Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to work effectively in the arboriculture industry.
This unit applies to individuals who undertake defined activities, work in a structured context, apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy and limited judgement, and provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems. Work is implemented with low risk work procedures and to comply with Safe Work Method Statement documentation.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction. Specific determination should be sought through the relevant State or Territory. Works involving this unit of competency may be subject to local tree protection and preservation laws, and the relevant content of applicable Australian Standards.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Apply knowledge of the arboriculture industry | 1.1 Identify key industry sectors and occupations in arboriculture industry 1.2 Recognise and use tools and equipment common in arboriculture industry 1.3 Recognise and use common names for trees common in the area and their physiology and growth habits 1.4 Recognise and locate trees on streets using maps 1.5 Describe arboriculture-specific risks 1.6 Describe plant attributes, specific handling and growth requirements of trees 1.7 Recognise the benefits of trees and values of those benefits 1.8 Recognise risk of harm to self and others from dust, toxic plant parts, fungi, insects, animals and other substances |
2. Manage own work | 2.1 Interpret written or verbal work instructions and clarify inconsistencies with supervisor 2.2 Identify deadlines and plan priorities with supervisor 2.3 Report variations and difficulties to supervisor 2.4 Undertake own work, responsibilities and duties 2.5 Apply work health and safety requirements in the context of own work 2.6 Work within team and work environment in accordance with low risk work practices 2.7 Follow organisation’s workplace procedures, site standards and requirements 2.8 Demonstrate a positive attitude to cooperation within workplace 2.9 Identify practices relating to sustainability, hygiene and biosecurity relevant to own work |
3. Plan and prepare for work | 3.1 Identify workplace hazards and report to supervisor 3.2 Select, wear and maintain personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for work locations and conditions 3.3 Select PPE appropriate to noise levels 3.4 Prepare tools and equipment prior to use and check for faults 3.5 Use low risk operating procedures for a variety of equipment and tools in arboriculture 3.6 Implement requirements and issues with working in various weather conditions 3.7 Tag defective equipment and report faults to supervisor 3.8 Check tools and equipment for bluntness and sharpen if required 3.9 Check guards are fitted, securely attached and functioning where applicable |
4. Carry out work activities | 4.1 Move equipment and materials safely using appropriate manual handling methods 4.2 Carry out basic mechanical fault finding and basic tests on machinery and equipment 4.3 Test safety and emergency shutoff devices 4.4 Work safely around power sources, services and assets 4.5 Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals 4.6 Tie, dress, set and finish arborist knots 4.7 Assist with traffic management around worksite 4.8 Assist in emergency and rescue situations 4.9 Confirm first aid and emergency personnel, equipment and procedures 4.10 Manage ropes and other objects in the work zone 4.11 Monitor the movement and whereabouts of other workers 4.12 Maintain and monitor safety and security of equipment while on |
Complete work activities | 5.1 Recycle or dispose of waste materials 5.2 Clean and store tools and equipment and carry out basic servicing where required 5.3 Clean vehicles where required 5.4 Maintain workplace records |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be observed working in the arboriculture industry, following instructions from supervisor and meeting industry standards. The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:
identifying key industry sectors and occupations in arboriculture industry
recognising and using tools and equipment common in arboriculture industry
recognising and using common names for trees common in the area and their physiology and growth habits
recognising and locating trees on streets using maps
describing arboriculture-specific risks
describing plant attributes, specific handling and growth requirements of trees
recognising the benefits of trees and values of those benefits
recognising risk of harm to self and others from dust, toxic plant parts, fungi, insects, animals and other substances
interpreting written or verbal work instructions and clarifying inconsistencies with supervisor
identifying deadlines and planning priorities with supervisor
reporting variations and difficulties to supervisor
undertaking own work, responsibilities and duties
applying work health and safety requirements in the context of own work
working within team and work environment in accordance with low risk work practices
following organisation’s workplace procedures, site standards and requirements
demonstrating a positive attitude to cooperation within workplace
identifying workplace hazards and report to supervisor
selecting, wearing and maintaining personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for work locations and conditions
selecting PPE appropriate to noise levels
preparing tools and equipment prior to use and check for faults
using low risk operating procedures for a variety of equipment and tools in arboriculture
implementing requirements and issues with working in various weather conditions
tagging defective equipment and report faults to supervisor
checking tools and equipment for bluntness and sharpen if required
checking guards are fitted, securely attached and functioning where applicable
moving equipment and materials safely using appropriate manual handling methods
carrying out basic mechanical fault finding and basic tests on machinery and equipment
testing safety and emergency shutoff devices
working safely around power sources, services and assets
communicating with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals
tying, dressing, setting and finishing arborist knots
assisting with traffic management around worksite
assisting in emergency and rescue situations
confirming first aid and emergency personnel, equipment and procedures
managing ropes and other objects in the work zone
monitoring the movement and whereabouts of other workers
maintaining and monitoring safety and security of equipment while on
recycling or disposing of waste materials
cleaning and storing tools and equipment and carry out basic servicing where required
clean vehicles where required
maintaining workplace records.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
key industry sectors and occupations in arboriculture industry
tools and equipment common in arboriculture industry
common names for trees common in the area and their physiology and growth habits
tree recognition
methods of locating trees on streets using maps
arboriculture-specific risks
plant attributes, specific handling and growth requirements of trees
benefits of trees and values of those benefits
risk of harm to self and others from dust, toxic plant parts, fungi, insects, animals and other substances
interpretation written or verbal work instructions
clarification of inconsistencies
deadlines and planning priorities
variations and difficulties
work responsibilities and duties
work health and safety in the context of own work
teamwork and work environment in accordance with low risk work practices
organisation’s workplace procedures, site standards and requirements
importance of drug and alcohol free worksites
sustainability practices
hygiene and biosecurity practices
identification of workplace hazards
methods of reporting to supervisors
selection, wearing and maintenance of PPE suitable for work locations and conditions
selecting PPE appropriate to noise levels
preparation and fault-checking of tools and equipment prior to use
low risk operating procedures for a variety of equipment and tools in arboriculture
requirements and issues of working in various weather conditions
tagging defective equipment
checking tools and equipment for bluntness
sharpen tools and equipment
checking guards to ensure they are fitted, securely attached and functioning
appropriate manual handling methods for moving equipment and materials safely
basic mechanical fault finding and basic tests on machinery and equipment
safety and emergency shutoff device testing
safety around power sources, services and assets
work team communications during operations
voice, hand and whistle signals
tying, dressing, setting and finishing arborist knots
traffic management around worksite
emergency and rescue situations
first aid and emergency personnel, equipment and procedures
rope management and management of other objects in the work zone
methods of monitoring the movement and whereabouts of other workers
safety and security of equipment while on
recycling or disposing of waste materials
cleaning and storing tools and equipment
basic servicing of tools and equipment
vehicle cleaning
maintenance of workplace records.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be demonstrated consistently over time in a suitable range of contexts and have a productivity-based outcome. No single assessment event or report is sufficient to achieve competency in this unit.
Assessment may be conducted in a simulated or real work environment, however determination of competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.
The mandatory equipment and materials used to gather evidence for assessment include:
equipment:
sharpening equipment
static and dynamic rope kit
personal protective equipment (PPE)
first aid and emergency kit
rescue kit
traffic management kit
signage - work zone
tree and tree samples
materials:
work effectiveness form
tree recognition form
tree maintenance form
hazard identification and risk control form
equipment and PPE check form
knot identification form
emergency preparation form
work communications form
work site operations form
work records form
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs in the assessment of arboriculture units of competency.
Assessment must be conducted only by persons who have:
arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)