ARBO305 – Tree Felling
Module code
ARBO305
Module title
Tree Felling
Prescription
The aim of this module is to develop student’s skill and knowledge in felling and limbing trees in arboriculture under supervision.
Programmes
- SX1702
- WB2676
NZQA Level
Level 3
NZQA Credits
5
Delivery method
- Web-Supported
Learning hours
- Total learning hours
- 50
Resources required
- Teaching and Learning Strategy
- As per Ako: Teaching and Learning Directions – Project-based learning; Flipped Classroom; Blended Learning; Work-integrated Learning; Inclusive Practices
- Learning Outcomes
- 1. Describe safety and process requirements for felling and limbing trees.
2. Discuss and assess felling tasks in consultation with the supervisor.
3. Fell trees under supervision.
4. Limb felled trees. - Content
- - Safety rules on approach to felling trees; notifications, approach precautions
- Felling preparation; supervision, safety, escape routes, overhead hazards, observer zones
- Tree felling work potential hazards and risk management, personal protective equipment and first aid requirements; potential hazards – chainsaw use, tree movement, wind and ground conditions, obstacles and other trees, site size and configuration, direction of fall, proximity of other people, inexperience of feller, overhead hazards, hazards to specific situation.
- Equipment and felling aids, and their safe use.
- Configuration and sequence of conventional scarf and possible consequences of faulty scarf; over cut, cutting scarves that are too shallow.
- Producing scarfs and back cuts using conventional methods
- Limbing in terms of potential hazards and actions to manage risks; potential hazards – kickback, tree movement, slope, weather and ground conditions, undergrowth, branches and/or stem under tension or compression stress, debris, log size, overhead hazards, hazards specific to situation.
- Limbing technique for single, double and multileader trees; saw position, operator’s body position, sequence.
- Supervisor consultation to assess and describe felling areas and individual trees in terms of factors that affect felling direction and safety; site, contour and conditions, tree conditions, weather, other trees, adjacent operations and structure, environmental factors, safety of observers and other workers, signs, boundaries, escape routes, overhead hazards.
- Assessing and identifying trees that are ‘beyond feller’s capabilities’
- Checking chainsaw and wedges meet task requirements and use in safe controlled manner in accordance with manufacturer’s recommendations; chainsaw condition and maintenance, bar length, cc rating, wedge size, number of wedges, chainsaw operation – ensuring does not jam or become damaged during felling process.
- Managing safety; hazards, protective clothing, felling signs, observers
- Directionally felling trees as directed using conventional scarf and back cut
- Producing regular scarves and horizontal back cuts
- Using safe observation points and escape routes
- Assessing and making felled trees on ground safe, and leaving site in safe condition
- Limbing and preparing trees - Assessment Criteria
- Assessment in this module is mixed mode. Students must gain a minimum mark of 50% in the achievement-based assessments and meet all the requirements of the competency-based assessments including carrying out all tasks in a safe manner and to industry standard to be eligible for a final grade for this module. The final grade will be based on the marks from the achievement-based assessment tasks. Where there are only competency components, pass or fail will be awarded.
- Learning and Teaching Resource
- - Tutorial notes, exercises and readings, flexible, blended learning focus on content and material as projects for project based learning.
- Interactive Moodle platform.
