Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to assess harvest sites and trees to be harvested and to plan and safely carry out manual tree-felling operations using a chainsaw.
This unit covers the felling procedures for trees with a level of complexity that requires significant tree assessment and practical felling skills.
Persons competent in this unit should be able to effectively fell most trees except very large trees, and/or those with significant defects and/or characteristics that cause excessive complexity.
It applies to trees that have a diameter greater than the bar length of the chainsaw.
Trees typical to the scope of this unit the following characteristics:
lean and weight distribution that can be assessed and readily adapted to falling direction with the use of wedges and/or control with hinge-wood
various dimensions relative to local forest size distribution
limited visible damage and/or defect
species prone to free splitting and adverse reactions during felling
single or multi-stems
diameter of tree greater than chainsaw bar length
grown on terrain and slope that can add complexity to the operation
The unit applies to felling trees in a commercial harvesting operation within a forest environment, producing forest products.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states & territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. |
1. Determine harvesting requirements | 1.1 Identify and comply with applicable work health and safety (WHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to harvesting trees 1.2 Identify and adhere to site environmental protection measures according to harvesting plan and relevant legislation and regulations 1.3 Review job requirements and check with appropriate personnel 1.4 Identify log extraction method and requirements 1.5 Identify requirements for product quality 1.6 Determine harvesting requirements, and plan tree felling sequence and general falling directions 1.7 Establish and maintain communication with others according to WHS requirements |
2. Assess harvest site | 2.1 Assess location and stability of harvest site for conditions likely to affect harvesting activities 2.2 Identify and assess environmental conditions according to harvest plan 2.3 Identify trees to be felled according to harvest plan 2.4 Assess factors affecting harvesting requirements and detect and control specific forest or site risks and hazards |
3. Visually assess trees and plan felling | 3.1 Assess factors affecting harvesting requirements and detect and control specific forest or site risks and hazards 3.2 Confirm tree is safe to fell 3.3 Check planned falling direction and propose deviation if required 3.4 Select cutting pattern to optimise time and manageable removal of sections 3.5 Plan sequence of cuts to fell tree according to standard felling procedures and log quality requirements 3.6 Assess limitations of own skills in safely felling trees, identify trees considered outside own skill level and seek assistance from appropriate personnel where required 3.7 Select suitable escape route and clear of growth and other obstacles according to environmental care principles and statutory requirements 3.8 Note and monitor location and activity of other personnel in the work area and modify activity where required |
4. Prepare equipment | 4.1 Select tools and equipment appropriate to work requirements and check for operational effectiveness according to manufacturer recommendations 4.2 Sharpen and adjust chainsaw or change components according to manufacturer recommendations 4.3 Sharpen and adjust chainsaw or change components according to manufacturer recommendations |
5. Fell trees | 5.1 Fell individual trees using selected cutting techniques according to WHS and job requirements 5.2 Adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree 5.3 Use planned escape route when tree starts to fall and monitor the fall and movement of tree on ground until determined stable 5.4 Delay movement back into the felling area until all tree material, including from adjacent tree crowns, has fallen 5.5 Identify and implement procedures for removal of trees that are hung-up 5.6 Fell trees to meet production levels, log extraction methods and site requirements 5.7 Dispose of waste materials in line with environmental and operational requirements |
6. Maintain equipment | 6.1 Inspect equipment on completion of harvesting activities 6.2 Identify damaged saws and cutting attachments for repair or replacement according to organisational requirements and manufacturer recommendations 6.3 Remove, clean, adjust or replace chain and other components according to manufacturer recommendations 6.4 Maintain tools and equipment according to WHS requirements and manufacturer recommendations |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
comply with applicable federal, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice including WHS, environmental and organisational policies and procedures relevant to harvesting trees at an intermediate level
comply with licensing or certification requirements relevant to harvesting trees at an intermediate level
effectively communicate and use safe working practices, including maintaining an awareness of other personnel activity in the work area
assess site conditions, by applying environmental protection measures, detecting hazards and own skill level for harvesting trees at an intermediate level
conduct a tree assessment
identify structural defects and stresses in trees and the impact on felling, including exclusion of trees from hand felling due to hazardous and difficult situations for assessment, monitoring and safe falling including a crown that contains dead or broken material, entanglement or malformation
plan a felling sequence for individual trees and preparing surroundings including escape route
fell a intermediate trees using appropriate cuts safely without damage to personnel, equipment and surrounding environment
identify trees that are hung up
select, prepare and maintain chainsaw equipment including recognising faults, problems and malfunctions
assess, plan and safely operate chainsaw equipment to manually harvest trees at an intermediate level
use tree felling techniques including scarf cutting , back cutting to provide hinge-wood and the use of wedges to assist in controlling falling direction
apply appropriate extraction methods
apply specifications as outlined in harvesting plan
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
workplace health and safety (WHS) requirements
PPE and clothing
safety equipment
first aid equipment
firefighting equipment
hazard and risk control procedures
fatigue management procedures
appropriate signage
elimination of hazardous materials and substances procedures
safe forest practices, including required actions relating to fire
techniques for manual handling, including shifting, lifting and carrying
types and purposes of cuts to fell trees, including scarf cutting and back cutting to provide hinge-wood and maintain control of tree
typical tree defects and how these affect tree felling activities:
shakes
insect defects
knots and resin pockets
pipe
drysides
Identifying trees:
that contain hazards and are deemed unsafe to fell
considered outside own skill level
trees where cuts made may lead to loss of control of tree in felling
hazards and related risks and the impact on felling trees of:
uneven and unstable terrain
unsafe trees
fires
overhead and underground services
excavations
traffic
structures
hazardous materials
insects and animals
other personnel and machinery
methods used to remove trees that are hung up and procedures for removal
methods for assessing chain condition
cutting patterns used to optimise time to fell trees
environmental protection measures to follow when felling trees related to:
native vegetation
soil and water
heritage and archaeological artefacts
flora and fauna
geomorphologic features
landscape
external site pollution
recreational opportunities
regeneration opportunities
cleaning plant, tools and equipment
disposing of, recycling and reusing timber and other waste
key features of these varying environmental conditions and their effects on intermediate tree felling and harvesting activities:
general forest lean
ground growth
ground hazards and obstacles
ground slope
gullies
presence and density of seed and habitat trees
water courses
wet and adverse weather conditions
wind speed and direction
the use of types of tools and equipment for harvesting trees manually, and the procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance including:
warning signs
chainsaw and components
PPE and clothing
first aid equipment
maintenance requirements
support tools
components of a harvesting plan including an extraction plan, a traffic plan, environmental requirements, restricted areas, identified hazards and product volumes
log extraction methods including skidding, forwarding, using cable or shovel logging and following the harvest plan when felling trees
work order information regarding
tree felling requirements
requirements for product quality
harvesting plan
risk assessments for tree-felling including
ground and environmental conditions likely to affect harvesting activities:
ground stability
ground slope
forest lean
weather conditions
underground and overhead services
forest fire
position and movement of personnel working on the harvesting site
traffic management
safety signage warning of harvesting operations in the area.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
workplace location or simulated workplace of a forest environment with trees typical to the scope of this unit
PPE and clothing including:
safety helmet
safety gloves
protective footwear
eye protection
hearing protection
high visibility clothing
leg protection (trousers or chaps)
materials and equipment including;
warning signs
chainsaw and components
first aid equipment
maintenance tools and equipment
support tools
manufacturers’ instructions for use and maintenance of equipment
radio or communication device
fire fighting equipment (if prescribed)
specifications and work instructions, including
coupe plans
information and instructions relevant to tree-felling operations, including processing location details and trees to be felled and retained
policy and procedures for work health and safety (WHS)
risk assessment plan
general and specific environmental requirements
applicable state or territory logging code of practice
emergency and evacuation procedures
fire protocols
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must:
hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and
be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and
be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Numeracy skills to: | estimate and measure tree dimensions, including height, length and diameter and volume determine tree fall zone according to tree mass plan time efficient cutting patterns and sequences. calculate product mass of individual trees and determine fall zone |
Communication skills to: | select and use appropriate spoken communication strategies with work colleagues and other personnel on site when felling trees interpret hand signals with other operators to ensure safe tree felling ask questions to clarify contents of coupe plans |
Reading skills to: | interpret: workplace health and safety, industry standards and regulations for felling trees and other relevant tree felling procedures work orders and coupe plans manufacturers maintenance recommendations |
Writing skills to: | complete forms to record WHS considerations for felling trees report equipment faults and request maintenance of equipment. complete log book requirements |
Planning and organising skills to: | identify an unsafe tree. efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation for and felling of trees using work order to guide activities. |
Problem solving skills to: | plan and apply the hierarchy of risk control review and identify work requirements recognise own limitations in conditions and trees for felling identify problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Harvesting and Haulage