AHCARB316 — Perform pruning operations

Elements & performance criteria

Performance evidence

• 1 tree with a minimum height of at least 10 metres and a minimum 5 metre spread for which the pruning specifications must include:
• removal of hazardous dead wood or branches from the tree canopy
• reduction of the extent of the crown
• selective pruning to remove branches to resolve specific problems
• 1 tree of less than 4 metres in height to be formatively pruned
• 2 mature trees of at least 10 metres in height, for which the predetermined specifications must include at least 3 of the following maintenance or modification activities:
• reduced the extent of the crown
• lifted the height of the crown
• pruned trees for low voltage line clearance on a residential property
• performed remedial pruning including removal of dead wood
• removed dead fronds and fruit from palm trees
• pollarded a tree
• communicated with work team during operations using communication method agreed with work team
• determined type, extent and limit of pruning work according to the specifications, scope of works, relevant standards and client brief
• operated safely while undertaking work, including:
• conducted a job safety analysis for the site before work
• maintained safe approach distances and clearances to power lines
• selected and used personal protective equipment
• inspected tree for safe access and work
• conducted tree pruning from a secure and safe position
• selected, prepared and checked and safely used tools and equipment and cleaned and maintained for all pruning operations
• determined crown maintenance and modifications required and identified pruning cut options according to Australian Standards AS 4373 including:
• stem co-dominance
• stem bark ridge
• old cuts
• dead branches
• occluded and occluding branches
• used pre-cuts and undercuts of branches to avoid splitting or tearing and ensured bark remained firmly attached
• performed final cuts that complied with principles of compartmentalisation of decay in trees (CODIT), including:
• cut to the branch collar without leaving a protruding stub
• used branch bark ridge to determine angle of cut where visible collar is absent
• ensured lateral branch to which the final cut is made is the correct diameter for the branch being reduced
• used stem bark ridge to determine the angle of cut when removing a co-dominant stem
• positioned the final cut guided by positions and angles of joins between tissue of declining or dead stems and those of healthy stems elsewhere in tree
• ensured bark at edge of cuts remained firmly attached
• conducted a review of pruning practices for tree response to pruning and advice from arborist and modified pruning methods to improve pruning quality
• dropped or lowered pruned material into designated drop zone and collected and removed pruned material according to workplace and environmental procedures
• maintained pruning records according to workplace procedures
• All pruning operations work is required to be performed according to preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume).

Knowledge evidence

• purpose of pruning trees and the standards expected, including:
• canopy maintenance and the principles of dead wooding, crown thinning, selective pruning, formative pruning
• canopy modification and the principles of reduction pruning, crown lifting, pollarding, remedial pruning, line clearance
• work health and safety procedures for pruning operations
• work site procedures for job safety analysis (JSA) for pruning and activities and control measures, including:
• recognition of hazards
• assessing the risks
• identifying controls
• documenting a JSA
• personal protection
• first aid
• rescue procedures
• visual tree assessment, including health, growth habit, structure, stability and growing environment
• pruning equipment; advantages and disadvantages and use, including:
• secateurs
• chainsaws
• pole saws
• handsaws
• equipment pre-start checks
• tree and branch anatomy and attachments related to pruning, including:
• lateral branch collars
• branch bark ridges
• stem bark ridges
• occluded and occluding branches
• dominant and co-dominant stems
• preferred industry practices (as outlined in the Companion Volume) for pruning operations and Australian Standard AS 4373
• gauging the quality of pruning by assessing tree responses to pruning, including:
• recognising correct and incorrect pruning cuts
• rectifying poor pruning cuts
• hygiene and biosecurity procedures to minimise cross-infections from pruning activity
• safe communication during tree pruning work, including the impact of noise, environmental conditions, communications resources, and visibility
• communications strategies used in the arboriculture industry, including:
• voice
• hand
• whistle signals
• electronic communications
• safety considerations and procedures when working near overhead power lines, including:
• basics of electrocution
• power line types and insulation
• approach distances and safety zones, voltage and arcing
• authorisations to work near power lines
• tools, equipment, tree loads, personnel and power line contact
• legal liability
• workplace records for pruning operations
• environmental procedures and site management and clean-up

Foundation skills

• Writing: Accurately complete organisational documents, including job safety analysis, using clear language, correct spelling, grammar and industry terminology

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Questions about assessing AHCARB316