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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan and prepare to operate a feller buncher
   • Review production plan, confirm its targets for felling and processing and assess wood flow requirements to ensure efficient machine operation and overall productivity
   • Confirm, identify and report health, safety, environmental and heritage risks of operation in line with standard operating procedures and site safety and environmental management plans
   • Apply risk control measures in line with standard operating procedures, site operational plan, legislative requirements and industry standards to eliminate or minimise risks
   • Identify emergency plan procedures to follow in the event of an emergency
   • Use production plans to identify entry points to the coupe, access to trees, extraction routes and directions to landings to facilitate an efficient process and minimise interference with other forestry operations
   • Check work area to ensure there is appropriate space to safely manoeuvre both the machine and stems
   • Identify cutting sequence and felling directions to minimise damage to the trees and the surrounding environment in line with the production plan
   • Carry out pre-operational checks on machine and cutting head attachment in line with workplace procedures or manufacturers' recommendations to ensure optimal production performance and operational effectiveness
2. Operate feller buncher
   • Use industry-accepted warning signs, vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems and procedures to maintain communication and workplace safety during operation
   • Assess individual trees to determine the best machine position, fall direction, hazards, placement of cuts and tree quality grade
   • Drive and position the machine and felling head in response to tree characteristics and terrain conditions to ensure stability
   • Use cabin controls to clamp and cut stems in line with cutting instructions and/or production plan and value recovery requirements
   • Adjust clamping and cutting techniques in response to unexpected characteristics, movement or condition of tree
   • Use controlled manipulation of equipment to free tree hang ups while ensuring safety and minimising damage to the trees, the machine and the environment
   • Place stems at pre-bunching site and ensure minimal damage to stems and surrounding environment
   • Move machine over pre-arranged routes to eliminate or minimise environmental impact
3. Segregate and stack stems
   • Visually assess stems for size species and quality characteristics during stacking at the pre-bunching site to ensure they are placed in the appropriate stack for transport and further processing in line with the production plan requirements
   • Position and pre-bunch stems to avoid stem damage, provide stability, restrict height for efficient extraction and allow space for the conduct of other operations in line with worksite layout and production plan requirements
   • Maintain stack separation and identification to ensure products are presented for optimum transport and logistics cycle time in line with industry standards and production plan requirements
4. Carry out machine operator maintenance
   • Park, shut-down, de-energise and isolate feller buncher in line with workplace procedures or manufacturers' recommendations
   • Clean, check and carry out routine maintenance tasks on feller buncher to maintain optimum performance
   • Inspect the machine and cutting head attachment for signs of damage and report faults, malfunctions or problems in line with workplace procedures and manufacturers' recommendations
   • Clean work area and dispose of or recycle waste materials in line with site environmental management plan
   • Record feller buncher operations and maintenance activities