FWPHAR3221
Harvest trees manually (advanced)


Application

This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to assess harvest sites and trees to be harvested and to plan and safely harvest trees using a chainsaw.

This unit covers the felling procedures for trees with a level of complexity that requires significant tree assessment and advanced practical felling skills.

Persons competent in this unit should be able to effectively fell trees of any size, species and condition, including those with significant defects and characteristics that cause excessive felling complexity, that are deemed safe to fell.

Trees typical to the scope of this unit including the following characteristics:

lean and weight distribution which adds significant complexity yet can be assessed and adapted to site requirements

larger dimensions relative to local forest size distribution

substantial lean

damage and/or defect that requires complex felling techniques

multi legged, hollow butts, culls, stags

species prone to free splitting and adverse reactions during falling

single or complex multi stems

diameter of tree greater than chainsaw bar length

grown on terrain and slope that can add significant complexity to the operation

The unit applies to those felling trees in a commercial harvesting operation within a forest environment, producing forest products.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states & territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction


Elements and 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 felling

1.1 Identify and comply with applicable work health and safety (WHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to harvesting trees

1.2 Identify and adhere to site environmental protection measures and harvest plan according to relevant legislation and regulations

1.3 Review and check job requirements with appropriate personnel

1.4 Select tools and equipment appropriate to work requirements and check for operational effectiveness according to manufacturer recommendations

1.5 Sharpen and adjust chainsaw or change components according to manufacturer recommendations

1.6 Assess tree and determine felling requirements

1.7 Identify and control potential and existing risks and hazards in the work area

1.8 Identify trees to be felled and retained and establish general falling direction

1.9 Identify log extraction method and requirements

1.10 Determine requirements for product quality

1.11 Establish and maintain communication with others according to WHS requirements

2. Assess conditions and surroundings

2.1 Identify and comply with site environmental concerns according to relevant federal, state or territory legislation and local regulations

2.2 Identify and assess environmental conditions according to harvesting plan

2.3 Assess general factors affecting felling requirements and detect and control specific forest or site risks and hazards

3. Assess tree and plan felling

3.1 Locate and visually assess tree for felling characteristics

3.2 Confirm tree is safe to fell

3.3 Assess and check required falling direction and possible deviation

3.4 Plan sequence of cuts to fell tree according to standard felling procedures and log quality requirements

3.5 Select suitable escape route and clear of growth and other obstacles according to environmental care principles and statutory requirements

3.6 Assess limitations of own skills in safely felling trees, identify trees considered outside own skill level and seek assistance from appropriate personnel where required

3.7 Note and monitor location and activity of other personnel in the work area and modify activity where required

4. Fell trees of any size, species and condition

4.1 Fell individual trees using planned cutting techniques according to site conditions, extraction method and at a safe distance from other personnel in the work area

4.2 Adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree

4.3 Use planned escape route when tree starts to fall and monitor the fall and movement of tree on ground until determined stable

4.4 Delay movement back into the felling area until all tree material, including from adjacent tree crowns, has fallen, and identify any dangerous tree branches that hang-up

4.5 Identify and implement procedures for removal of trees that are hung-up

4.6 Fell trees to meet production levels, log extraction methods and site requirements

4.7 Dispose of waste materials in line with environmental and operational requirements

5. Maintain equipment

5.1 Detect, rectify and report blunt or damaged saw chain according to workplace procedures

5.2 Monitor chainsaw for operational effectiveness and record and report faults, malfunctions and problems according to workplace procedures

Evidence of Performance

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. If a specific volume or frequency is not stated below, then evidence must be provided that the following requirements have been performed on at least one occasion:

comply with applicable federal, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice including WHS, environmental and organisational policies and procedures relevant to harvesting trees at an advanced level

comply with applicable licensing or certification requirements relevant to harvesting trees at an advanced level

effectively communicate and use safe working practices, including maintaining an awareness of other personnel activity in the work area

assess site conditions, by applying environmental protection measures, detecting hazards and own skill level for harvesting trees at an advanced level

conduct a tree assessment

Identify structural defects and stresses in trees and the impact on felling, including exclusion of trees from hand felling due to hazardous and difficult situations for assessment, monitoring and safe falling including a crown that contains dead or broken material, entanglement or malformation

plan a felling sequence for individual trees and preparing surroundings including escape route

harvest advanced trees using appropriate cuts safely without damage to personnel, equipment and surrounding environment

identify trees that are hung up

select, prepare and maintain chainsaw equipment including recognising faults, problems and malfunctions

assess, plan and safely operate chainsaw equipment to manually harvest trees at an advanced level

use tree felling techniques including scarf cutting , back cutting to provide hinge-wood and the use of wedges to assist in controlling falling direction

apply appropriate extraction methods

apply specifications as outlined in harvesting plan


Evidence of Knowledge

A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

Workplace health and safety (WHS) requirements including:

PPE and clothing

safety equipment

first aid equipment

firefighting equipment

hazard and risk control procedures

fatigue management procedures

appropriate signage

elimination of hazardous materials and substances procedures

safe forest practices, including required actions relating to fire

techniques for manual handling, including shifting, lifting and carrying

types and purposes of cuts to fell trees, including scarf cutting and back cutting to provide hinge-wood and maintain control of tree

typical tree defects and how these affect tree felling activities:

shakes

insect defects

knots and resin pockets

pipe

drysides

Identifying trees:

that contain hazards and are deemed unsafe to fell

considered outside own skill level

trees where cuts made may lead to loss of control of tree in felling

hazards and related risks and the impact on felling trees of:

uneven and unstable terrain

unsafe trees

fires

overhead and underground services

excavations

traffic

structures

hazardous materials

insects and animals

other personnel and machinery

methods used to remove trees that are hung up and procedures for removal

methods for assessing chain condition

cutting patterns used to optimise time to fell trees

environmental protection measures to follow when felling trees related to:

native vegetation

soil and water

heritage and archeological artefacts

flora and fauna

geomorphologic features

landscape

external site pollution

recreational opportunities

regeneration opportunities

cleaning plant, tools and equipment

disposing of, recycling and reusing timber and other waste

key features of these varying environmental conditions and their effects on advanced tree felling and harvesting activities:

general forest lean

ground growth

ground hazards and obstacles

ground slope

gullies

presence and density of seed and habitat trees

water courses

wet and adverse weather conditions

wind speed and direction

the use of types of tools and equipment for harvesting trees manually, and the procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance including:

warning signs

chainsaw and components

PPE and clothing

first aid equipment

maintenance requirements

support tools

components of a harvesting plan including an extraction plan, a traffic plan, environmental requirements, restricted areas, identified hazards and product volumes

log extraction methods including skidding, forwarding, using cable or shovel logging and following the harvest plan when felling trees

work order information regarding

tree felling requirements

requirements for product quality

harvesting plan

risk assessments for tree-felling including

ground and environmental conditions likely to affect harvesting activities:

ground stability

ground slope

forest lean

weather conditions

underground and overhead services

forest fire

position and movement of personnel working on the harvesting site

traffic management

safety signage warning of harvesting operations in the area.


Assessment Conditions

The following resources must be made available:

workplace location or simulated workplace of a forest environment with trees typical to the scope of this unit

PPE and clothing including:

Safety helmet

Safety gloves

Protective footwear

Eye protection

Hearing protection

High visibility clothing

Leg protection (trousers or chaps)

materials and equipment including;

warning signs

chainsaw and components

first aid equipment

maintenance tools and equipment

support tools

manufacturers’ instructions for use and maintenance of equipment

radio or communication device

fire fighting equipment (if prescribed)

specifications and work instructions, including

coupe plans

information and instructions relevant to tree-felling operations, including processing location details and trees to be felled and retained

policy and procedures for work health and safety (WHS)

risk assessment plan

general and specific environmental requirements

applicable state or territory logging code of practice

emergency and evacuation procedures

fire protocols

relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information.

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:

estimate and measure tree dimensions, including height, length and diameter and volume

plan time efficient cutting patterns and sequences

report on size, length, diameter and grade of felled trees.

calculate product mass of individual trees and determine fall zone

Oral communication skills to:

select and use appropriate spoken communication strategies with work colleagues and other personnel on site when felling trees

interpret hand signals with other operators to ensure safe tree felling

ask questions to clarify contents of coupe plans

Reading skills to:

interpret:

workplace health and safety, industry standards and regulations for felling trees and other relevant tree felling procedures

work orders and coupe plans

manufacturers’ maintenance recommendations.

Writing skills to:

complete forms to record WHS considerations for felling trees

report equipment faults and request maintenance of equipment.

complete log book requirements

Planning and organising skills to:

identify an unsafe tree.

efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation for and felling of trees using work order to guide activities.

Problem solving skills to:

plan and apply the hierarchy of risk control

review and identify work requirements

recognise own limitations in conditions and trees for felling

identify problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures


Range Statement

Not Applicable


Sectors

Harvesting and Haulage