Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
OHS requirements:
are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:
personal protective equipment and clothing
safety equipment
first aid equipment
fire fighting equipment
hazard and risk control
fatigue management
elimination of hazardous materials and substances
safe forest practices including required actions relating to forest fire
manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying
Environmental requirements may include:
legislation
organisational policies and procedures
workplace practices
Legislative requirements:
are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:
award and enterprise agreements
industrial relations
Australian Standards
confidentiality and privacy
OHS
the environment
equal opportunity
anti-discrimination
relevant industry codes of practice
duty of care
Organisational requirements may include:
legal
organisational and site guidelines
policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility
quality assurance
procedural manuals
quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures
ethical standards
recording and reporting requirements
equipment use and maintenance and storage requirements
environmental management requirements (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)
Work order is to include:
instructions for the yarder operations to recover felled logs from the work site
and may include:
type
size
length
quantity
grade
instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures
environmental care requirements relevant to the work
Appropriate personnel may include:
supervisors
suppliers
clients
colleagues
managers
Logs are to include:
the finished product or trunk of a tree after trimming and cross cutting has occurred
and may be:
hardwood or softwood
for production or non-production purposes
Environmental protection measures may include:
ground growth
canopy
general forest lean
wind speed and direction
fallen trees
density of trees
ground slope
soil and water protection
ground hazards and obstacles
contingencies for modifying operations during wet or other adverse weather conditions
Equipment may include:
yarders (mobile and static, with one or more operational drums)
rigging equipment
and is to include:
procedures for equipment lock-out such as protecting operators and co-workers from accidental injury by isolating the machine
Yarder
is the crane-like vehicle which winches the logs from the felling site to the landing using a cable system
methods include:
inspecting and modifying rigging
pulling logs from the cutting area to the landing
controlling speed, braking, drums, positioning of chokers and manoeuvring of obstacles
Cable operations may include:
activities covering a full range of species, log sizes, falling and retention densities, slope
taking into consideration environmental requirements
use of cable systems including high lead (no skyline), standing skyline and a running skyline with hauling both uphill and downhill
logs attached optimising payload without exceeding the lift or haul capacity of the system
Communication may include:
verbal and non-verbal language
hand or other agreed signals
eye contact with other operators or personnel
active listening
questioning to clarify and confirm understanding
use of electronic communication devices
Landing:
is the location where the yarder is positioned to receive the logs
Outriggers
are the hydraulic feet or pads put out by the yarder to level the operating base and securely set the yarder in place
Tower
is the crane like raised tower which the cables operate from to provide height for extraction of logs.
Spars
are the out-posted erections which provide elevation for the cables some distance from the yarder tower
Line shifts
are the moving of rigging lines from one area of operation to a new area
System components may include:
ropes
blocks
chains
shackles
Maintenance may include:
regular checks of the tower and components
diagnosis and repair of damaged components
maintenance of fluid levels and air pressures
refuelling and general maintenance
Guylines
support the tower or spar and other rigged erections to provide stability and strength during operation
Blocks
are pulleys cased in a block which aid in changing the direction of a force and to increase power or speed in conjunction with running cables
Pre start-up checks
are conducted to ensure:
equipment has been set up correctly
the systems are performing accurately and operating to optimum performance
Signals may include:
whistle signals
air horns
visual signals
two-way radio
talk-e-tooter signals
other audible signals
Mechanical systems are to include:
haul speed and engine power
yarder operational temperatures and pressures
Tension
is the level of strain or pressure upon cables and ropes
Hang ups
logs which are in the process of being extracted, become entangled or snagged with other objects, usually other standing trees
Obstacles may include:
standing trees
stumps
rocks
ground projections
Rigging slinger role includes:
deciding what logs to take out first and being responsible for getting the logs to the landing without breaking them
directing the choker setter personnel in hooking up logs
transmitting signals to and from the yarder
Bridling
is the cable or chain extensions which assist with choker setting
Chasers
direct the landing of logs in conjunction with the yarder and unhook the logs at the landing site
Records and reports may include:
yarder operations
extraction methods
tree type
size
length
diameter
inspection
quality outcomes
hazards
incidents
equipment malfunctions
and may be:
manual
using a computer-based system or another appropriate organisational communication system

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently perform yarder operations to recover felled logs within organisational requirements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:
following applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to yarder operations
following organisational policies and procedures relevant to yarder operations
conducting yarder operations to recover felled logs in line with the work order and within prescribed organisational tolerances
setting up a yarder in line with site conditions
assisting in shifting lines in line with the hook tender's instructions
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
The following resources should be made available:
workplace location or simulated workplace
materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit
specifications and work instructions
Method of assessment
Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package
Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge
Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills
Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge
Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances
Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role