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Title / Demonstrate knowledge of treefelling
Level / 3 / Credits / 5
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe personal requirements for tree-felling operations; demonstrate knowledge of hazards associated with treefelling; demonstrate knowledge of the five-step felling plan; demonstrate knowledge of tree-felling techniques; and identify tree-felling situations and techniques which require special skill and/or experience.
Classification / Forestry > Tree Felling
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Treefelling is a very hazardous activity. People credited with this unit standard are not necessarily able to fell trees since the safe and effective felling of trees requires physical skills and specialised equipment designed specifically for the task, as well as knowledge of the techniques. It is recommended that people wishing to fell trees also complete Unit 17766, Fell trees safely using a chainsaw.
2Definition
Accepted forestry industry practicerefers to documentedcodes of practice and standardised procedures accepted by the wider forestry industry as examples of best practice.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Describe personal requirements for tree-felling operations.
Evidence requirements
1.1Personal requirements for tree fallers are described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangepersonal health, training, experience, behaviours, attitude, free of impairing factors.
1.2The requirement for the availability of another person able to assist in the case of an emergency is explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
1.3Minimum requirements for personal protective clothing and equipment are described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – safety helmet, earmuffs, safety trousers or chaps, safety boots, high visibility clothing, eye protection.
1.4Felling equipment and accessories required for treefelling are identified in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – suitable saw, radio, felling aids, first aid, fuel and oil containers, maintenance tools, fire extinguisher, hydration.
Outcome 2
Demonstrate knowledge of hazards associated with treefelling.
Evidence requirements
2.1The ‘Two Tree Length Rule’ is explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
2.2Hazards which may be found in the work area are described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangenatural, physical, operational.
2.3Special precautions relating to roads, railways, and public access ways are explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
2.4Hazards which may be associated with trees to be felled are identified, and appropriate methods of managing the risk associated with those hazards, are described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeincludes but is not limited to – overhead hazards, interlocking branches and vines, hang-ups, lean.
2.5The reason for on-going hazard identification is explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
2.6Factors that may change hazards or introduce new hazards are described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeweather, terrain, hindrance, fatigue.
2.7Adverse weather conditions which would preclude treefelling are described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
2.8Tree-felling rules and their purpose are explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangecommunication, hung up and cut up trees, felling cuts, felling aids, tree driving, trimming.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of the five-step felling plan.
Evidence requirements
3.1Factors to be considered when carrying out a work site assessment are explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – hazard identification, environmental issues, general condition of trees or stand, felling direction, hindrance.
3.2Factors to be considered when carrying out an individual tree assessment are explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeground conditions, terrain type, tree lean, crown weight, overhead hazards, stem condition, wind.
3.3Factors to be considered when preparing the work area and escape route are explained in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangevisibility of tree top, location of escape route, lower branches, hindrance.
3.4Felling cuts to be used on trees over 20cm diameter are identified in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
3.5The process of, and reasons for ‘retreating and observing’ are described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Outcome 4
Demonstrate knowledge of tree-felling techniques.
Evidence requirements
4.1The purpose of the scarf in treefelling is describedin accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
4.2The conventional scarf method is describedin accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangecut sequence, direction, angle and depth of cuts.
4.3The purpose of the back-cut and back-cut step in treefelling are describedin accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
4.4The conventional back-cut method is described in terms of its depth and position in relation to the scarfin accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
4.5Hingewood is described in terms of its purpose, size, and position.
4.6The technique of positioning and using a wedge to hold the back-cut open is described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
4.7The technique of felling a tree against its lean is described in accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangesplit level cut, quarter cut.
Outcome 5
Identify tree-felling situations and techniques which require special skill and/or experience.
Evidence requirements
5.1Difficult situations which require specialised tree-felling skills are identifiedin accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
5.2Specialist techniques which may be required to deal with difficult situations in treefelling are identifiedin accordance with the accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemachine assisted falling, tree driving.
Planned review date / 31 December 2020Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 5 December 2000 / 31 December 2014
Review / 2 / 22 May 2008 / 31 December 2016
Review / 3 / 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