Fell Trees Manually – (Advanced)

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to assess, plan and safely carry out manual felling of trees with advanced characteristics using a chainsaw. This unit covers the felling procedures for advanced trees with a level of complexity that requires significant tree assessment and advanced practical felling skills.

The unit applies to individuals who possess existing proficiency in operating a chainsaw and are required to fell advanced trees as part of arboriculture, forestry, agriculture, conservation, land management, local government, emergency services, and other government agency operations. With the exception of minor forest produce, this unit does not apply to commercial harvesting operations.

Individuals competent in this unit should be able to effectively fell trees of any size, species and condition, including those with significant defects and characteristics that cause excessive felling complexity, that are deemed safe to fell.

Trees typical to the scope of this unit may have some of the following characteristics:

• lean and with weight distribution that adds significant complexity yet can be assessed and adapted to site requirements
• large diameter trees, but not exclusively, that can be safely felled with complex felling techniques
• heavy forward lean
• lean in a direction away from the fall zone or side-leaning to the available fall zone
• damage or defect that requires complex felling techniques, including trees with visible lightning damage, burnt out trees and those with fire damaged butts
• hung up trees that can be removed safely
• multi-legged, hollow butts, culls and stags
• species prone to free splitting and adverse reactions during felling
• complex multi-stems
• terrain, slope and environment that can add significant complexity to the operation.