Element

Performance criteria

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Prepare for pruning operations

1.1 Determine location of above-and-below-ground services

1.2 Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk

1.3 Receive pruning instructions from supervisor and clarify prior to undertaking work

1.4 Confirm first aid, rescue personnel, equipment and procedures

1.5 Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals

2. Determine requirements of pruning work

2.1 Identify and confirm location of tree to be pruned

2.2 Inspect trees for access and work

2.3 Determine type, extent and limit of pruning work in accordance with specifications, scope of works and client brief

2.4 Maintain awareness of power line proximity, safe approach distances and clearances

3. Select and prepare tools and equipment

3.1 Select appropriate tools and equipment for pruning

3.2 Consider access and impact value of secateurs, handsaws, chainsaws and polesaws

3.3 Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on pruning tools and equipment

3.4 Select and use personal protective equipment

3.5 Sterilise pruning equipment in between individual tree work in accordance with hygiene and biosecurity considerations

3.6 Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures

4. Determine tree part to be removed

4.1 Investigate stem bark ridge, old cuts, dead branches and occluded and occluding branches

4.2 Determine separate parts to be a branch or co-dominant stem in relation to tree anatomy and branch attachment

4.3 Determine the part requiring removal to be a branch or co-dominant stem to select the appropriate pruning procedure

5. Carry out branch pruning operations

5.1 Use sharp pruning tools to make clean cuts

5.2 Operate chainsaws and polesaws as required to implement pruning cuts to the standards required by AS 4373

5.3 Apply compartmentalisation of decay in tree (CODIT) principles

5.4 Pre-cut or undercut branches to avoid splitting or tearing

5.5 Remove remaining stub with final cut

5.6 Observe final cut procedure for branch removal cutting as close as possible to the branch collar without cutting into the branch collar or leaving a protruding stub.

5.7 Use branch bark ridge to determine angle of cut when removing a branch in the absence of a visible collar

5.8 Ensure bark at edge of all branch pruning cuts remains firmly attached

6. Carry out reduction pruning

6.1 Use branch bark ridge as guide to angle and position of final cut when making reduction cuts

6.2 Ensure lateral branch to which the final cut is made, is at least one third of diameter of branch being reduced at point of final cut.

7. Carry out stem pruning operations

7.1 Use stem bark ridge to determine angle of cut when removing a co-dominant stem

7.2 Be guided to position and angle of final cut, by positions and angles of joins between tissue of declining or dead stems and those of healthy stems elsewhere in tree

7.3 Ensure bark at edge of all stem pruning cuts remains firmly attached

8. Improve pruning quality

8.1 Inspect past pruning cuts to determine tree response

8.2 Use tree response to assess the quality of past pruning cuts

8.3 Seek feedback on pruning from other arborists

8.4 Identify and rectify incorrect pruning cuts

8.5 Modify future pruning cuts based on tree responses and feedback from others

9. Complete pruning operations

9.1 Drop pruning material into designated drop zone

9.2 Clean, maintain and store tools and equipment

9.3 Collect and dispose of, or recycle pruned material in a manner that causes minimal environmental damage

9.4 Maintain workplace records