Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit specifies the outcomes required to undertake the manufacturing processes required to prepare and manufacture components for the assembly of straight flighted stairs.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports the achievement of skills and knowledge to manufacture stair components for straight flighted stairs, which may include working with others and as a member of a team.

Prerequisite units 

CPCCOHS2001A

Apply OHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan and prepare.

1.1. Work instructions and operational details are obtained using relevant information , confirmed and applied for planning and preparation  purposes.

1.2. Safety  (OHS ) requirements are followed in accordance with safety plans and policies.

1.3. Signage and barricade requirements are identified and implemented.

1.4. Tools and equipment  selected to carry out tasks are consistent with job requirements, checked for serviceability and any faults are rectified or reported prior to commencement.

1.5. Material quantity requirements are calculated in accordance with plans, specifications and quality requirements .

1.6. Materials  appropriate to the work application are identified, obtained, prepared, safely handled and located ready for use.

1.7. Environmental requirements  are identified for the project in accordance with environmental plans and statutory and regulatory authority  requirements, and are applied.

2. Prepare strings for assembly.

2.1. Strings are set out for treads and risers with nosing marked accurately, housings cut and waste removed accurately to set-out and depth.

2.2. Grooves or mortises to receive balusters are run/carried out to set-out requirements.

2.3. Open strings are cut to set-out shape for treads and risers and ends of strings are cut to set-out requirements for junction with newels/landing or are left long for on-site fitting with string marked for identification where applicable.

3. Prepare post for spiral stair.

3.1. Post is manufactured and/or dressed to designed shape and set-out to designed requirements of stair .

3.2. Housings are cut and made accurately to set-out and required depth.

4. Prepare newels for assembly.

4.1. Housings are cut and made accurately to newel set-out and required depth.

4.2. Mortises are cut and made accurately to set-out and required depth and newels are marked for identification, where applicable.

5. Cut treads, risers and wedges to length and shape.

5.1. Treads are cut to designed length and shape.

5.2. Risers are cut to designed length and requirement for junction with strings and wedges marked to design and cut to shape and quantity.

6. Prepare balustrade components.

6.1. Handrail is manufactured to shape with groove run for balusters where applicable, with mortises in handrail for balusters made accurately to set-out.

6.2. Balusters are accurately cut to designed length.

6.3. Handrail is cut to length and sections marked for identification, where applicable.

7. Finish surface and preassemble stair.

7.1. Exposed surfaces of components are sanded to specification for finish and component parts are checked to ensure fit to specification.

7.2. Components are preassembled to ensure stair will assemble appropriately.

8. Clean up.

8.1. Materials are stacked and/or stored for transportation.

8.2. Work area is cleared and waste material disposed of safely.

8.3. Tools and equipment are cleaned, maintained and stored.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

Required skills for this unit are:

• ability to recognise procedures, respond to change and contribute to workplace responsibilities, such as current work site environmental or sustainability frameworks or management systems
• communication skills to:

• enable clear and direct communication, using questioning to identify and confirm requirements, share information, listen and understand
• follow instructions
• read and interpret drawings and specifications
• use and interpret non-verbal communication
• use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences

• innovation skills to select appropriate tools and equipment, respond to workplace challenges and put ideas into action
• numeracy skills to apply measurements and calculations
• planning and organisational skills to identify requirements, apply relevant resources and sequence tasks
• problem solving skills to recognise and take action to rectify minor faults and problems
• teamwork skills to be able to work with others to action tasks and relate to people from a range of cultural, social, ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge for this unit is:

• basic stair design
• Building Code of Australia (BCA) requirements relevant to stair building and installation
• commonly used stair construction and joining methods
• interpretation of drawings and specifications
• job safety analysis (JSA) and safe work method statements
• materials identification marking systems
• measuring and setting out processes relevant to stair construction
• organisation's quality assurance requirements
• types and characteristics of adhesives, fixings and fasteners related to stair construction
• types and characteristics of stairs
• types and uses of static machines
• types of materials and their characteristics related to stair construction
• workplace and equipment safety 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 

This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

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

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to produce components for one cut and one closed string stair, providing evidence of the ability to:

• comply with OHS regulations applicable to workplace operations
• apply organisational quality procedures and processes within context of manufacturing components for stairs
• identify design of stair and details of component composition and design
• identify methods of manufacturing, setting out techniques and material required
• select and use appropriate processes, tools and equipment to construct and manufacture components
• select appropriate material and safe and effective procedures to use machines and prepare material to initial requirements
• adopt appropriate and efficient procedures to construct strings to designed requirements
• use correct procedures in setting out and using machines, power tools and hand tools to mould and manufacture components to designed shape
• safely and efficiently prepare all components for assembly
• appropriately check all component connections to ensure joints will fit in assembly
• adopt safe and effective handling procedures for movement and placement of material and components
• identify typical faults and problems that occur and action required to rectify them
• communicate with others to ensure safe and efficient workshop operations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

• workshop location and appropriate workspace
• static machines appropriate for activity
• set-out material and components prepared for manufacturing processes
• tools and equipment appropriate for activity
• drawings and documentation relevant to design.

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.

Method of assessment 

Assessment methods must:

• satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
• include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
• reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
• confirm a reasonable inference that competency is not only verified under the particular assessment circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

• competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and practical requirements of the workplace
• where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
• all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.

Assessment processes and techniques should, as far as is practical, take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Information  includes:

• diagrams or sketches
• instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel
• manufacturer specifications and instructions, where specified
• material safety data sheets (MSDS)
• memos
• regulatory and legislative requirements pertaining to manufacturing stair components
• relevant Australian standards
• safe work procedures relating to manufacturing stair components
• signage
• verbal, written and graphical instructions
• work bulletins
• work schedules, plans and specifications.

Planning and preparation  include:

• assessment of conditions and hazards
• determination of work requirements and safety plans and policies
• equipment defect identification
• work site inspection.

Safety  (OHS ) is to be in accordance with state and territory legislation and regulations and project safety plan and may include:

• emergency procedures, including extinguishing fires, organisational first aid requirements and evacuation
• hazard control
• hazardous materials and substances
• organisational first aid
• PPE prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices
• safe operating procedures, including the conduct of operational risk assessment and treatments associated with:

• concealed services (water, power and gas)
• lighting
• restricted access barriers
• traffic control
• work site visitors and the public
• working at heights
• working in confined spaces
• working in proximity to others

• use of firefighting equipment
• use of static machines
• use of tools and equipment
• workplace environmental requirements and safety.

Tools and equipment  include:

• chisels
• clamps
• hammers
• hand saws
• jig saws
• measuring tapes and rules
• power drills
• power saws
• routers
• saw stools
• spirit levels
• squares
• work bench.

Quality requirements  include:

• attention to machining processes
• control of handling procedures
• quality of materials
• relevant regulations, including:

• AS1473 Guarding and safe use of woodworking machinery or equivalent
• internal company quality policy and standards
• manufacturer specifications where specified
• workplace operations and procedures

• use and maintenance of equipment
• workplace operations and procedures.

Materials  include:

• metal
• timber.

Environmental requirements  include:

• clean-up management
• dust and noise
• stormwater protection
• waste management.

Statutory and regulatory authority  includes:

• federal, state and local authorities administering applicable Acts, regulations and codes of practice.

Stair  types include:

• curved
• geometric
• closed string.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area