Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to install cable and bracing hardware into the structure of a tree.

The work requires the application of extensive arboricultural knowledge. This unit applies to individuals who have a range of skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, equipment and information to complete routine activities and provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.

Some discretion and judgement may be required to the extent of pruning and cable and bracing required for a particular tree. Work is implemented with low risk work procedures and to comply with Safe Work Method Statement documentation.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction. Specific determination should be sought through the relevant State or Territory. Works involving this unit of competency may be subject to local tree protection and preservation laws, and the relevant content of applicable Australian Standards.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil.

Unit Sector

Arboriculture (ARB)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range of Conditions

Unit Mapping Information

This unit is equivalent to AHCARB308A Install cable and bracing.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

The candidate must be observed installing cable and bracing according to a pruning program.

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:

• determining location of above-and-below-ground services
• undertaking a site-specific risk assessment
• determining cable and bracing requirements from client brief
• confirming first aid and rescue procedures applicable to tree work 
• examining structural tree components
• examining vitality and structural integrity of branch attachments
• identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
• recording and implementing site and traffic control measures
• use of tree climbing techniques or ability to work from an elevated work platform
• installing cable and bracing
• determining requirement for additional pruning
• checking and recording completed program for quality of work
• use of industry standard terminology to describe arboriculture and work environment.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

• the effect of pruning on tree growth, habit and form
• tree anatomy and tree physiology
• tree pruning techniques appropriate to requirements of species
• visual tree assessment
• selection of appropriate cable and bracing tools and equipment
• selection of suitable personal protective equipment
• the principles and methods of pruning (tree anatomy and physiology)
• identification of work health and safety hazards, risk assessment and risk control application
• quality of pruning work
• cable and bracing techniques appropriate to tree species
• cable and bracing theory
• Compartmentalisation of Decay in Trees (CODIT) principles
• implications of pruning cuts and the way trees respond
• sustainable growth requirements of trees
• natural habit and form of trees
• first aid and rescue personnel, equipment and procedures applicable to tree work
• local government tree protection and preservation regulations
• Australian Standard 4373–2007 relating to tree pruning.

Assessment Conditions

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:

• dynamic and static cable and bracing tools and products
• high decibel whistle
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• first aid and emergency kit
• traffic management kit
• signage – work zone
• trees

• materials:

• cable and bracing operations form
• hazard identification and risk control form
• equipment and PPE check form
• emergency preparation form
• work records form

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