Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to select appropriate trees and prepare and prune them. Work is completed in a variety of work settings, including forest environments, farms, nurseries and workshops.
The unit applies to Forestry worker, Arboriculture worker, Farm forestry worker, Nursery worker
Plantation establishment worker, Plantation forest officer, Silviculturist
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. |
1. Prepare for pruning | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Determine existing and potential site hazards and assess associated risks in line with organisational procedures. 1.3 Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness. |
2. Select and prune trees | 2.1 Identify and select trees for pruning in line with work order. 2.2 Use ladder handling and pruning techniques in line with organisational safety procedures. 2.3 Prune trees; remove branches, epicormics and green shoots to meet quality requirements. |
3. Assess pruning quality | 3.1 Assess pruned trees visually to ensure pruning quality and pruned stock level is in line with work order. 3.2 Rectify incorrect pruning to ensure quality of grown trees. 3.3 Dispose of pruned material in line with environmental protection practices. 3.4 Record and report pruning process and equipment faults to appropriate personnel. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
complete pruning jobs in line with an individual work order for each prescribing different quantities and species of trees to be pruned, utilising the following equipment:
pruners
jacksaw
pouch
steps
epicormic remover
pole saw
ladder
climbing gear
elevated work platform according to site requirements
at the completion of each of the above jobs:
dispose of pruned materials in line with environmental protection practices
compete a basic report on pruning processes and equipment faults
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
typical workplace hazards associated with pruning trees and methods of minimising risks:
slope and uneven ground
falling or fallen branches
ladder instability
climbing ladders
loss of balance
damp conditions
reasons for pruning trees and form pruning techniques
best seasonal timing for pruning of tree species relevant to the organisation
what to look for when selecting trees for pruning:
prescribed defects
green crowns
dominance
vigour straightness
lean
size
angle
number of branches
overall tree health
stocking
spacing and quality requirements
purpose, features and safe operation of tree pruning tools and equipment:
pruners
jacksaw
pouch
steps
epicormic remover
pole saw
ladder
climbing gear
elevated work platform according to site requirements
environmental protection practices for disposing of pruned materials:
recycling pruned material where appropriate
sending pruned material to landfill only where it cannot be recycled
redirecting pruned material for energy recovery.
organisational procedures specific to pruning trees:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on risk control and use of personal protective equipment
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting pruning processes and equipment faults.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
pruners
jacksaw
pouch
steps
epicormic remover
pole saw
ladder
climbing gear
elevated work platform according to site requirements
a commercial quantity trees to be pruned
personal protective equipment suitable for pruning trees
environmental regulations affecting site operations or plain English equivalent documents
work order with instructions for types and quantities of trees to be pruned
relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information
documents, spreadsheets and commonly used proformas documents
organisational procedures for pruning trees.
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must:
hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and
be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and
be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Numeracy skills to: | identify quantity of trees to be pruned from work order and count numbers complete routine calculations involving tree spacing, size, lean and angle and count quantity of branches. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders. |
Reading skills to: | interpret: workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures work orders. |
Writing skills to: | complete basic accurate reports on pruning process and equipment faults. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Forest Growing and Management