Course Description
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to assess, 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 may include the following characteristics:
- lean and weight distribution, which 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 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 a non-production environment, including forest, rural and community environments.
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for felling
- Identify and comply with applicable work health and safety (WHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to felling trees
- Identify and adhere to site environmental protection measures according to relevant legislation and regulations
- Review and check job requirements with appropriate personnel
- Sharpen and adjust chainsaw or change components according to manufacturer recommendations
- Assess tree and determine felling requirements
- Identify and control potential and existing risks and hazards in the work area
- Identify trees to be retained and felled
- Establish and maintain communication with others according to WHS requirements
2. Visually assess site conditions and surroundings
- Review terrain and slope to determine if they add complexity to the operation
- Assess general factors affecting felling requirements and detect and control specific forest or site risks and hazards
3. Assess tree and plan felling
- Visually assess tree for felling characteristics
- Confirm tree is safe to fell
- Select tools and equipment appropriate to work requirements and check for operational effectiveness according to manufacturer recommendations
- Identify trees to be felled for size, significant defects and any characteristics causing excessive complexity
- Assess and progressively plan tree-felling sequence for individual trees
- Assess and check required falling direction and possible deviation
- Plan sequence of cuts to fell tree according to standard felling procedures
- Assess limitations of own skills in safely felling trees, identify trees considered outside own skill level and seek assistance from appropriate personnel where required
- Monitor and exclude location and activity of other personnel on the work site
4. Apply tree-felling techniques
- Select suitable escape route and clear of growth and other obstacles according to environmental care principles and statutory requirements
- Fell individual trees using planned techniques according to site requirements, at a safe distance from other personnel in the work area
- Adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree
- Use planned escape route when tree starts to fall and monitor the fall and movement of tree on ground until determined stable
- Delay movement back into the felling area until all tree material, including from adjacent tree crowns, has fallen
- Identify and implement procedures for removal of trees that are hung-up
- Dispose of waste materials in line with environmental and operational requirements
- Detect, rectify and report blunt or damaged saw chain according to workplace procedures
- Monitor chainsaw for operational effectiveness and record and report faults, malfunctions and problems according to workplace procedures