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Title / Mark logs to optimise value
Level / 4 / Credits / 10
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for people employed in a log making role in a forestry operation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare for log making work; grade, measure, and mark stems; and assess quality of own log making work.
Classification / Forestry > Forest Landing Operations
Available grade / Achieved
Entry information
Recommended skills and knowledge / Unit 1252, Demonstrate knowledge of log making; or demonstrate equivalent knowledge and skills.
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard must be assessed against on-job.
2Written forest industry log specifications and cutting instructions will be used to establish requirements for specific jobs.
3Definitions
Accepted forestry industry practicerefers to documented codes of practice and standardised procedures accepted by the wider forestry industry as examples of best practice.
Cutting instruction refers to a list of log grades to be cut showing priorities, lengths, diameters, defects not allowed, etc. This is used by the log maker to optimise log value recovered from a stem.
PPE refers to personal protective equipment and may include but is not limited to high-viz, protective clothing, gloves, face and eye protection, safety helmet, footwear, hearing protection, and safety devices.
Worksite procedures refer to documented procedures used by the organisation carrying out the work and applicable to the tasks being carried out. They may include but are not limited to – standard operating procedures, site safety procedures, equipment operating procedures, quality assurance procedures, housekeeping standards, procedures to comply with legislative and local body requirements.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare for log making work.
Evidence requirements
1.1PPE is maintained and worn in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
1.2Hazards are identified and managed in accordance withaccepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – movement of logs and machines, chainsaw use, ground conditions and debris, other work in the area, other workers, safe zones, ropes and strops.
1.3The reason for on-going hazard identification is explained in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
1.4Factors that may change hazards or introduce new hazards are described in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeweather, change in landing layout, change in location.
1.5Measuring equipment is calibrated and suitable for the intended task to meet manufacturer’s and forest owner’s requirements.
1.6Cutting instructions and log grade specifications are explained and verified as current.
1.7Communication is maintained with all personnel in accordance withaccepted forestry industry practiceand worksite procedures.
Outcome 2
Grade, measure, and mark stems.
Evidence requirements
2.1Action to be taken when cutting instructions change is explained in terms of operational requirements.
2.2Priority cuts are explained in relation to cutting instructions.
2.3Negative attributes of logs are assessed before log grading in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemay include but is not limited to –draw wood, pulled wood, scarf face, rot, insect infestation, splits, slabbing, shatter, holes, sap stain, sloven.
2.4Stems are assessed, graded, and marked in accordance with the cutting instructions.
Rangelog combinations, preferred lengths, priority cuts.
2.5Preferred lengths for various grades are marked in accordance with the cutting instructions and accepted forestry industry practice.
2.6Fleet marks for the operation are identified and used in accordance with worksite procedures.
2.7Logs ends are marked in accordance with the cutting instructions.
2.8Work method and work pattern suits the needs of the operation and complements the work of other crew members.
2.9Work rate is consistently maintained in accordance with worksite procedures.
Outcome 3
Assess quality of own log making work.
Evidence requirements
3.1The benefits of performing quality control on a log making operation are described in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
3.2The candidate confirms the quality of their log making against specifications.
Rangea minimum of five stems must be assessed.
3.3Errors identified during self-assessment are remedied where possible and methods to minimise errors in the future are explained in accordance withaccepted forestry industry practiceand worksite procedures.
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 / 22 May 2008 / 31 December 2013
Revision / 6 / 15 September 2011 / 31 December 2016
Review / 7 / 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 if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018