Students who successfully complete this Nationally Recognised Training will be awarded the Statement of Attainment:

• FWPCOT2236 Fall trees manually (basic)

• PERFORMANCE EVIDENCE:A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.  If a specific volume or frequency is not stated below, then evidence must be provided that the following requirements have been performed on at least one occasion:·          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 felling trees at a basic level·          comply with organisational policies and procedures relevant to felling trees manually at a basic level

  ·          comply with applicable licensing or certification requirements relevant to felling trees manually

  ·          effectively communicate and use safe working practices, including maintaining an awareness of activity by other personnel in the work area

  ·          assess site conditions, by applying environmental protection measures, detecting hazards and own skill level for felling trees at a basic 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 basic trees using a 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 fell trees at a basic level in forest, rural and community environments

  ·          use tree felling techniques including scarf cutting , back cutting to provide hinge-wood and the use of wedges to assist in controlling falling direction.

   

  KNOWLEDGE EVIDENCE:

  A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

  ·          Workplace health and safety (WHS) requirements including:

  ·          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

  ·          environmental protection measures to follow when felling trees related to:

  ·          native vegetation

  ·          soil and water

  ·          heritage and archeological 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 basic tree felling 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 felling 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.