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Title / Thin plantation trees, under 200mm stump diameter, to waste
Level / 3 / Credits / 10
Purpose / This unit standard covers early thinning to waste operations where the cull trees are generally of less than 200mm stump diameter. It is intended for people employed in a thinning role in a forestry operation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare to thin plantation trees, under 200mm stump diameter, to waste; and thin plantation trees, under 200mm stump diameter, to waste, using a chainsaw.
Classification / Forestry > Forest Silvicultural Operations
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Critical health and safety prerequisites / Unit 17763,Demonstrate knowledge of tree-felling; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard must be assessed against on-job.
2Sufficient trees must be thinned to demonstrate consistent, methodical, efficient, and safe thinning.
3Definitions
Accepted forestry industry practicerefers to documented codes of practice and standardised procedures accepted by the wider forestry industry as examples of best practice.
Job prescription refers to any written instructions for the operation and may include maps, harvest plans or cut plans.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare to thin plantation trees, under 200mm stump diameter, to waste.
Evidence requirements
1.1Chainsaw and equipment are checked for suitability and safety in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeincludes – chainsaw safety features, chainsaw size, bar length, protective clothing and footwear, fuel and oil containers, first aid, high visibility clothing;
may include – road signs, fire extinguisher.
1.2Job prescription requirements are identified and explained in terms of operational requirements.
Rangeresidual stocking, selection of cull trees, safety requirements, hazards, boundaries, environmental.
1.3Hazards are identified and managed to meet operational requirements in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – chainsaw use, terrain, ground conditions, falling trees, tree condition, other people, hang-ups, weather, fumes.
1.4The reason for on-going hazard identification is explained in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
1.5Factors that may change hazards or introduce new hazards are described in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeweather, terrain, hindrance.
1.6Therequirements for a minimum number of workers in a thin to waste operation are explained in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Outcome 2
Thin plantation trees, under 200mm stump diameter, to waste, using a chainsaw.
Evidence requirements
2.1Cull trees are selected and assessed individually for hazards and felling direction in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangebranching, surrounding hindrance, potential for hang-ups.
2.2Vegetation is cleared around trees, trees are limbed to allow access, and escape routes are prepared in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
2.3Cull trees are felled in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
2.4The requirements of the operation are met in accordance with the job prescription.
Rangestocking, spacing, trees cut from stump, environmental requirements, damage to residual crop.
2.5Hang-ups are brought down in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
2.6Quality control is carried out on own work to ensure compliance with the job prescription.
2.7Work method and work pattern suit the needs of the particular operation in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice, and meet job prescription requirements.
Rangetechniques, equipment, ergonomics, use of terrain and contour, tree lean, wind, environmental requirements, other workers.
Planned review date / 31 December 2020Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 28 January 1995 / 31 December 2012
Review / 2 / 8 November 1996 / 31 December 2012
Revision / 3 / 19 June 1998 / 31 December 2012
Review / 4 / 5 December 2000 / 31 December 2012
Review / 5 / 24 March 2003 / 31 December 2012
Review / 6 / 22 May 2008 / 31 December 2012
Revision / 7 / 16 July 2010 / 31 December 2016
Review / 8 / 19 March 2015 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0173
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact Competenz you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018