Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 4:32 PM AWST
22/07/2026 4:32 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Operate a mobile chipper/mulcher
Operate a mobile chipper/mulcher
Unit of competency
National Code
FPIHAR2206B
FPIHAR2206B
State Code
D6027
D6027
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
14/08/2014
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
14/08/2014
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit describes the outcomes required to operate a mobile chipping/mulching unit to clean up after felling operations and chip excess branches and timber refuseGeneral workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publicationThis unit replaces FPIHAR2206A Operate a mobile chipper/mulcher
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for mobile chipping/mulching
- 1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to operating a mobile chipper/mulcher are identified and followed
- 1.2. Work order is reviewed and checked with appropriate personnel
- 1.3. Type and quantity of timber refuse to be chipped/mulched are identified and assessed for safe working conditions
- 1.4. Timber refuse assessed as not suitable for chipping/mulching is set aside for recycling or re-use in line with site procedures
- 1.5. Equipment is selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations
- 1.6. Chipping/mulching activities are planned in line with site procedures, environmental requirements
- 1.7. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements
2. Chip/mulch timber
- 2.1. Chipping/mulching unit is positioned, secured and set up in line with manufacturer's specifications
- 2.2. Pre start-up checks are carried out on equipment in line with site requirements
- 2.3. Timber refuse is fed into the chipper/mulcher at a rate applicable to the capacity of the machinery in line with applicable safe handling techniques
- 2.4. Timber refuse is chipped to the chip sizes set on the chipping unit and in line with the work order
- 2.5. Chipping/mulching processes and equipment faults are recorded and reported to the appropriate personnel
3. Conduct operator maintenance
- 3.1. Equipment lock-out procedures are followed in line with OHS legislation and site procedures
- 3.2. Chipper/mulcher is checked for blunt or damaged condition
- 3.3. Components are removed, maintained, adjusted and replaced in line with manufacturer's recommendations
- 3.4. Chipper/mulcher set-up is assessed and adjusted to suit chipping conditions
- 3.5. Chipper/mulcher is kept clear of foreign matter and checked to ensure it meets relevant standards prior to use
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 chipping/mulching and despatch of chipped/mulched timber refuse from the work site
and may include:
type
size
length
quantity
grade
and may also include:
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
Timber refuse may include:
branches
tree heads
bark
other timber waste
Chipping/mulching
is the process of converting timber refuse into varying chip sizes using mechanised chipping/mulching units
Equipment may include:
mobile chipping/mulching units
specific safety attire
maintenance tools and equipment
and is to include procedures for equipment lock-out, such as protecting operators and co-workers from accidental injury by isolating the machine
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
Chipping/mulching unit may include:
a truck mounted chipping/mulching unit or trailer mounted chipping/mulching unit feeding into a truck or other form of transportation
and is usually petrol driven, with high powered spinning cutters which shred timber refuse into chips/mulch
Pre start-up checks
are conducted to ensure:
equipment has been set-up correctly
systems are performing accurately and operating to optimum performance
Capacity may include:
the capacity of the machinery to cope with certain size diameters of branch
the speed by which waste is fed into the chipper/mulcher
Chip sizes
may vary in size, dependent on the customer or work order and the capability of the chipper/mulcher to set chip sizes
Records and reports may include:
timber type
size
outcomes
storage locations
quality outcomes
hazards
incidents
equipment malfunctions
and may be compiled manually or by using a computer-based system or another appropriate organisational communication system
Foreign matter may include:
contamination of chip
stones
rocks
metal
other foreign matter which may blunt the cutters or affect operation of the chipper/mulcher
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 chipping/mulching and despatch of chipped/mulched timber refuse from the work site
and may include:
type
size
length
quantity
grade
and may also include:
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
Timber refuse may include:
branches
tree heads
bark
other timber waste
Chipping/mulching
is the process of converting timber refuse into varying chip sizes using mechanised chipping/mulching units
Equipment may include:
mobile chipping/mulching units
specific safety attire
maintenance tools and equipment
and is to include procedures for equipment lock-out, such as protecting operators and co-workers from accidental injury by isolating the machine
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
Chipping/mulching unit may include:
a truck mounted chipping/mulching unit or trailer mounted chipping/mulching unit feeding into a truck or other form of transportation
and is usually petrol driven, with high powered spinning cutters which shred timber refuse into chips/mulch
Pre start-up checks
are conducted to ensure:
equipment has been set-up correctly
systems are performing accurately and operating to optimum performance
Capacity may include:
the capacity of the machinery to cope with certain size diameters of branch
the speed by which waste is fed into the chipper/mulcher
Chip sizes
may vary in size, dependent on the customer or work order and the capability of the chipper/mulcher to set chip sizes
Records and reports may include:
timber type
size
outcomes
storage locations
quality outcomes
hazards
incidents
equipment malfunctions
and may be compiled manually or by using a computer-based system or another appropriate organisational communication system
Foreign matter may include:
contamination of chip
stones
rocks
metal
other foreign matter which may blunt the cutters or affect operation of the chipper/mulcher
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 operate a mobile chipper/mulcher 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 operating a mobile chipper/mulcher
following organisational policies and procedures relevant to operating a mobile chipper/mulcher
operating a mobile chipper/mulcher in line with the work order and within prescribed organisational tolerances
conducting operator maintenance on a mobile chipping unit
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
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 operate a mobile chipper/mulcher 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 operating a mobile chipper/mulcher
following organisational policies and procedures relevant to operating a mobile chipper/mulcher
operating a mobile chipper/mulcher in line with the work order and within prescribed organisational tolerances
conducting operator maintenance on a mobile chipping unit
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
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4697 | FPIHAR2206A | Operate a mobile chipper/mulcher | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXK40 | FWPHAR2206 | Operate a mobile chipper/mulcher | Unit of competency |
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