Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of preparing non-fleece wool to comply with the requirements of the industry code of practice and defines the standard required to: prepare skirtings, belly wool, lambs wool, locks, crutchings, stain and other oddments; place skirtings and oddments into butts or bins according to the wool classer's directions.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to shed hands and wool classers and is performed within a defined range of contexts in which the choice of actions required is usually clear, and there is some discretion in the range of options to be applied. It requires a speed and accuracy of work to maintain clip quality and work flow.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare skirtings

1.1. Identify types of skirtings and oddments.

1.2. Identify types of pieces and separate according to enterprise requirements, industry code of practice and quality procedures.

1.3. Prepare Merino skirtings in accordance with wool classer's directions.

1.4. Prepare Crossbred skirtings in accordance with wool classer's directions.

2. Prepare belly wool

2.1. Identify belly wool.

2.2. Separate belly wool according to enterprise requirements, code of practice and quality procedures.

2.3. Remove stains and briskets in accordance with wool classer's directions.

2.4. Prepare Crossbred and Merino belly wool in accordance with wool classer's directions.

3. Prepare lambs wool

3.1. Identify types of lambs' wool.

3.2. Separate lambs' wool according to enterprise requirements, code of practice and quality procedures.

3.3. Remove stains and trimmings in accordance with wool classer's directions.

3.4. Prepare Merino lambs wool in accordance with wool classer's directions.

3.5. Prepare Crossbred lambs wool in accordance with wool classer's directions.

4. Prepare locks

4.1. Identify types of locks.

4.2. Separate board and table locks in accordance with wool classer's directions.

4.3. Prepare Crossbred and Merino locks in accordance with wool classer's directions.

5. Prepare crutchings

5.1. Identify types of crutchings.

5.2. Remove stains and other impurities in accordance with wool classer's directions.

5.3. Prepare Merino and Crossbred crutchings in accordance with wool classer's directions.

6. Prepare stain

6.1. Identify types of stain.

6.2. Prepare Merino and Crossbred stain in accordance with wool classer's directions.

7. Prepare other oddments

7.1. Define and identify other oddments.

7.2. Describe the preparation of other oddments.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• accurately skirt fleeces at commercial rates
• skirt and roll fleeces safely
• interpret verbal and visual signals within the wool shed given by the supervisor, the wool classers and the shearers
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• principles and requirements of wool processing
• principles of wool growth
• identification of fleece parts, skirtings, locks, crutchings, and stains
• recognition of contamination
• recognition of wool faults
• identification of impurities
• identification of stain
• identification of oddments
• methods of handling fleece that minimise risk to own health, including safe lifting and bending techniques
• requirements of the industry code of practice for preparation of skirtings and oddments
• Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) legislative and enterprise requirements.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• prepare skirtings, belly wool, lambs wool, locks, crutchings, stain and other oddments
• place skirtings and oddments into butts or bins according to the wool classer's directions.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Skirtings and oddments wools may include:

• the preparation of merino and crossbred clips to the standards set out in the industry code of practice.

Unit sector 

Wool

Co-requisite units 

Competency field