Google Links

Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for pruning operations
   • Receive and confirm instructions with supervisor
   • Confirm access to site and location of trees and work zones
   • Determine type, extent and limit of pruning work in accordance with specifications, scope of works and client brief
   • Undertake a site-specific job safety analysis (JSA) and record and implement site-specific control measures
   • Communicate with work team using agreed methods according to works undertaken and site and environmental conditions
2. Prepare tools, equipment and work environment
   • Select tools and equipment for pruning work
   • Consider access and impact of selected pruning tools and equipment on tree
   • Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on pruning tools and equipment
   • Select, check and use personal protective equipment
   • Disinfect pruning equipment during tree work according to hygiene and biosecurity procedures and tree assessment outcomes
   • Implement workplace health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures according to JSA
3. Determine tree parts to be removed and plan pruning operations
   • Investigate tree canopy shape, structure and defects to determine pruning plan
   • Assess tree structure for stem co-dominance and branch attachment to determine options for pruning cut procedure
   • Identify tree part requiring removal and select pruning procedure and location of cut from identified pruning cut options
4. Perform pruning operations
   • Prepare pruning equipment to ensure cuts are clean
   • Use pruning tools to make pruning cuts according to industry standards and manufacturer operating instructions
   • Make cuts from a secure body position with awareness of extant tree hazards
   • Maintain awareness of power line proximity, safe approach distances and clearances
   • Select pruning cuts for crown maintenance or crown modification according to scope of works
   • Perform pre-cutting techniques to avoid splitting or tearing of the stem and bark
   • Perform final cut according to the principles of compartmentalisation of decay in trees (CODIT) and current industry standards
   • Ensure bark at edge of all pruning cuts remains firmly attached
5. Improve pruning quality
   • Review previous pruning cuts to determine tree response to pruning activities
   • Assess tree response to previous pruning methods and compare with current work practice
   • Seek advice from consulting arborists on quality of current pruning work practice
   • Identify substandard current pruning cuts and rectify according to advice
6. Complete pruning operations
   • Drop or lower pruned material into designated drop zone
   • Clean, maintain and store tools and equipment
   • Collect and dispose of pruned material according to environmental procedures
   • Maintain pruning records 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 demonstrated pruning operations according to given specifications for at least 4 trees, including:

1 tree with a minimum height of at least 10 metres and a minimum 5 metre spread for which the pruning specifications must include:

removal of hazardous dead wood or branches from the tree canopy

reduction of the extent of the crown

selective pruning to remove branches to resolve specific problems

1 tree of less than 4 metres in height to be formatively pruned

2 mature trees of at least 10 metres in height, for which the predetermined specifications must include at least 3 of the following maintenance or modification activities:

reduced the extent of the crown

lifted the height of the crown

pruned trees for low voltage line clearance on a residential property

performed remedial pruning including removal of dead wood

removed dead fronds and fruit from palm trees

pollarded a tree.

There must also be evidence that the individual has:

communicated with work team during operations using communication method agreed with work team

determined type, extent and limit of pruning work according to the specifications, scope of works, relevant standards and client brief

operated safely while undertaking work, including:

conducted a job safety analysis for the site before work

maintained safe approach distances and clearances to power lines

selected and used personal protective equipment

inspected tree for safe access and work

conducted tree pruning from a secure and safe position

selected, prepared and checked and safely used tools and equipment and cleaned and maintained for all pruning operations

determined crown maintenance and modifications required and identified pruning cut options according to Australian Standards AS 4373 including:

stem co-dominance

stem bark ridge

old cuts

dead branches

occluded and occluding branches

used pre-cuts and undercuts of branches to avoid splitting or tearing and ensured bark remained firmly attached

performed final cuts that complied with principles of compartmentalisation of decay in trees (CODIT), including:

cut to the branch collar without leaving a protruding stub

used branch bark ridge to determine angle of cut where visible collar is absent

ensured lateral branch to which the final cut is made is the correct diameter for the branch being reduced

used stem bark ridge to determine the angle of cut when removing a co-dominant stem

positioned the final cut guided by positions and angles of joins between tissue of declining or dead stems and those of healthy stems elsewhere in tree

ensured bark at edge of cuts remained firmly attached

conducted a review of pruning practices for tree response to pruning and advice from arborist and modified pruning methods to improve pruning quality

dropped or lowered pruned material into designated drop zone and collected and removed pruned material according to workplace and environmental procedures

maintained pruning records according to workplace procedures.

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

---

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:

purpose of pruning trees and the standards expected, including:

canopy maintenance and the principles of dead wooding, crown thinning, selective pruning, formative pruning

canopy modification and the principles of reduction pruning, crown lifting, pollarding, remedial pruning, line clearance

work health and safety procedures for pruning operations

work site procedures for job safety analysis (JSA) for pruning and activities and control measures, including:

recognition of hazards

assessing the risks

identifying controls

documenting a JSA

personal protection

first aid

rescue procedures

visual tree assessment, including health, growth habit, structure, stability and growing environment

pruning equipment; advantages and disadvantages and use, including:

secateurs

chainsaws

pole saws

handsaws

equipment pre-start checks

tree and branch anatomy and attachments related to pruning, including:

lateral branch collars

branch bark ridges

stem bark ridges

occluded and occluding branches

dominant and co-dominant stems

preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume) for pruning operations and Australian Standard AS 4373

gauging the quality of pruning by assessing tree responses to pruning, including:

recognising correct and incorrect pruning cuts

rectifying poor pruning cuts

hygiene and biosecurity procedures to minimise cross-infections from pruning activity

safe communication during tree pruning work, including the impact of noise, environmental conditions, communications resources, and visibility

communications strategies used in the arboriculture industry, including:

voice

hand

whistle signals

electronic communications

safety considerations and procedures when working near overhead power lines, including:

basics of electrocution

power line types and insulation

approach distances and safety zones, voltage and arcing

authorisations to work near power lines

tools, equipment, tree loads, personnel and power line contact

legal liability

workplace records for pruning operations

environmental procedures and site management and clean-up.

---