Unit of competency
Modification History
Release |
Comments |
Release 2 |
This version released with AHC Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management Training Package Version 2.0. |
Release 1 |
This version released with AHC Agriculture, Horticulture, Conservation and Land Management Training Package Version 1.0. |
Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to perform corrective and remedial pruning operations. The application of this unit of competency can occur on the ground or in aerial locations, once the candidate is situated in position to perform work. This unit of competency is independent of where the pruning occurs and the method of accessing the work location.
This unit applies to individuals who have a range of skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, materials and information to complete routine activities and provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable 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 current versions of Australian Standards such as AS 4373 Pruning of amenity trees.
Pre-requisite Unit
FWPCOT2237 Maintain chainsaws
FWPCOT2239 Trim and cut felled trees
OR
FWPCOT3238 Operate a pole saw
Unit Sector
Arboriculture (ARB)
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. Prepare for pruning operations |
1.1 Determine location of above-and-below-ground services 1.2 Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk 1.3 Receive pruning instructions from supervisor and clarify prior to undertaking work 1.4 Confirm first aid, rescue personnel, equipment and procedures 1.5 Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals |
2. Determine requirements of pruning work |
2.1 Identify and confirm location of tree to be pruned 2.2 Inspect trees for access and work 2.3 Determine type, extent and limit of pruning work in accordance with specifications, scope of works and client brief 2.4 Maintain awareness of power line proximity, safe approach distances and clearances |
3. Select and prepare tools and equipment |
3.1 Select appropriate tools and equipment for pruning 3.2 Consider access and impact value of secateurs, handsaws, chainsaws and polesaws 3.3 Carry out pre-operational and safety checks on pruning tools and equipment 3.4 Select and use personal protective equipment 3.5 Sterilise pruning equipment in between individual tree work in accordance with hygiene and biosecurity considerations 3.6 Record and implement work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures |
4. Determine tree part to be removed |
4.1 Investigate stem bark ridge, old cuts, dead branches and occluded and occluding branches 4.2 Determine separate parts to be a branch or co-dominant stem in relation to tree anatomy and branch attachment 4.3 Determine the part requiring removal to be a branch or co-dominant stem to select the appropriate pruning procedure |
5. Carry out branch pruning operations |
5.1 Use sharp pruning tools to make clean cuts 5.2 Operate chainsaws and polesaws as required to implement pruning cuts to the standards required by AS 4373 5.3 Apply compartmentalisation of decay in tree (CODIT) principles 5.4 Pre-cut or undercut branches to avoid splitting or tearing 5.5 Remove remaining stub with final cut 5.6 Observe final cut procedure for branch removal cutting as close as possible to the branch collar without cutting into the branch collar or leaving a protruding stub. 5.7 Use branch bark ridge to determine angle of cut when removing a branch in the absence of a visible collar 5.8 Ensure bark at edge of all branch pruning cuts remains firmly attached |
6. Carry out reduction pruning |
6.1 Use branch bark ridge as guide to angle and position of final cut when making reduction cuts 6.2 Ensure lateral branch to which the final cut is made, is at least one third of diameter of branch being reduced at point of final cut. |
7. Carry out stem pruning operations |
7.1 Use stem bark ridge to determine angle of cut when removing a co-dominant stem 7.2 Be guided to position and angle of final cut, by positions and angles of joins between tissue of declining or dead stems and those of healthy stems elsewhere in tree 7.3 Ensure bark at edge of all stem pruning cuts remains firmly attached |
8. Improve pruning quality |
8.1 Inspect past pruning cuts to determine tree response 8.2 Use tree response to assess the quality of past pruning cuts 8.3 Seek feedback on pruning from other arborists 8.4 Identify and rectify incorrect pruning cuts 8.5 Modify future pruning cuts based on tree responses and feedback from others |
9. Complete pruning operations |
9.1 Drop pruning material into designated drop zone 9.2 Clean, maintain and store tools and equipment 9.3 Collect and dispose of, or recycle pruned material in a manner that causes minimal environmental damage 9.4 Maintain workplace records |
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range of Conditions
Unit Mapping Information
Code and title current version |
Code and title previous version |
Comments |
Equivalence status |
AHCARB303 Perform pruning operations Release 2 |
AHCARB303 Perform pruning operations Release 1 |
Corrected prerequisite codes |
Equivalent unit |
Links
Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72