Lantra Awards Level 2 Certificate in Land-Based Activities (QCF)

LANTRA-AWARDS

vocational

This element equips learners with the competencies to perform as an arboricultural ground worker, focusing on supporting tree-climbing operations safely and efficiently. The role involves handling ropes, operating wood chippers and chainsaws on the ground, managing site logistics, and maintaining clear communication with the climbing team to ensure compliance with health and safety regulations.

Objectives

Exam Tips

Pitfalls

Key Terms

Mark Points

What You Need to Demonstrate

Key skills and knowledge for this topic

Award credit for correctly performing pre-use checks and safe operation of a wood chipper in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and site risk assessment.
Award credit for demonstrating effective two-way communication with the climber using agreed hand signals, radios, or other methods to coordinate lowering operations.
Award credit for selecting and tying appropriate knots (e.g., bowline, clove hitch) for securing ropes, tools, and branches during rigging and lowering tasks.
Award credit for maintaining a safe and organised work area, including proper stacking of logs and brush, and clear escape routes when felling or lowering branches.
Award credit for identifying and correctly using personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to each task, such as chainsaw trousers, helmet with visor and earmuffs, and steel-toe boots.

Marking Points

Key points examiners look for in your answers

Award credit for correctly performing pre-use checks and safe operation of a wood chipper in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and site risk assessment.
Award credit for demonstrating effective two-way communication with the climber using agreed hand signals, radios, or other methods to coordinate lowering operations.
Award credit for selecting and tying appropriate knots (e.g., bowline, clove hitch) for securing ropes, tools, and branches during rigging and lowering tasks.
Award credit for maintaining a safe and organised work area, including proper stacking of logs and brush, and clear escape routes when felling or lowering branches.
Award credit for identifying and correctly using personal protective equipment (PPE) appropriate to each task, such as chainsaw trousers, helmet with visor and earmuffs, and steel-toe boots.

Examiner Tips

Expert advice for maximising your marks

💡Always perform and document pre-operational checks on equipment (e.g., chipper, chainsaw) as part of your portfolio evidence to demonstrate thoroughness.
💡In practical assessments, narrate your actions aloud to show assessors your understanding of safety procedures and decision-making.
💡Include photographic or video evidence of you communicating with climbers and managing lowering ropes to substantiate competency claims.
💡Review emergency procedures specific to the work site and be prepared to explain them during oral questioning or scenario-based assessment.

Common Mistakes

Pitfalls to avoid in your exam answers

Failing to maintain a safe distance from overhead operations, leading to risk of being struck by falling objects.
Incorrectly feeding material into the wood chipper, causing jams or kickbacks.
Using poor knot-tying techniques that can slip or fail under load, compromising safety.
Overlooking communication protocols, leading to miscoordination with the climber (e.g., releasing a rope too early).
Neglecting to check machinery safety features or to report defects before starting work.

Key Terminology

Essential terms to know

Undertake the role of ground worker.

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Practice questions tailored to this topic

Lantra Awards Level 2 Certificate in Land-Based Activities (QCF)

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Key Terminology

Ready to test yourself?

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Arboricultural ground worker

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