MIS303 – Tree Dismantling (2nd ed.) (Member Price)

1: Preparing for Tree Removal

Introduction to tree rigging and dismantling

Arriving on site

Scope of works

Preparing to remove trees – site setup

Tree removal strategies

Tree inspection for dismantling

Hazard control measures for tree dismantling

Basic rigging concepts

Parts of an aerial rigging system

Selecting and inspecting rigging equipment

Rigging equipment: general concepts and terminology 

Rigging equipment inspection checklist

Aerial rigging systems

Common components of a rigging system

Selecting anchor points in trees – tree strength and structural integrity

Fixed rope anchor points – attaching a rope

• Running bowline

• Round turn with 2 half-hitches

• Main attachment knot plus half-hitch

• Clove hitch with two half-hitches

• Cow’s hitch with better half

• Timber hitch

• Karabiner

• Karabiner and sling

• Shackle or similar connector

• Other fixed-rope attachments

Moving rope anchor points

• Natural crotch

• Block, rigging block, impact block

• Pulleys

• Rigging rings

Moving rope anchor point attachment components

• Sling, tape sling, tube tape sling

• Loopie sling

• Whoopie sling

• Dead-eye sling

• Other anchor points and attachment options

Rope brakes

• Trunk wraps

• Wraps in tree

• PortaWrap or similar floating friction brake

• Bollard, drum or similar

Rigging equipment configuration and proper use

Example of misconfigured rigging equipment

Designing a rigging system 

Rigging system design considerations

Estimating weight of sections

• Tree species density table

Introduction to forces in rigging

Different loads on components in rigging system

2: Dismantling Trees 

Performing works

Communication during tree work

Call-and-response protocol

Hand and whistle signals for use on tree sites

Using a chainsaw in trees 

Cut sequences and techniques – branches

• Straight back cut 

• Step cut – undercut made first – top cut inside

• Step cut – undercut made first – top cut outside

• Step cut – top cut made first

• Step cut – lateral cuts

• Scarf and back cut – downward

• Scarf and back cut – upward

• Box cut

Cut sequences and techniques – tree heads and timber

• Falling the head out of a tree

• Falling sections of timber

• Falling sections of timber – landing sections flat

• Cutting techniques where trunk diameter is greater than bar length

• Blocking down: step cuts on timber

Falling techniques for tree dismantling – use of wedges and taglines 

Rigging operations 

Rigging attachment point: cut and behaviour 

• Rigging upright sections

• Rigging lateral sections or branches

Rope control during rigging operations 

Rope control: rope brakes and friction management 

Installing rope brakes 

Using rope brakes: adding tension 

Rope control during rigging operations – general principles 

• Tips for using rope brakes 

Returning rigging components 

Specific rigging techniques 

Natural crotch rigging 

Applying friction at the point of cut 

Techniques for applying friction at the point of cut 

• Branch removal – wraps method 1 

• Branch removal – wraps method 2 

• Artificial rope brake at point of cut 

• Snatching – wraps at point of cut 

Snatching 

Minimising peak force in negative rigging 

• Estimating peak loads in negative rigging 

Mass damping 

Bracing a rigging point 

Floating anchors: highlines and multiple point floating anchors

Speed line or zip line 

Running anchor rigging 

• Running anchor rigging example 

Lifting systems 

Guying a tree 

3: Completing Tree Removal 

• Biosecurity and transmission of pathogens 

Completion of works