain and other components are removed, cleaned, maintained, adjusted or replaced in line with manufacturer's recommendations

5.4. Tools and equipment are maintained in line with OHS requirements and manufacturer's recommendations

Required Skills

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

Required skills

Technical skills sufficient to select, use and maintain relevant equipment to safely trim and cut felled trees in a range of situations

Ability to assess the implications related to identified stresses of the tree

Communication skills sufficient to interact with colleagues and others

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

Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate and measure tolerances and minimum diameter, and calculate time to complete tasks

Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems, equipment faults and apply 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 trimming and cutting felled trees

Industry, organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for trimming and cutting felled trees

Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material

Characteristics of trees and types of timber defects that may affect cutting

Cutting patterns, sequences and techniques

Chainsaw operation, safety and maintenance procedures

Risk assessment processes

Problem identification and resolution strategies and common fault finding techniques

Types of tools and equipment and procedures for their use, operation and maintenance for trimming and cutting felled trees

Procedures for reporting workplace records and information

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 safely and efficiently trim and cut felled trees and conduct equipment maintenance within industry and organisational requirements

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 trimming and cutting felled trees

following industry and organisational policies and procedures relevant to trimming and cutting felled trees

effective communication and safe working practices

planning of trimming and cutting activities in line with site standards and regulations

trimming and cutting of felled trees in line with job requirements in a range of workplace situations

equipment maintenance

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

communications equipment

location of other workers

hazard and risk control

fatigue management

elimination of hazardous materials and substances

safe workplace practices including required actions relating to forest fire

awareness of danger zone for kickback

manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

erection of warning signs

potential falling objects

procedures for cutting on slopes

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

Trees may include:

hardwood trees

softwood trees

Environmental protection measures may include:

action to limit the impact of noise, wind speed and direction, fallen trees, ground slope, ground hazards and obstacles, general forest lean

action to limit the impact to ground growth, canopy, density of trees

and may relate to:

soil and water protection

contingencies for modifying operations during wet or other adverse weather conditions

the safe disposal of waste material

Job requirements

refer to information and instructions relevant to trimming and cutting operations including:

size

length

quantity and grade

removal status

Appropriate personnel may include:

supervisors

clients

colleagues

line management

Tools and equipment may include:

chainsaws

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

maintenance tools

fuel and oil containers

and ancillary equipment, which may include:

hammer

axe

wedges

cant hook or breaking bar

first aid kit

fire control equipment

tool belt

loggers tape

warning signs

chainsaw maintenance kit

Communication may include:

verbal and non-verbal language

hand or other agreed signals

eye contact with other operators or personnel

use of electronic devices

Environmental requirements

may be assessed in relation to:

ground growth

ground slope

ground hazards and obstacles

and may include environmental protection measures to:

limit the impact of noise, fumes in enclosed spaces, waste, fire, disposal of fuel and oil

limit the impact on flora, fauna and habitat

Defects may include:

splits

falling damage

fire damage

infestation

pipe

shake

twist

branch/knot locations

Stresses may include:

tension (fibres being stretched)

compression (fibres being squashed)

neutral fibres

Cutting pattern refers to:

the best direction or angle for making a cut

Sequence of cuts refers to:

the plan of cuts to optimise time and recovery of logs

Debris may include:

stones

rocks

loose branches

other timber

woody material

any loose hazards underfoot or in escape path

any material underfoot or in the cutting area which may impinge on safe cutting procedures

Pre start-up checks may include:

checking that equipment is suitable for task and has been set up correctly

checking that systems are performing accurately

checking equipment is operating to optimum performance

Cutting techniques may include:

bridging cuts

swinging cuts

side bind cuts

delimbing

boring

wedge cuts

ripping cuts

Records may include:

quality outcomes; hazards, incident reports, equipment malfunctions and damage

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

Maintenance must include:

sharpening

and may include:

refuelling

inspection, identification and replacement of bar, chain, drive sprockets

bar oil checks and 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