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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Undertake site assessment of trees
   • Undertake a site-specific job safety analysis (JSA) and record and implement site-specific control measures
   • Perform a site assessment and liaise with client to identify conditions that may impact upon the health of trees on site
   • Identify genus and species of trees
   • Recognise signs of stress according to the characteristics of species
   • Recognise causes of stress according to characteristics of species
   • Assess abiotic factors affecting health of trees and impact on growth
   • Assess biotic factors affecting health of trees and impact on growth
   • Record and report results of site assessment according to workplace procedures
2. Prepare tree maintenance program
   • Identify maintenance requirements for trees according to identified health issues
   • Select treatments for identified maintenance requirements
   • Identify environmental implications for identified treatments
   • Document a maintenance program using requirements, treatments and environmental implications
3. Undertake treatment program
   • Select tools, equipment and machinery required for treatment
   • Conduct pre-operational checks and calibrate equipment and machinery according to manufacturer instructions
   • Select, check and use personal protective equipment
   • Implement workplace health, safety, environmental and traffic control procedures according to JSA
   • Apply treatments according to maintenance plan and environmental procedures and industry best practice
   • Maintain growing environment according to species cultural requirements
4. Complete treatment program activities
   • Dispose of waste according to workplace and environmental procedures
   • Clean and sanitise equipment according to biosecurity procedures
   • Clean and store personal protective equipment
   • Determine schedule for follow-up treatments and communicate to work team
   • Maintain records and report work outcomes according to workplace procedures

Performance Evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.

There must be evidence that the individual has prepared, documented and implemented a tree maintenance program for at least three trees for a period of not less than 3 months in the following situations:

a tree requiring tree treatments and reduction pruning

a tree with structural defects and site targets

a tree requiring health and soil based remediation.

There must also be evidence that the individual has:

identified site-specific health and safety issues including personal protective equipment required

assessed abiotic and biotic conditions affecting health of trees and discussed the conditions and factors with client

documented a tree maintenance program and included in the program the following:

tree maintenance requirements

treatment methods and equipment

environmental implications of treatments

maintained growing environment of tree in accordance with species needs and scheduled follow-up treatments

cleaned and sanitised equipment and disposed of waste

maintained records and reported work outcomes on completion of activities.

All tree maintenance work is required to be performed according to preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume).

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Knowledge Evidence

An individual must be able to demonstrate the knowledge required to perform the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume) for tree maintenance work

purpose and process for completing job safety analysis (JSA)

treatments and treatment methods commonly used on trees, including:

physical treatments

chemical treatments and materials safety data

environmental implications of different types of treatments

solutions to conflicting treatment options

calculations for measuring treatment applications

structure and development of tree maintenance programs, scheduling and planning

site assessment to identify conditions impacting the health of trees on site

recognition and treatment of common tree disorders above and below ground, including:

pests and diseases

nutritional disorders, deficiencies and toxicities

stress-inducing factors for a variety of tree species

signs of stress characteristics

causes of stress in tree species

common structural faults and defects of trees

soil-based problems, including compaction

sampling procedures identifying pests, diseases and soil conditions

abiotic issues that could affect the health of tree species, including:

temperature extremes

frost and sunburn

light intensity and duration

water, natural rainfall, hail, snow, including volume and distribution

wind direction and intensity

lightning

topography and aspect

compaction and drainage

pH, salinity and contamination

biotic issues that could affect the health of tree species, including:

soil ecosystem; beneficial and pathogenic organisms

humans

animals

other plants, including vines and mistletoe

identification and culture of trees, including:

techniques for identifying trees

recognising and maintaining tree cultural requirements

tree structure and function

physiological processes affecting tree growth

compartmentalisation of decay in trees (CODIT)

tree growth and structure resulting from CODIT responses

safety while undertaking tree treatments, including:

hazards associated with chemical treatments

personal protective equipment

traffic control

effect of treatment materials on off-target species

methods for identification and analysing for tree health, including:

methods of testing collected specimens of affected material

methods of analysing nutritional status of trees

health characteristics of tree species

tree establishment and tree maintenance, including:

standards for selection of tree stock for landscape use - AS2303

standards for pruning of amenity trees – AS4373

planting and establishment requirements of tree stock

waste disposal, including:

protection of the environment

biosecurity and hygiene practices

safe operation, maintenance, cleaning and sanitation of tree treatment equipment

record keeping and data management for tree maintenance.

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