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About

Utility arboriculture is a highly skilled and dangerous profession.

Our qualification will help you to demonstrate that you have what it takes to work in this hazardous environment.

You can take modules covering working on the ground, from a rope and harness or from a MEWP.

The finer details

This is a regulated qualification designed to demonstrate your understanding of the tools and techniques required to safely carry out vegetation management in the vicinity of overhead lines.

The three pathways are designed to reflect the different roles in Utility Arboriculture allowing you to tailor the qualification to your needs by choosing the areas that apply to your role. 

Owing to the practical nature of the work the assessment will be mostly practical with additional verbal questioning.

Utility Arboriculture is highly skilled and demanding work, before undertaking this assessment you should have undertaken extensive training, Lantra also offer the Utility Arboriculture Arboricultural Activities training course which has been designed to give you all of the knowledge that you need to successfully pass this assessment.

 

Delivery method

Theory/practical

Course description:

Level 3 Award in Utility Arboriculture - Arboricultural Activities (Pruning From a MEWP) Download PDF

Who should attend?

This qualification is aimed at those who wish to develop and advance their career in the utility sector of the Arboriculture industry.

As you’ll appreciate, this course contains some practical activity that will require a minimum level of fitness. If you have any concerns, please speak to the provider.

What will be covered?

The two mandatory units will cover:

  • Understand how to confirm preliminary site arrangements.
  • Be able to undertake a site-specific risk assessment
  • Be able to categorise trees adjacent to overhead power lines.
  • Understand the safe working procedures when using insulated rods.
  • Understand how to inspect, maintain, use and store insulated rods and associated tools.
  • Be able to safely use insulated rods and pruning equipment in close proximity to electrical apparatus.
  • Understand environmental and arboriculture good practice.
  • Understand different pruning methods undertaken near overhead lines.
  • Understand the significance of botanical nomenclature.
  • Be able to identify broadleaf tree species.
  • Be able to identify coniferous tree species.
  • Be able to identify a range of shrubs.
  • Understand the significance of the differing characteristics of species in relation to overhead line clearance.
  • Understand hazards associated with climbing plants.
  • Understand hazards and defects related to trees.
  • Understand ill health in trees.
  • Be able to identify decay fungi and its significance.

Pathway 1 will also include:

  • Understand the requirements of health and safety legislation, guidance and industry good practice relating to tree felling operations in proximity to overhead powerlines.
  • Be able to undertake a site-specific risk assessment.
  • Understand the safe working procedures for each category of tree.
  • Be able to perform a pre-work inspection.
  • Understand the application of equipment for tree felling operations.
  • Understand need for accurate felling direction and importance of using appropriate techniques.
  • Be able to set up an assisted fell system.
  • Be able to perform an assisted fell.

Pathway 2 will include the mandatory units and unit from pathway 1 as well as:

  • Be able to promote health and safety and industry good practice.
  • Be able to carry out aerial pruning of a tree.
  • Understand relevant health and safety legislation and industry good practice.
  • Understand how to carry out aerial pruning of a tree.
  • Be able to undertake the preparation for work activities in proximity to overhead powerlines. 
  • Be able to understand the requirements of live and dead working on a work site.
  • Be able to communicate appropriately with ground staff.
  • Understand the specific requirements to be observed when carrying out aerial pruning in proximity to overhead powerlines.
  • Be able to carry out aerial tree pruning adjacent to powerlines.

Pathway three will include the two mandatory units the unit from pathway one and:

  • Be able to undertake the preparation for work activities in proximity to overhead powerlines. 
  • Be able to understand the requirements of live and dead working on a work site.
  • Be able to communicate appropriately with ground staff.
  • Understand the specific requirements to be observed when carrying out aerial pruning in proximity to overhead powerlines.
  • Be able to carry out aerial tree pruning adjacent to powerlines.
  • Be able to undertake the preparation for work activities in proximity to overhead powerlines.
  • Be able to carry out aerial tree pruning from a MEWP adjacent to powerlines.
  • Be able to understand the factors affecting the use of MEWPs in proximity to overhead powerlines.
  • Understand how to deal with emergency situations affecting operators working with a MEWP.

Other areas of interest

In addition, those undertaking the aerial pruning from a rope and harness pathway must have completed:

  • Level 2 Award in Accessing a Tree Using a Rope and Harness
  • Level 3 Award in Aerial Tree Rescue Operations.

Those learners undertaking the aerial pruning from an MEWP pathway must hold the appropriate and current license to practice for the MEWP type being operated.

Where a chainsaw is to be used in the assessment, the learner must hold the appropriate and current license to practice i.e. Level 3 Award in Aerial Cutting of Trees with a Chainsaw Using Free-Fall Techniques or Level 3 Award in Use of a Chainsaw from a Mobile Elevated Work Platform (MEWP).

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