NZQA Expiring unit standard
17765 version 3
Page 1 of 6
Title
Fell trees in a commercial forest harvesting operation
Level
4
Purpose
Credits
20
This unit standard is intended for people employed in a tree
felling role in a commercial forestry operation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: demonstrate
knowledge of the relationship between clear felling and
downstream operations; prepare to fell trees in a commercial
forest harvesting operation; assess the area to be felled and
plan the felling; assess trees to be felled and plan the felling of
individual trees; prepare work area and escape route; fell trees
using wedges and alternative back-cutting techniques; and
demonstrate tree driving by felling one tree onto another.
Classification
Forestry > Tree Felling
Available grade
Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and
safety prerequisites
Unit 17766, Fell trees safely using a chainsaw, or demonstrate
equivalent knowledge and skills.
This unit standard is
This unit standard must be assessed against on-job.
expiring
Demonstration of competence in this unit standard will include sufficient trees to
Explanatory notes
1
2
satisfy the assessor that the skills and knowledge are repeatable.
3
Best Practice Guides refers to the Best Practice Guidelines for Tree felling and any
subsequent amendments; and the Best Practice Guidelines for Chainsaw Use and
any subsequent amendments. Both are published by Competenz and available from
CompetenZ at http://www.competenz.org.nz, or Competenz, PO Box 9005,
Newmarket, Auckland 1149.
4
Industry environmental standards refers to the New Zealand Environmental Code of
Practice for Plantation Forestry published by New Zealand Forest Owners
Association. Available from Competenz, at http://www.competenz.org.nz, or
Competenz, PO Box 9005, Newmarket, Auckland 1149.
5
Approved Code of Practice refers to the Approved Code of Practice for Safety and
Health in Forest Operations published by the Occupational Safety and Health
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17765 version 3
Page 2 of 6
Service, (Wellington: Department of Labour, 1999) and any subsequent
amendments. Available at http://www.osh.dol.govt.nz/order/catalogue/301.shtml.
6
Definitions
Worksite policy and procedures includes instructions to staff on policy and
procedures (including the application of legislation to worksite situations) which are
formally or informally documented. Examples are standard operating procedures,
codes of practice, specifications, and worksite signage.
PPE refers to personal protective equipment and may include but is not limited to
protective clothing, gloves, safety glasses, headwear, footwear, hearing protection,
and safety devices.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Demonstrate knowledge of the relationship between clear felling and downstream
operations.
Evidence requirements
1.1
The impact of the felling pattern on the extraction process is explained.
1.2
The need for consistent wood-flow to the landing and the importance of
coordination between felling and extraction activities is described.
1.3
Impact of the tree felling quality on contract security and recoverable volume is
explained.
1.4
The impact of felling practices on the quality and value of the butt log is
described.
This unit standard is
Outcome 2
expiring
Prepare to fell trees in a commercial forest harvesting operation.
1.5
The advantages of butt pulling are described.
Evidence requirements
2.1
PPE complies with minimum requirements in accordance with the Approved
Code of Practice and the Best Practice Guides.
2.2
Job prescription requirements relating to felling are interpreted.
2.3
The process to manage an emergency is demonstrated.
Range
2.4
crew, communication, first aid.
The availability of felling equipment and accessories required for tree felling is
demonstrated.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
Range
17765 version 3
Page 3 of 6
chainsaw suited to the operation, fuel and oil containers, wedges
and other felling aids, files and maintenance tools, fire
extinguisher.
2.5
Environmental considerations are assessed and managed in accordance with
industry environmental standards and worksite policy and procedures.
2.6
Hazards within a minimum of two tree lengths of tree(s) to be felled are
identified, assessed and managed.
Range
hazards may include but are not limited to – people, machines,
operating ropes, other operations, weather and environmental
conditions, ground conditions, terrain features.
Outcome 3
Assess the area to be felled and plan the felling.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Site is assessed.
Range
3.2
may include but is not limited to – overhead hazards, vines,
interlocked branches, predominant lean of the stand, size,
condition and stability of trees to be felled, wind strength and
direction, terrain.
Site felling plan is described.
Range
includes but is not limited to – within faller’s capability, felling
direction and pattern, felling aids/assistance required, extraction
plan, starting point, environmental issues, access in to and out of
felling face, setting boundaries.
This unit standard is
Outcome 4
expiring
Assess trees to be felled and plan the felling of individual trees.
Evidence requirements
4.1
Tree to be felled is assessed.
Range
4.2
may include but is not limited to – overhead hazards, rotten spars,
vines, interlocked branches, tree lean, weight distribution, size,
condition and stability of tree to be felled, wind strength and
direction.
A felling plan for the tree to be felled is explained.
Range
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
felling direction, hazards in the line of the fall, hazards behind work
area, appropriate felling technique, assistance required, location of
the safer side and escape route.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17765 version 3
Page 4 of 6
Outcome 5
Prepare work area and escape route.
Evidence requirements
5.1
Hazards in the intended line of the tree’s fall are identified, assessed and
managed.
5.2
Low branches around the base of the tree are removed as necessary to allow
unrestricted access to the tree.
Range
using the lower part of the guide bar and chain, working in an
anticlockwise direction around the tree, avoiding use of the tip of
the guide bar.
5.3
A work area is cleared around the base of the tree to allow free movement
around the tree and clear visibility of the head of the tree.
5.4
The location and preparation of escape route is in accordance with the
Approved Code of Practice, the Best Practice Guides, and worksite policy and
procedures.
Range
may include but is not limited to – safer side, 45 degrees angle (or
as close as practicable) to the rear of the fall direction, clearance,
distance.
Outcome 6
Fell trees using wedges and alternative back-cutting techniques.
This unit standard is
The conventional scarf method is demonstrated.
expiring
Range
cut sequence, direction, angle and depth of top cut, horizontal
Evidence requirements
6.1
bottom cut and cuts meet up cleanly.
6.2
Wing cuts are used where appropriate to minimise side slabbing in accordance
with the Best Practice Guides.
Range
6.3
cover hinge wood area, angled into solid stump wood, depth and
position.
The back-cut is correctly positioned and progressed in accordance with the Best
Practice Guides.
Range
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
horizontal, the level of the bottom cut of the scarf, hingewood,
back-cut step, tree head movement.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
6.4
17765 version 3
Page 5 of 6
The use of a wedge to fell trees against the lean is demonstrated in accordance
with the Best Practice Guides and the Approved Code of Practice.
Range
scarf depth, size and number of wedges, bark trimming, timing,
positioning, setting, driving.
6.5
The driving of a wedge, timed to gain advantage of the swaying forward motion
of the top of the tree, is demonstrated in accordance with the Best Practice
Guides.
6.6
Multiple wedge use is demonstrated in accordance with the Approved Code of
Practice.
Range
two wedges, three wedges, double lifting.
6.7
Technique for felling trees with side lean is demonstrated.
6.8
Alternative back-cut techniques are demonstrated on trees in accordance with
the Best Practice Guides.
Range
6.9
includes but is not limited to – quarter cut, split level, bore and
release.
The chainsaw is removed in accordance with the Best Practice Guides.
Range
looking up, escape route, overhead hazards.
6.10
The wedge(s) and equipment are collected from the stump when safe to do so.
6.11
Stumps are as low as practicable within the requirements of safe and accurate
tree felling and in are accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
6.12
Trees are directionally felled to avoid hazards and obstacles which may cause
stem breakage, and to facilitate extraction.
Outcome 7
This unit standard is
expiring
Demonstrate tree driving by felling one tree onto another.
Evidence requirements
7.1
The Approved Code of Practice requirements relating to tree driving are
described.
7.2
Hazards associated with tree driving are explained.
7.3
Driving tree is suited to tree to be driven.
Range
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
position of driver tree, position of tree to be driven, falling path of
driver tree, weight of driver tree, height of driver tree,
characteristics of driver tree.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA Expiring unit standard
17765 version 3
Page 6 of 6
7.4
The distance from the driving tree to the tree to be driven is assessed in relation
to tree height, and the point of aim identified.
7.5
Both trees are prepared for felling in accordance with the Best Practice Guides.
7.6
The driving tree is felled to carry the driven tree to the ground.
7.7
Management after an unsuccessful drive is explained in accordance with the
Approved Code of Practice, the Best Practice Guides, and worksite policy and
procedures.
Replacement information
This unit standard has been replaced by unit standard
28561.
This unit standard is expiring. Assessment against the standard must take place by
the last date for assessment set out below.
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
5 December 2000
31 December 2016
Review
2
22 May 2008
31 December 2016
Review
3
19 March 2015
31 December 2016
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0173
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
This unit standard is
expiring
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.
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.
Competenz
SSB Code 101571
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016