Manual Felling Behavioural Audit

• Site conducted

  Select

• Crew

• Conducted on

  Date

• Observer

• Faller

• Location
  Address

COMPETENCY

• A = Holds Unit 17765 or 17766

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• B = Faller is working under documented supervision

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• C = Machine assist – Holds units 24569 & 24570 or Unit 1255

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• D = Working in wind-throw – Holds units 19765 & or 1270

  ✓

  X

  N/A

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT

• Hi-Vis Clothing, Helmet, Boots, Chaps, Muffs (grade 5 & hygiene kit) eyewear meets standards & in good condition

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Minimum of 4 wedges & suitable driving tool

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• First Aid kit on belt & contains 2x large wound dressing

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• All safety devices on saw-mitt, chain break, throttle lock, chain catcher peg, effective mounts, spark arrester, chain sharpened correctly & in good working condition

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Effective radio in suitable position on fallers body

  ✓

  X

  N/A

PRE – START CHECKS

• Ensures all required felling signs/road control is in place

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Checks area for all know hazards and any other hazard

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Knows and checks position of other workers

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Selects most practical spot to open up setting

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Ensures that a 2 tree length distance away from ropes, machines & other workers is in place

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Daily written felling plan with mean tree height is available & current

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• There is a predetermined written process to cease felling due to any changes in weather conditions eg strong wind - stop

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Does the faller comply with the 5 step felling process<br>A Site Assessment<br>B Individual tree assessment<br>C Preparation of the work area & escape route<br>D Fell trees using safe techniques<br>E Retreat & Observe

  ✓

  X

  N/A

2 TREE LENGTH RULE

• Faller knows the mean tree height

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Knowing the mean tree height – can the faller demonstrate the distance of the 2 tree lengths on the ground

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Is the 2 tree length distance clear of working ropes, mobile plant without protective structures, live power lines, any person operating a chainsaw, other operators as well as any road, railway line or public access

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Can the faller explain his role in the process put in place in the daily plan to control the 2 tree length area (eg: Mark the area, regularly check area with a range finder or other means, put up any required signage, stop felling until any breaches of the area are dealt with) If in doubt does he contact a competent person for assistance

  ✓

  X

  N/A

STUMP CHECK

• Use attached stump check form & check at least 10 stumps

  ✓

  X

  N/A

SELECTS & PREPARES TREE(S)

• Where practical: Eliminate hazards eg: dead spars/large punga etc

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Clears vegetation around base of trees so top can be seen

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Clears around tree and cuts sufficient escape route

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Escape route on safest side

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Assesses tree for lean, wind direction and any hazards

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Where practical: Plans to fell trees to aid extraction process

  ✓

  X

  N/A

CORRECT POSITION TO SCARF

• Uses good body position

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Where practical: Felling cuts are made in kneeling position

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Scarf cut is made to correct angles & diameters

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Check for any over cuts & rectifies

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Wing cuts are correct angle & depth

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Re-check felling direction

  ✓

  X

  N/A

EXECUTES BACK CUT

• Uses correct cuts for all situations he encounters

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Inserts wedge(s) in correct position before cut closes

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Strikes wedges correctly – soft blows to start with

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Observes top of tree during wedging

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Final back-cut always made from safest side

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Maintains sufficient holding wood

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Does not chase trees of the stump, has correct holding wood

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Wedges used for any trees leaning back and/or in windy conditions

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Re-Check canopy of any hazards

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Uses escape route & retreats far enough away from stump

  ✓

  X

  N/A

TREE DRIVING

• Correct assessment of driver tree

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Pre-plans & Prepares both or all 3 trees

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Notifies agrees contact person that he is doing a tree drive

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Contact person has recorded the drive notification

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Leaves adequate holding wood

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Uses Observer – Where necessary

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Watches tree(s) while walking back to driver

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Notifies contact person drive completed, or requests an observer to assist in rectifying the problem before proceeding further

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• If NO observer available the faller must stop work until an observer is present and a plan is constructed & agreed between the faller & observer

  ✓

  X

  N/A

WIND-THROW CUTTING

• REFER to top of Page 1: D – Assess Hazards

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Has a wind throw specific plan

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Assesses tension of stem/direction of root ball fall before cutting – cuts from safe side

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Escape routes cut cleanly

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Uses correct cuts / cuts right through

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Not working under hang-ups

  ✓

  X

  N/A

MACHINE ASSISSTED TREE FELLING

• Competency: REFER to top of Page 1: C – Does the person in charge have a reliable method of ensuring that the machine assisted felling operation is safely conducted. Eg: Planned with faller & machine operators

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• What process is followed to ensure the mobile plant has sufficient capacity & traction for the job

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Does the faller avoid working under any mobile machinery

  ✓

  X

  N/A

HAZARD ID & CONTROLS

• Faller to identify 2 hazards recorded at the daily toolbox meeting & the controls put in place to manage those hazards

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Is faller aware of the 7 key causes of harm & can he explain them:<br>A Working too close (within 2 tree lengths)<br>B Poor felling techniques<br>C Broken limbs of tops<br>D Hung-up trees<br>E Butt movement/rebound<br>F Felling dead trees<br>G Faller struck from behind

  ✓

  X

  N/A

FALLER CALL-UP’S

• Faller to explain the process for communication back to the designated person & who records this

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Faller Call-In times are documented by contact person & records show call in periods

  ✓

  X

  N/A

FATIGUE MANAGEMENT

• Faller to explain/demonstrate how he manages workplace fatigue, IE: break intervals, food & fluids, uses an observer or works with another faller, looks for signs of fatigue, eg: self-audits stumps & work method

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Faller has sufficient healthy food & fluids available on the felling face given the weather conditions. Do fluids include chilled water & isotonic drinks? Has sufficient healthy food

  ✓

  X

  N/A

• Faller to explain & demonstrate how he recognises stress as a contributing factor to fatigue & how he is managing stress. Stress could come from a number of factors; eg: Production Pressure, Terrain, Hazards, Work-place dissatisfaction or home problems etc

  ✓

  X

  N/A

MANUAL FELLING

• Stump Height:

• Scarf Size:

• Over Cut Scarf:

• Over Cut Hinge:

• Over 20cm Scarfed:

• Correct Hingewood:

• Wing Cuts:

• Back-Cut Height:

• Draw Wood:

• Correct Back-Cut Type:

MACHINE ASSISTED FELLING OR MECHANISED FELLING

• Stump Height

• Slabbing/Damange

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• General Comments

• Observer

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