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Title / Prune plantation trees from the ground
Level / 3 / Credits / 10
Purpose / This unit standard is intended for people employed in a pruning role in a forestry operation.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: maintain equipment used for pruning plantation trees from the ground; prepare for pruning plantation trees from the ground; demonstrate knowledge of pruning quality; and prune plantation trees from the ground in accordance with the job prescription.
Classification / Forestry > Forest Silvicultural Operations
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1This unit standard must be assessed against on-job.
2Definitions
Accepted forestry industry practicerefers to documented codes of practice and standardised procedures accepted by the wider forestry industry as examples of best practice.
Job prescriptionrefers to any written instructions for the operation and may include maps, harvest plans or cut plans.
Forestry operations include land preparation, planting, releasing, pruning, and thinning to waste.
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
Maintain equipment used for pruning plantation trees from the ground.
Evidence requirements
1.1Items of equipment are maintained in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemay include – pruners or loppers, jacksaw, pouch, steps, gauge, epicormic remover.
1.2Spare parts and maintenance tools are checked and available to enable equipment maintenance.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – bolts, nuts, cutting jaws, saw blades, spanners, screwdriver, sharpening files or stones;
evidence of six is required.
1.3First aid requirements are checked and available in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Outcome 2
Prepare for pruning plantation trees from the ground.
Evidence requirements
2.1PPE is maintained and worn in accordance with worksite procedures.
2.2Hazards associated with pruning trees and a method of control for each is explained in accordance with worksite procedures and accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangehazards may include but are not limited to – cuts, trips, falls, hit by branch, hyperthermia, hypothermia, dehydration, stand/block hazards, working at heights, use of tools, slash, other workers, surrounding vegetation, terrain, ground conditions, weather conditions;
evidence of six hazards is required.
2.3The reason for on-going hazard identification is explained in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
2.4Factors that may change hazards or introduce new hazards are described in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeweather, terrain, hindrance, fatigue.
Outcome 3
Demonstrate knowledge of pruning quality.
Evidence requirements
3.1Processes for maintaining standards of quality within a pruning operation are described in accordance with worksite procedures and accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – plotting, supervision.
3.2The importance of regular quality control procedures as a management tool within a pruning operation is explained in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
3.3Effects of pruning too many stems are described in accordance withaccepted forestry industry practice.
Rangeoperational costs, job efficiency, influence on future operations.
3.4Effects of incorrect heights (over-prune, under-prune) are explained in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
Rangegrowth, mortality, production rate, tree stress, payment, reworks, infection risk.
Outcome 4
Prune plantation trees from the ground in accordance with the job prescription.
Evidence requirements
4.1Job prescription is used to establish specific job requirements.
Rangeproduction, quality, health and safety, environmental.
4.2Work practice is safe in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
4.3Work method is ergonomically efficient in accordance withaccepted forestry industry practice.
Rangebody position, efficient movements, correct pruning techniques, minimal work above head, minimal overreaching, warm up or stretching, equipment well maintained and appropriate for use, safe entry to tree, systematic method, two handed use is maximised, cutting tools carried safely in a pouch when not in use.
4.4Branches and epicormics are removed flush from the stem with minimal scarring in accordance with accepted forestry industry practice.
4.5Key features of the block and boundaries are identified in accordance with the job prescription.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – block boundaries, access points, exit points, gullies, streams, roads, environmentally or culturally sensitive sites;
evidence of six is required.
4.6Pruning work is assessed for quality and under-pruning is rectified in accordance with worksite procedures.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – stem damage, stocking, spacing, pruned height, pruned to gauged diameter, form pruning, remaining green crown, requirements met;
evidence of six is required.
4.7Output meets predetermined production and quality requirements.
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 2012
Revision / 6 / 16 July 2010 / 31 December 2013
Revision / 7 / 15 September 2011 / 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 if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018