NZQA registered unit standard
1243 version 8
Page 1 of 5
Title
Prune plantation trees from the ground
Level
3
Purpose
Credits
10
This unit standard is intended for people employed in a pruning
role in a forestry operation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: maintain
equipment used for pruning plantation trees from the ground;
prepare for pruning plantation trees from the ground;
demonstrate knowledge of pruning quality; and prune
plantation trees from the ground in accordance with the job
prescription.
Classification
Forestry > Forest Silvicultural Operations
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
This unit standard must be assessed against on-job.
2
Definitions
Accepted forestry industry practice refers to documented codes of practice and
standardised procedures accepted by the wider forestry industry as examples of best
practice.
Job prescription refers to any written instructions for the operation and may include
maps, harvest plans or cut plans.
Forestry operations include land preparation, planting, releasing, pruning, and
thinning to waste.
PPE refers to personal protective equipment and may include but is not limited to
high-viz, protective clothing, gloves, face and eye protection, safety helmet, footwear,
hearing protection, and safety devices.
Worksite procedures refer to documented procedures used by the organisation
carrying out the work and applicable to the tasks being carried out. They may
include but are not limited to – standard operating procedures, site safety
procedures, equipment operating procedures, quality assurance procedures,
housekeeping standards, procedures to comply with legislative and local body
requirements.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Maintain equipment used for pruning plantation trees from the ground.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1243 version 8
Page 2 of 5
Evidence requirements
1.1
Items of equipment are maintained in accordance with accepted forestry
industry practice.
Range
1.2
Spare parts and maintenance tools are checked and available to enable
equipment maintenance.
Range
1.3
may include – pruners or loppers, jacksaw, pouch, steps, gauge,
epicormic remover.
may include but is not limited to – bolts, nuts, cutting jaws, saw
blades, spanners, screwdriver, sharpening files or stones;
evidence of six is required.
First aid requirements are checked and available in accordance with accepted
forestry industry practice.
Outcome 2
Prepare for pruning plantation trees from the ground.
Evidence requirements
2.1
PPE is maintained and worn in accordance with worksite procedures.
2.2
Hazards associated with pruning trees and a method of control for each is
explained in accordance with worksite procedures and accepted forestry
industry practice.
Range
hazards may include but are not limited to – cuts, trips, falls, hit by
branch, hyperthermia, hypothermia, dehydration, stand/block
hazards, working at heights, use of tools, slash, other workers,
surrounding vegetation, terrain, ground conditions, weather
conditions;
evidence of six hazards is required.
2.3
The reason for on-going hazard identification is explained in accordance with
accepted forestry industry practice.
2.4
Factors that may change hazards or introduce new hazards are described in
accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Range
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
weather, terrain, hindrance, fatigue.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1243 version 8
Page 3 of 5
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of pruning quality.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Processes for maintaining standards of quality within a pruning operation are
described in accordance with worksite procedures and accepted forestry
industry practice.
Range
may include but is not limited to – plotting, supervision.
3.2
The importance of regular quality control procedures as a management tool
within a pruning operation is explained in accordance with accepted forestry
industry practice.
3.3
Effects of pruning too many stems are described in accordance with accepted
forestry industry practice.
Range
3.4
operational costs, job efficiency, influence on future operations.
Effects of incorrect heights (over-prune, under-prune) are explained in
accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Range
growth, mortality, production rate, tree stress, payment, reworks,
infection risk.
Outcome 4
Prune plantation trees from the ground in accordance with the job prescription.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Job prescription is used to establish specific job requirements.
Range
production, quality, health and safety, environmental.
4.2
Work practice is safe in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
4.3
Work method is ergonomically efficient in accordance with accepted forestry
industry practice.
Range
4.4
body position, efficient movements, correct pruning techniques,
minimal work above head, minimal overreaching, warm up or
stretching, equipment well maintained and appropriate for use,
safe entry to tree, systematic method, two handed use is
maximised, cutting tools carried safely in a pouch when not in use.
Branches and epicormics are removed flush from the stem with minimal
scarring in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
4.5
Key features of the block and boundaries are identified in accordance with the
job prescription.
may include but is not limited to – block boundaries, access points,
exit points, gullies, streams, roads, environmentally or culturally
sensitive sites;
evidence of six is required.
Range
4.6
Pruning work is assessed for quality and under-pruning is rectified in
accordance with worksite procedures.
may include but is not limited to – stem damage, stocking,
spacing, pruned height, pruned to gauged diameter, form pruning,
remaining green crown, requirements met;
evidence of six is required.
Range
4.7
1243 version 8
Page 4 of 5
Output meets predetermined production and quality requirements.
Planned review date
31 December 2020
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
28 January 1995
31 December 2012
Review
2
8 November 1996
31 December 2012
Revision
3
19 June 1998
31 December 2012
Review
4
5 December 2000
31 December 2012
Review
5
22 May 2008
31 December 2012
Revision
6
16 July 2010
31 December 2013
Revision
7
15 September 2011
31 December 2016
Review
8
19 March 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0173
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
1243 version 8
Page 5 of 5
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Competenz qualifications@competenz.org.nz if you wish to suggest
changes to the content of this unit standard.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016