FWPCOT3350 — Fell trees manually (intermediate)

Generate a complete, audit-ready assessment tool for this unit in minutes: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers, and a coverage matrix mapped to every component below. Reviewed and approved by your qualified person, exported under your branding.

Generate FWPCOT3350 free See a real sample

Every new account includes a free credit — no card, no subscription.

What an assessment for FWPCOT3350 must cover

76 assessable components: 5 elements (32 performance criteria), 28 performance evidence and 12 knowledge evidence requirements, plus 4 foundation skills. An audit-defensible tool maps every question and task back to these — that mapping is the coverage matrix Auditori generates alongside the assessment.

Elements & performance criteria

1 Prepare for felling

1.1Determine job requirements from work order or instruction and, where required, seek clarification from appropriate personnel
1.2Confirm workplace health and safety and environmental protection practices and/or procedures for task
1.3Identify hazards, assess risks, determine appropriate control measures and record findings, to mitigate risks and hazards associated with felling intermediate trees by conducting a documented risk assessment according to workplace procedures
1.4Identify, assess and determine felling requirements of trees to be felled according to work order or instruction
1.5Consult and maintain communication with team members and other appropriate personnel to ensure that work is coordinated effectively with others in the workplace
1.6Obtain tools and equipment needed for the work, and check for correct operation and safety
1.7Select, fit and use personal protective equipment

2 Assess site conditions and surroundings

2.1Inspect site for conditions likely to affect safe implementation of felling activities
2.2Identify and report site environmental conditions to appropriate personnel
2.3Determine fall zone and implement control measures to minimise risks and hazards in the zone according to safe work procedures
2.4Monitor location and activity of other personnel on the work site, and implement control measures according to workplace safety procedures

3 Assess tree and plan felling

3.1Identify trees considered outside own skill level, and seek assistance from appropriate personnel where required
3.2Assess tree visually to identify felling characteristics
3.3Confirm tree is safe to fell
3.4Assess trees and site to determine complexity of felling requirements
3.5Assess and progressively plan tree-felling sequence for individual trees
3.6Assess and check required felling direction and possible deviation
3.7Plan sequence of cuts to fell tree according to standard felling procedures
3.8Assess need, safety and suitability of an industry approved technique and associated equipment to control tree fall
3.9Identify suitable escape routes, and clear growth and other obstacles according to environmental care principles and workplace procedures

4 Apply tree-felling techniques

4.1Apply an industry approved technique and equipment to ensure that the tree falls in the direction of the scarf cut
4.2Fell individual trees using planned and appropriate techniques according to the current Australian Standard and industry code of practice at a safe distance from other personnel in the work area
4.3Adjust cutting technique in response to movement and condition of tree
4.4Maintain accuracy of cuts and consistency with the cutting technique
4.5Use planned escape route when tree starts to fall, and monitor the fall of the tree until all movement has stopped
4.6Delay movement back into the felling area until all tree material, including from adjacent tree crowns, has fallen or is stable enough to allow safe access back into the felling area
4.7Identify procedures for removal of trees that are hung-up if safe to do so
4.8Dispose of waste materials according to workplace environmental protection and operational practices and/ or procedures

5 Maintain chainsaw

5.1Follow workplace health and safety procedures and manufacturer instructions to deactivate and isolate equipment
5.2Inspect chainsaw on completion of activities
5.3Inspect for damage to chainsaw and cutting attachments, and tag for repair, service or replacement according to workplace requirements and manufacturer recommendations if required
5.4Remove, clean, adjust, sharpen or replace chain and other components according to workplace requirements and manufacturer recommendations

Performance evidence

An individual demonstrating competency must satisfy all of the elements and performance criteria in this unit.
There must be evidence that the individual has conducted a complete hazards and risks assessment of site, surroundings, and trees, planned risk control measures, selected appropriate cutting techniques, and conducted the felling of a minimum of four trees with intermediate characteristics.
The trees must be chosen according to the following criteria:
at least one tree must have a diameter, measured at the point where the scarf cut is made, that is smaller than chainsaw bar length
at least one tree must have a diameter, measured at the point where the scarf cut is made, that exceeds chainsaw bar length
at least one tree must have a leaning characteristic and a diameter, measured at the point where the scarf cut is made, that is smaller than chainsaw bar length
at least one tree must have a leaning characteristic and a diameter, measured at the point where the scarf cut is made, that exceeds chainsaw bar length.
In performing this task, the individual has used a chainsaw with a bar length appropriate to the tree’s diameter and has applied:
two different scarf cutting techniques
two different back cutting techniques, which must be for either forward leaning, side leaning or back leaning trees
the wedge technique, on one occasion, to ensure that the tree falls in the direction of the scarf cut.
The scarfing methods must be selected from the following:
Standard
Humboldt
90 degree scarf
V scarf.
In performing all cuts, the individual must have complied with the following criteria:
direction – the scarf must be in the direction of the desired fell
depth – the depth of the scarf is ¼ to 1/3 of the diameter of the tree
size (width) of opening – 2/3 across the front of the tree
top and bottom scarf cuts – the two cuts should meet without overcutting or undercutting, the scarf line is level and the scarf line is at 90 degrees to the intended direction of fall
back cut height – the back cut is level and above the scarf line by about 1/10 (or 10%) of the tree diameter
hinge wood thickness is about 1/10 (or 10%) of the tree diameter.
There must also be evidence that the individual has documented risk assessment for at least one of the felled trees. This documentation must detail localised hazards and risks associated with tree felling and specify methods to minimise these risks.
In addition, there must be evidence that the individual has conducted risk assessment for a minimum of two trees, in addition to the initial four.
In completing this work, the individual must demonstrate correct use of personal protective equipment and that, for each tree, the felling technique was consistent with current Australian Standards and industry codes of practice applicable to tree felling operations.
There must also be evidence that the individual has sharpened one chain, inspected and carried out routine maintenance on one occasion on one chainsaw and its cutting attachments according to manufacturer requirements.
This work must comply with workplace policy and procedures and current workplace health and safety legislation and regulations.

Knowledge evidence

Australian Standards and codes of practice applicable to tree felling operations
hazards and risks related to felling trees with chainsaws, and methods to minimise associated risks, including: • physical conditions of the site • unsafe/hazardous trees • fire and other emergency situations • overhead and underground services • nearby structures • standing vegetation in the intended direction of fall • falling branches • weather conditions • impediments of escape routes • vehicle and traffic access • people on or near worksite • machinery on or near worksite • carrying and transporting a chainsaw • user fatigue
hazards related to maintaining chainsaws, and methods to minimise associated risks
features of unsafe/hazardous intermediate trees and defects of trees and how they affect tree felling activities
types and purposes of cuts to fell intermediate trees, including: • scarf cuts • back cuts using different methods to provide hinge wood and wedges to maintain control of tree
characteristics of intermediate trees
methods used to identify intermediate trees: • that contain hazards and are deemed unsafe to fell • that are considered outside own skill level • where cuts made may lead to loss of control of tree in felling
methods used to remove trees that are hung up, and procedures for removal
methods for assessing chain condition
types, safe use, operation and maintenance of chainsaws, support tools and attachments
workplace procedures specific to felling trees with chainsaws, including: • workplace health and safety, with particular emphasis on deactivating and isolating equipment, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), safe manual handling and fire prevention measures • communication reporting lines • recording and reporting repairs, maintenance activities and equipment faults
environmental protection requirements and/or procedures that meet legal obligations and requirements of the industry, state and local standards and/or codes of practice for felling trees with chainsaws, including: • protection of natural and cultural assets • cleaning plant, tools and equipment • disposing of, recycling and reusing materials • disposing of hazardous substances.

Foundation skills

Reading: Interpret workplace documentation and correctly identify work requirements
Writing: Use technical and workplace specific vocabulary to accurately and legibly complete workplace records and forms
Oral communication: Select and use appropriate spoken communication strategies with work colleagues and other personnel on site when felling trees Interpret hand signals with other operators to ensure safe tree felling
Numeracy: Complete routine calculations and report on size, length and diameter of felled trees

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

See what you get before you start

Real, unedited Auditori output (RIIHAN201E shown), branded for a sample RTO:

Questions about assessing FWPCOT3350

What does an assessment tool for FWPCOT3350 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for FWPCOT3350 needs to address all 76 unit components: 5 elements with 32 performance criteria, 28 performance evidence requirements, 12 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for FWPCOT3350?

Auditori pulls the current release of FWPCOT3350 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

Is the first assessment tool really free?

Yes. Every new account includes one free credit — enough to generate the complete assessment tool for FWPCOT3350 — with no card and no subscription required. After that it's pay-as-you-go per unit.

Can I check my existing FWPCOT3350 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of FWPCOT3350, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.

Related units

Your FWPCOT3350 assessment tool, in minutes.

First unit free. No card, no RTO registration, no subscription.

Generate FWPCOT3350 free