Assessment Requirements for AHCARB403 Perform a ground-based tree defect evaluation

Release: 1

Assessment Requirements for AHCARB403 Perform a ground-based tree defect evaluation

Modification History

Release	TP Version	Comment
1	AHCv1.0	Initial release

Performance Evidence

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:

confirming trees to be evaluated in accordance with client brief

undertaking a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk

determining targets that need to be considered

determining tree hazard benchmarks appropriate for project

recording and implementing work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures

inspecting tree from ground

determining tree health

examining tree for past failures

examining tree for visual indicators of outwardly apparent defects

examining tree for visual indicators of concealed defects

examining tree for visual indicators of disease leading to structural failure

determining if failure is likely to result in target being impacted

sounding for cavities suggested by openings and visual indicators

probing any accessible cavities and openings

exposing root crown where required

removing loose bark where appropriate

determining if tree exceeds tree hazard benchmarks for project

photographing and recording tree species and site of tree

recording health and approximate dimensions of the tree

recording and photographing defects and visual indicators

describing, illustrating and indicating on image or device, the approximate location on the tree

recording approximate dimensions of affected tree part and defect

recording results and advising client of evaluation

advising client immediately of evaluation where a tree poses an imminent threat

taking action as instructed in accordance with work place policies and client brief

isolating the tree or move target as instructed in accordance with work place policies and client brief

documenting immediate actions taken.

compiling hazard evaluation documentation

recommending further action of aerial inspection and load testing or seek further advice from a consulting arborist

determining and documenting any tree work required to mitigate risks

submitting tree hazard evaluation report to client or employer

use of industry standard terminology to describe hazard evaluation.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

client briefs

site-specific risk assessment

work health and safety hazards and assessing risk

targets and the role of targets in tree risk assessment

tree hazard benchmarks

work health, safety, site, environmental and traffic control measures

tree inspections

tree health

methods of determining tree health

tree anatomy and morphology for past failures

tree examinations for outwardly apparent defects

tree examinations for visual indicators of concealed defects

tree examinations for visual indicators of disease leading to structural failure

tree examinations for visual indicators of organisms causing damage leading to structural failure

likelihood of target impaction

cavity sounding and probing techniques

visual indicators of root crowns and bark

determination whether tree or tree parts are a hazard in accordance with benchmarks

photography and recording of tree species, site of tree, approximate location of trees, and defects and visual indicators

health and approximate dimensions of the tree and affected tree part and defect

imminent threat

tree isolation methods

methods of moving targets

documentation of hazard evaluation

risk mitigation

recommendations of aerial inspection and load testing

advice from a consulting arborist

presentation of reports.

Assessment Conditions

It is an industry requirement for competency in this unit that assessment includes a minimum of twenty (20) ground-based tree defect evaluations, and requires a minimum of at least one (1) consultation with a consulting arborist to participate in a ground-based tree defect evaluation. The evaluations are required to cover twenty separate and individual trees, of a minimum of fifteen (15) different tree species, and each of the evaluations is required to be a whole-of-tree investigation.

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:

trees

cross-sectioned tree visual indicators of defects and diseases

materials:

site-specific risk assessment form

defect evaluation form

tree evaluation report

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