SAQA All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.
SOUTH AFRICAN QUALIFICATIONS AUTHORITY 
REGISTERED UNIT STANDARD THAT HAS PASSED THE END DATE: 

Fell trees using a chainsaw and machine assistance 
SAQA US ID UNIT STANDARD TITLE
117071  Fell trees using a chainsaw and machine assistance 
ORIGINATOR
SGB Forestry 
PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QUALITY ASSURANCE FUNCTIONARY
-  
FIELD SUBFIELD
Field 01 - Agriculture and Nature Conservation Forestry and Wood Technology 
ABET BAND UNIT STANDARD TYPE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL CREDITS
Undefined  Regular  Level 3  NQF Level 03  2 
REGISTRATION STATUS REGISTRATION START DATE REGISTRATION END DATE SAQA DECISION NUMBER
Passed the End Date -
Status was "Reregistered" 		 2018-07-01  2023-06-30  SAQA 06120/18 
LAST DATE FOR ENROLMENT LAST DATE FOR ACHIEVEMENT
2024-06-30   2027-06-30  

In all of the tables in this document, both the pre-2009 NQF Level and the NQF Level is shown. In the text (purpose statements, qualification rules, etc), any references to NQF Levels are to the pre-2009 levels unless specifically stated otherwise.  

This unit standard does not replace any other unit standard and is not replaced by any other unit standard. 

PURPOSE OF THE UNIT STANDARD 
This unit is for people who fell trees using a chainsaw and machine assistance. People credited with this standard are able to:
  • Demonstrate knowledge of machine assisted tree felling.
  • Prepare for felling.
  • Fell trees using a chainsaw and machine assistance. 
    		•

    LEARNING ASSUMED TO BE IN PLACE AND RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING 
  • Demonstrate knowledge of basic safety in forestry operations
  • Maintain a chainsaw and cut felled timber using a chainsaw.
  • Fell trees with a chainsaw using the standard technique and felling levers.
  • Fell trees with a chainsaw using specialised techniques. 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD RANGE 
    Demonstration of competence will take place "on-the-job". A skidder, tractor or other winch can be used to assist in felling. 

    Specific Outcomes and Assessment Criteria: 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 1 
    Demonstrate knowledge of machine assisted tree felling. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Situations for using machine assistance are described in terms of section 10.13.1 of the Handbook. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Methods of machine assisted felling are described and demonstrated in terms of section 10.13.3 of the Handbook. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    The role of the feller as part of the team is explained in order to comply with safety standards. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 2 
    Prepare for felling. 
    OUTCOME RANGE 
    Self, other workers, equipment, general work area. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Safety requirements applicable to the operation are explained in terms of section 10.13.2 of the Handbook. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    All personal protective equipment required, is check for functionality and used in terms of company policy and legal requirements. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Equipment is checked for suitability, completeness and serviceability, and corrective action is taken, if required. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    General work area is check for hazards and corrective action taken according to standard operating procedures. 

    SPECIFIC OUTCOME 3 
    Fell trees using a chainsaw and machine assistance. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERIA     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 1 
    Trees are individually assessed and the appropriate method determined. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Direct pull and indirect pull.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 2 
    Machine and equipment are positioned for the task. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 3 
    Felling cuts are made to facilitate directional felling as circumstances dictate. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 4 
    Tree is brought to the ground in the desired felling direction with the assistance of the machine. 

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 5 
    Pre-determined signals are used during the operation to direct the skidding machine to ensure a safe and effective operation. 
    ASSESSMENT CRITERION RANGE 
    Pre-determined signals include audio and/or visual signals.
     

    ASSESSMENT CRITERION 6 
    Standard operating procedures and safe work practices are adhered to throughout the operation. 


    UNIT STANDARD ACCREDITATION AND MODERATION OPTIONS 
    Providers of learning and assessors must be accredited in terms of the requirements of the Forest Industries Education and Training Authority.
    Moderation option: The moderation requirements of the Forest Industries Education and Training Authority must be met. 

    UNIT STANDARD ESSENTIAL EMBEDDED KNOWLEDGE 
    Names and functions of:
  • Chainsaw
  • Chainsaw equipment
  • Machines
  • Personal Protective Equipment

    Attributes, descriptions, characteristics and properties of:
  • Machine assisted tree felling
  • Operational requirements for machine assisted tree felling

    Sensory cues:
  • What I see, feel hear and smell during the process

    Purpose of:
  • Machine assisted tree felling
  • The role of the feller as part of a team
  • Standard operating procedures
  • Safe work practices

    Regulations, legislation, agreements, policies, standards:
  • The Handbook referred is FESA's " Chainsaw Safety and

    Operating Handbook."
  • Standard operating procedures: "Guidelines for Forest Engineering Practices in South Africa" (FESA)
  • Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) legislation

    Theory: rules, principles, laws:
  • Individual assessment of trees
  • Directional felling
  • Desired felling direction

    Relationships, systems:
  • Fell trees with a chainsaw and machine assistance in relation to maintaining safety and productivity and safety in the workplace 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD DEVELOPMENTAL OUTCOME 
    N/A 

    UNIT STANDARD LINKAGES 
    N/A 


    Critical Cross-field Outcomes (CCFO): 

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO IDENTIFYING 
    Identify and solve problems
  • Relating to the felling of trees with a chainsaw and machine assistance 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO WORKING 
    Work effectively with others
  • When interacting with team members and colleagues during the planning, preparation and felling of trees with a chainsaw and machine assistance 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO ORGANISING 
    Organise and manage myself and my activities
  • When demonstrating knowledge of factors influencing efficiencies in felling trees
  • When managing resources and my time 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO COMMUNICATING 
    Communicate effectively
  • When safety requirements applicable to the operation are explained
  • When standard operating procedures are explained 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO SCIENCE 
    Use science and technology effectively and critically
  • When using special tools and equipment to prepare the chainsaw and equipment 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD CCFO DEMONSTRATING 
    Demonstrate an understanding of the world as a set of related systems
  • When I can explain and justify my actions and procedures followed during the felling of trees with machine assistance 
    		•

    UNIT STANDARD ASSESSOR CRITERIA 
    N/A 

    REREGISTRATION HISTORY 
    As per the SAQA Board decision/s at that time, this unit standard was Reregistered in 2012; 2015. 

    UNIT STANDARD NOTES 
    N/A 

    QUALIFICATIONS UTILISING THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
      ID QUALIFICATION TITLE PRE-2009 NQF LEVEL NQF LEVEL STATUS END DATE PRIMARY OR DELEGATED QA FUNCTIONARY
    Elective  48988   National Certificate: Forestry: Timber Harvesting  Level 3  NQF Level 03  Passed the End Date -
    Status was "Reregistered"     		 2023-06-30  FPMSETA 


    PROVIDERS CURRENTLY ACCREDITED TO OFFER THIS UNIT STANDARD: 
    This information shows the current accreditations (i.e. those not past their accreditation end dates), and is the most complete record available to SAQA as of today. Some Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionaries have a lag in their recording systems for provider accreditation, in turn leading to a lag in notifying SAQA of all the providers that they have accredited to offer qualifications and unit standards, as well as any extensions to accreditation end dates. The relevant Primary or Delegated Quality Assurance Functionary should be notified if a record appears to be missing from here.
     
    1. AFRICAN MULTISKILLS DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING 
    2. COALITION TRADING 1238 CC 
    3. ENB TRAINING SERVICEPTYLTD 
    4. Furniture World Training Centre 
    5. FUTURE DISCOVERY TRAINING ACADEMY 
    6. KWAMAHLATI TRAINING SERVICES CC 
    7. Legal Environment Safety & Health Requirements cc 
    8. LOTTENBURG EDU-FARM 
    9. NEW AFRICA SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 
    10. Phambile Skills Training (Pty) Ltd 
    11. South African Forestry Training College 
    12. TAMASA TRAINING PTY LTD 
    13. TIRHANI SKILLSTRAINING PTY LTD 
    14. UMBUSO TRAINING SERVICES 
    15. UMGANO FOUNDATION NPC 
    16. VEB CELE & ASSOCIATES PTY LTD 
    17. VPK BUSINESS VENTURE C C 


    All qualifications and part qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework are public property. Thus the only payment that can be made for them is for service and reproduction. It is illegal to sell this material for profit. If the material is reproduced or quoted, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) should be acknowledged as the source.