Application
The unit involves the hook up of felled logs using cables (choker) in a forest or farm forest environment The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for choker setter operations | 1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to hooking up felled logs using cables (choker) are identified and followed 1.2. Work order is reviewed and checked with appropriate personnel 1.3. Type and quantity of logs to be extracted are identified and assessed for safe working conditions and environmental protection measures 1.4. Equipment is selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations 1.5. Choker setter and cable operations activities are planned in line with site procedures 1.6. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements |
2. Hook up logs | 2.1. Specific logs for next turn is attended prior to return of butt rigging in line with planned operation 2.2. Stability of logs to be extracted is monitored and precautions are taken against movement in line with the logging code of practice 2.3. Position of logs to be extracted is assessed with regard to haul line, hook up point and likely movement 2.4. Positioning of butt rigging is directed and controlled using signals and strawlines to facilitate planned hook ups 2.5. Slack is pulled out for chokers and grapple ropes to allow safe hook up 2.6. Chokers or grapples are set close to the end of the logs 2.7. Area surrounding logs is vacated prior to extraction signal, clear of possible log release 2.8. Hook up process and equipment faults are reported to the rigging slinger |
3. Assist with line shifts | 3.1. All logs to be hauled with existing line position is cleared before line shift is initiated 3.2. Stumps are notched in line with code requirements for the rigging method to be used 3.3. Slack is pulled in on all lines prior to release of existing rigging 3.4. Rigging components are dismantled from the existing line, checked and set up on the new line 3.5. Obstructions which may cause binding or damage during hauling are moved as required 3.6. Rigging slinger is assisted with rigging of spars, tail trees and intermediate supports |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit |
Required skills |
Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; accurately notch stumps; effectively set up and dismantle rigging components Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace Literacy skills sufficient to accurately locate, record and report information Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate, measure and calculate time required to complete a task Problem solving skills sufficient to review and accurately identify work requirements; identify problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures |
Required knowledge |
Applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice relevant to the full range of processes for hooking up felled logs using cables (choker) Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for hooking up felled logs using cables (choker) Characteristics of trees Log extraction methods Cable operation techniques Rigging and choking techniques and signal systems Established communication channels and protocols Problem identification and resolution strategies and common fault finding techniques Types of tools and equipment and procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks Procedures for recording and reporting workplace 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 perform choker setter operations to recover felled logs within 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 relevant to hooking up felled logs using cables (choker) following organisational policies and procedures relevant to hooking up felled logs using cables (choker) the ability to perform choker setter operations to recover felled logs in line with the work order and within prescribed organisational tolerances the ability to assist in shifting lines in line with the hook tenders instructions |
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 required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context Assessment is to follow 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 required knowledge Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required 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 required 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 safe forest practices including required actions relating to forest fire manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying |
Environmental requirements may include: | legislation organisational policies and procedures workplace practices |
Legislative requirements: | are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include: award and enterprise agreements industrial relations Australian Standards confidentiality and privacy OHS the environment equal opportunity anti-discrimination relevant industry codes of practice 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 ethical standards recording and reporting requirements equipment use and maintenance and storage requirements environmental management requirements (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines) |
Choker setters | hook up the logs at the felling site |
Work order is to include: | instructions for the choker setter operations to recover felled logs from the work site and may include: type size length quantity grade and may also include: instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures environmental care requirements relevant to the work |
Appropriate personnel may include: | supervisors suppliers clients colleagues managers |
Logs is to include: | the finished product or trunk of a tree after trimming and cross cutting has occurred and may be: hardwood or softwood for production or non-production purposes |
Environmental protection measures may include: | ground growth canopy general forest lean wind speed and direction fallen trees density of trees ground slope soil and water protection ground hazards obstacles contingencies for modifying operations during wet or other adverse weather conditions |
Equipment may include: | rigging equipment and is to include: procedures for equipment lock-out such as protecting operators and co-workers from accidental injury by isolating the machine |
Cable operations may include: | activities covering a full range of species, log sizes, falling and retention densities, slope, other environmental conditions use of cable systems including high lead (no skyline), standing skyline and a running skyline with hauling both uphill and downhill logs attached optimising payload without exceeding the lift or haul capacity of the system |
Communication may include: | verbal and non-verbal language hand or other agreed signals eye contact with other operators or personnel active listening questioning to clarify and confirm understanding use of electronic communication devices |
Stability | is the physical stability of the logs in-situ, that it is safe to hook up and not likely to roll off a rock, move on other logs or slide down the hillside |
Hook up points | are usually at the end of log whereby the choker setter secures the choker cable around the log and secures the end to a bell (sliding fastener) to form a noose |
Butt rigging | is the sliding rig or tow which the choker and grapple ropes connect to |
Chokers and grapple ropes | are the steel wire ropes used to hook up logs ready for cable extraction |
Reporting may include: | hook up methods or problems tree type size length diameter inspection quality outcomes hazards incidents or equipment malfunctions |
Rigging slinger role includes: | deciding what logs to take out first and being responsible for getting the log to the landing without breaking it directing the choker setter personnel in hooking up log transmitting signals to and from the yarder |
Line shifts | are the moving of rigging lines from one area of operation to a new area |
Stump notching | is the process for securing rigging components, cables and ropes |
Rigging components may include: | strawlines blocks sheaves ropes shackles pins skyline tail rope lines straps mobile tail anchors spars intermediate supports bridling |
Sectors
Unit sector | No sector assigned |
Competency Field
Harvesting and Haulage |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor