MANUAL FALLER INSPECTION Tasmania - NEW June 2024

• Audit Date

  Date

• Delegates Name

• Fallers Name

• Coupe Induction

  Yes

  No

• Contractor

• Signed onto FOS Plan

  Yes

  No

• Licence No.

• Licence expiry

  Date

• Take a photo

• Licence Category

  Advanced

  Intermediate

• Employment Status

  Wages

  Contract

  Other

• Normal hrs work/day

• Normal Travel time/day

• Coupe name and number

• Type of Bush

• Felling Prescriptions

  Clear fell

  Select

  Thinning

• Approved helmet

  Yes

  No

• Eye protection

  Yes

  No

• Hearing protection

  Yes

  No

• Leg protection

  Yes

  No

• Boots (high ankle & lace up)

  Yes

  No

• Hi vis clothing

  Yes

  No

• UHF hand held radio

  Yes

  No

• Bandage No: 15

  Yes

  No

Tools

• Chainsaw (with all safety features)

  Yes

  No

• Chainsaw Type

• Comments

• Axe (not tomahawk)

  Yes

  No

• Wedges

  Yes

  No

• Wedge Type

• Wedge Condition

  Good

  Damaged

  Poor

• Wedge Numbers

• First aid kit available

  Yes

  No

• Approved fuel container

  Yes

  No

• If No is identified above refer to question 7 in the Guidelines

• 7. The inspection must cease, if in the opinion of the delegate, the fallers actions put themselves or co-workers at risk of injury, or likely to damage equipment, materials or product. The PCBU and person in charge must be notified immediately. 8. The delegate is to observe 6 (six) trees being felled plus a minimum of 6 (six) other stumps on site are to be inspected, indicate whether the fallers performance is Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (NS). If the faller is judged to be Not Satisfactory clearly indicate the reasons why and identify any improvements that are required and inform the principal and or PCBU. 9. In addition, when unacceptable falling practices have been identified the delegate and the faller are to inspect 18 (eighteen) recent stumps that are the work of this faller, take photos and comment on each stump and indicate if corrective actions are necessary.

Tree 1

• S = Satisfactory NS = Not Satisfactory If NS is identified refer to question 7 in the Guidelines. * Those questions that have been identified with an * may not require the operation to cease (as per question 7 in the Guidelines).

• 1. Are Hazardous Trees identified & dealt with appropriately?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• Comment:

• 2. Does the Faller have a plan?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 3. Did the faller accurately assess the tree? eg: lean, fall path, hazards

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 4. Did the faller clear around the tree and prepare acceptable escape routes?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 5. Where the scarf cuts acceptable?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 6. Was the back cut acceptable?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 7. Was sufficient hinge wood appropriate?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 8. Are wedging procedures safe and effective?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 9. Did the faller finish the back cut from the safe side of the tree?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 10. Did the faller use escape route and move away >3m away from the stump as the tree was falling?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 10a. Did the faller check for hazards before returning to the stump?

  S

  NS

• 11. Did the tree fell in the intended direction of fall?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• * 12. Was trimming acceptable?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• * 13. Did the faller maximise product recovery and care?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• * 14. Was the stump height acceptable?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 15. Are separation distances maintained?

  Select S NS

  • S
  • NS

• 16. Did faller communicate their location and activity to others on site?

  S

  NS

• Comment

• Please make comment on the tree felling practices during the day and any corrective actions taken.

• A minimum of 6 stumps are required unless problems have been identified. When unacceptable falling practices have been identified 18 stumps are required. Consider issues such as front cut, back cut, hinge wood, direction of fall, hanging limbs in retained trees.

Stump #1

• Is stump satisfactory

  Select Satisfactory Insufficient hinge wood Back cut too low Insufficient depth of scarf +10% tree diameter

  • Satisfactory
  • Insufficient hinge wood
  • Back cut too low
  • Insufficient depth of scarf +10% tree diameter

• Delegates Comments:

• Delegates Name

• Signature

  Sign

• Faller's Name

• Signature

  Sign

• I agree with the inspection

• I disagree with the inspection

• Reason for disagreement if applicable

• Corrective actions taken/recommended:

• Has the Principal and or Person in Charge been notified of any unacceptable behaviour?

  Yes

  No

  N/A

• Manual Faller Inspection Guideline and Template
  This document MUST be used for:
  • part of regular workplace inspection process
  • when the PCPU starts a new faller
  • when the faller commences tree falling following a period of three months or more of not carrying out tree
  falling
  • when unacceptable falling practices have been identified
  Specific requirements
  1. The faller must be onsite during the inspection and the inspection process Must be explained to the faller and the
  person in charge prior to commencing.
  2. The person carrying out the inspection is the delegate; they must hold a tree falling licence. If they don’t hold a
  current licence, they must be experienced in tree falling or hold an accredited statement of attainment.
  3. The delegate must ensure all health, safety and environment practices are followed and that any site-specific
  requirements are met (refer to the onsite FOS plan).
  4. Faller Must use all required PPE and observe safety procedures, equipment must be safe, well maintained and
  meet current Australian Standards.
  5. The inspection is to be conducted in the workplace under normal operating conditions.
  6. Evidence must be gathered through questioning to check underpinning knowledge and direct observation. A
  photo must be taken of every stump and any proceeding factors in relation to the felling of a tree that is part of the
  inspection.
  7. The inspection must cease if, in the opinion of the delegate, the fallers actions put themselves or co-workers at
  risk of injury, or likely to damage equipment, materials or products. The PCBU and person in charge must be
  notified immediately.
  8. The delegate is to observe 6 (six) trees being felled plus a minimum of 6 (six) other stumps on site are to be
  inspected, indicate whether the fallers performance is Satisfactory (S) or Not Satisfactory (NS). If the Faller is
  judged to be Not Satisfactory clearly indicate the reasons why and identify any improvements that are required
  and inform the principal and or PCBU.
  9. In addition, when unacceptable falling practices have been identified the delegate and the faller are to inspect 18
  (eighteen) recent stumps that are the work of this faller, take photos and comment on each stump and indicate if
  corrective actions are necessary.
  10. All stumps involved in the process are to be marked by paint with a number and the area highlighted on a coupe
  map and attached to the inspection.
  11. The delegate and faller are to sign the report. The faller is to indicate if he/she agrees or disagrees with the results
  of the inspection.
  12. Falling audits are to be carried out at least quarterly (3 monthly) and photos and evidence must be provided for
  each tree & stump being assessed.
  13. The Forest Manager must engage an independent person to perform an audit on each faller once every 12
  months.
  14. When a faller is actively working on a site, the stumps and falling practices should be checked daily, by the bush
  boss/person in charge, if the quality has dropped an audit should be triggered.
  15. An Inspection is not site or contractor specific it is for every faller that has fallen for that period.