Assessment Requirements for AHCARB307 Use advanced climbing techniques

Release: 1

Assessment Requirements for AHCARB307 Use advanced climbing techniques

Modification History

Release	TP Version	Comment
1	AHCv1.0	Initial release

Performance Evidence

The candidate must be observed ascending and descending trees using advanced tree climbing practices.

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 static and dynamic rope as required

selecting and using triple locking carabiners

determine limits, relative advantages and disadvantages of friction hitches including: Tautline, Blake’s, Prussik, Klemheist, Valdetain, French Prussik and specialised variations

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 safe approach distances and vegetation 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 single rope, double rope and selected friction hitch as required

ascending using uni-ascenders and foot ascenders as required

using micrograbs, grigris and micro-pulleys as required for access and tree operations

demonstrating ability to carry out change-overs

setting up redirects and belays using slings and anchors

selecting multiple lines to access trees and tree parts

selecting multiple lines to perform tree operations

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 and static 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 action carabiners

friction hitches including:

Tautline, Blake’s, Prussik, Klemheist, Valdetain, French Prussik and specialised variations

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

single and double rope techniques

uni-ascenders and foot ascenders

micrograbs, grigris, micro-pulleys

use of climbing spikes of various lengths

change-overs

redirects and belays using slings and anchors

use of multiple lines to access trees and tree parts

advanced climbing techniques

low risk anchor points

maintenance of awareness of power lines

power line safe approach distances and vegetation clearances

controlled descent operations

controlled removal of access equipment

cleaning of equipment

storage of equipment.

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 advanced 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:

single rope technique (SRT) climbing kit

harness

chaps

climbing friction hitches

high decibel whistle

personal protective equipment (PPE)

first aid and emergency kit

rescue kit

traffic management kit

trees

materials:

climbing techniques form - advanced

climbing log record – advanced

tree inspection form

hazard identification and risk control form

equipment and PPE check form

knot identification form

work communications form

rescue form - aerial

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