Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to climb trees with ropes and harnesses using standard techniques for the purpose of accessing required sections of trees.

This unit applies to workers who have a range of cognitive, technical and communication skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, ropes, equipment 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 Australian Standards.

Pre-requisite Unit

AHCARB311 Tie, dress, set and finish arborist knots

Unit Sector

Arboriculture (ARB)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range of Conditions

Unit Mapping Information

This unit is not equivalent to AHCARB204A Undertake standard climbing techniques.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

The candidate must be observed climbing trees using standard climbing techniques in a safe manner. 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:

• appropriate method for accessing tree – climbing or using an EWP – through discussion with work team
• determining location of above-and-below-ground services
• undertaking a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
• confirming first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures
• ensuring work team member present, capable, willing and equipped to assist or perform aerial rescue operations
• preparing and carrying out pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment
• selecting and using personal protective equipment and safety equipment
• recording and implementing work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures
• selecting harness and appropriate equipment for climbing
• inspecting tree to determine low risk access route through discussion with work team and seek feedback
• estimating tree height and load in relation to safe working limits of ropes and equipment
• determining the hold, release and grip attributes of rope
• selecting and using dynamic rope
• selecting and using triple locking carabiners
• tying, dressing, setting and finishing climbing knots and hitches
• communicating with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals
• maintaining awareness of power line clearances
• selecting low risk anchor points in accordance with strength, suitability requirements and branch weight
• accessing and ascending tree using low risk access route with harness and lanyard
• ascending using double rope with prussik technique
• ascending using trunk walking technique and foot ascenders as required
• descending tree in a controlled manner
• removing all access equipment in a controlled manner
• cleaning and storing climbing equipment
• cleaning and storing personal protective equipment
• use of industry standard-terminology to describe climbing and the work environment.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

• appropriate method of tree access
• selection of climbing or EWP access
• determination of location of above-and-below-ground services
• site-specific risk assessment
• first aid personnel, equipment and procedures
• rescue personnel, equipment and procedures
• work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures
• pre-operational and safety checks, on ropes, harnesses, tools and equipment
• personal protective equipment
• types of climbing ropes
• dynamic ropes
• rope characteristics
• uses of climbing ropes
• safe working limits of ropes
• safe working limits of equipment
• defects in ropes, tools and equipment
• climbing harnesses and lanyards
• climbing equipment
• triple locking carabiners
• arborist knots
• tying knots
• dressing knots
• setting knots
• checking knots
• finishing knots
• industry voice, hand and whistle signals
• low risk access routes
• estimation of tree height
• estimation of load
• safe working limits
• tree access techniques and equipment
• strength and suitability requirements
• double rope with prussik technique
• trunk walking and foot ascenders
• standard climbing technique
• low risk anchor points
• maintenance of awareness of power lines
• power line clearances
• controlled descent operations
• controlled removal of access equipment
• cleaning of equipment
• storage of equipment
• work health and safety measures relating to own work.

Assessment Conditions

It is an industry requirement that delivery of training and assessment in this unit provides for the explicit conditions of work team capability for aerial rescue operations. It is an industry requirement for competency in this unit that assessment must include a log record of two hundred (200) hours of standard climbing.

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:

• standard climbing kit
• harness
• high decibel whistle
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• first aid and emergency kit
• rescue kit
• traffic management kit
• trees

• materials:

• climbing techniques form- standard
• climbing log record - standard
• hazard identification and risk control form
• equipment and PPE check form
• emergency preparation form
• work communications form
• knot identification 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

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72