Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to position and saw materials with a circular saw or fixed chainsaw. The unit includes equipment maintenance

General workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publication

This unit replaces FPICOT2218A Cross cut materials with a fixed saw

Application of the unit 

The unit involves cross cutting materials with a fixed saw in a forest products factory setting

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

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. Prepare for operation

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to cross cutting materials with a fixed saw are identified and followed

1.2. Pre-startup checks are completed on equipment  in line with manufacturer recommendations and site procedures

1.3. Materials  are identified, positioned and secured in line with work order and site procedures

1.4. Communication  with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

1.5. Limitations  are identified and assistance is sought as required in line with site procedures

2. Cross cut materials

2.1. Materials are visually assessed for defects in line with site standards

2.2. Materials are cut within established standard tolerances for length and angle relative to centre line in line with OHS requirements

2.3. Equipment is operated in line with OHS and site safety standards

2.4. Cutting techniques  maximise volume and quality of recovery  in line with work orders and industry standard lengths

2.5. Work area is regularly checked and cleared  in line with OHS requirements, site procedures and environmental requirements

2.6. Sub -standard material  is disposed of  in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

2.7. Problems  are identified and reported in line with site procedures

2.8. Materials are tagged, and required records and reports  completed in line with site standards and procedures

3. Maintain sawing conditions

3.1. Equipment lock-out procedures are applied in line with OHS requirements and site procedures

3.2. Cutting rate is compared with that anticipated from knowledge of saw, size of log, species and condition

3.3. Saw blades are checked for blunt or damaged condition in line with site procedures

3.4. Blunt or damaged saw blades are identified and dealt with  in line with site procedures, manufacturer recommendations and environmental requirements

3.5. Malfunctions, damage or irregular performance are identified, recorded and reported in line with site requirements

3.6. Equipment is cleaned, maintained and stored in line with manufacturer recommendations, site procedures and environmental requirements

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Required skills 

• Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; use appropriate methods to cross cut the full range of timber, timber sizes and species
• Communication skills sufficient to use effective communication and interpersonal techniques with colleagues and others; locate, record and report information
• Literacy skills sufficient to follow legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices and procedures for using a circular saw or fixed chainsaw
• Numeracy skills sufficient to maximise volume and quality recovery
• Problem solving skills sufficient to review and identify work requirements; identify problems and equipment faults; demonstrate appropriate response procedures; identify blunt or damaged saw

Required knowledge 

• Applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for cross cutting materials with a fixed saw
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material, minimising carbon emissions, and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for cross cutting materials with a fixed saw
• Environmental risks and hazards
• Using energy effectively and efficiently
• Using material effectively and efficiently
• Criteria for recycling and re-using sub-standard material
• Industry standard length dimensions
• Effects of defects on recovery
• Procedures for lock-out
• Common industry terminology
• Established communication channels and protocols
• Problem identification and resolution strategies, and common fault finding techniques
• Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their use, operation and maintenance
• Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks
• Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

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 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently use a fixed saw while demonstrating the correct procedures for cross cutting materials and equipment maintenance

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, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

• following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to cross cutting materials with a fixed saw
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to cross cutting materials with a fixed saw
• correctly positioning and securing materials onto carriage or conveyor for cross cutting
• conducting safe and efficient cross cutting of materials using a fixed saw, and maximising volume and quality of recovery
• conducting routine maintenance and adjustment procedures of the saw, identifying faults, malfunctions or irregular operation
• maintaining effective communication with others in the workplace

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
• Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
• Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
• Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
• The following resources should be made available:

• workplace location or simulated workplace
• materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit
• specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment 

• Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package
• Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge
• Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills
• Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge
• Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
• Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances
• Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
• The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
• Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
• Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
• Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

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.

OHS requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

• personal protective equipment and clothing
• safety equipment
• first aid equipment
• fire fighting equipment
• hazard and risk control
• fatigue management
• elimination of hazardous materials and substances
• safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire
• manual handling, including shifting, lifting and carrying

Environmental requirements may include :

• legislation
• organisational policies and procedures
• workplace practices

Legislative requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

• award and enterprise agreements
• industrial relations
• Australian Standards
• confidentiality and privacy
• OHS
• the environment
• equal opportunity
• anti-discrimination
• relevant industry codes of practice
• duty of care

Organisational requirements  may include:

• legal
• organisational and site guidelines
• policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility
• quality assurance
• procedural manuals
• quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
• OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures
• ethical standards
• recording and reporting requirements
• equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements
• environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Equipment  may include:

• fixed circular saws
• fixed chainsaws

Materials  may include:

• packs of timber
• individual pieces of timber

Communication  may include:

• verbal and non-verbal language
• constructive feedback
• active listening
• questioning to clarify and confirm understanding
• use of positive, confident and cooperative language
• use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences
• control of tone of voice

Limitations  may relate to:

• job role and responsibilities
• own competency level
• industry requirements
• own understanding of risk identification processes
• own interpretation of maps
• legislation
• regulations and procedures
• OHS requirements
• legal responsibilities

Cutting techniques  may relate to:

• cutting positions
• work order requirements
• industry standard lengths
• straightness requirements
• cutting patterns
• maximising volume and quality of recovery requirements
• cutting procedures that minimise capping and splitting of material
• placing material on conveyor or carriage
• securing material
• cutting at optimum feed rate to avoid damage to saw blade
• using energy effectively and efficiently
• using material effectively and efficiently

Recovery :

• is the volume of timber sawn from a resource compared to the volume of that resource
• is expressed as a percentage - sawn timber volume/initial log volume x 100
• maximises the value of the resource

Cleared  may relate to:

• using hand tools and a water jet to clear debris from the surface of material
• clearing the work area of off-cuts
• debris
• ensuring saw clearance around material
• depositing off-cuts and debris in recognised areas
• clearing surfaces of debris likely to cause saw damage in the cutting area

Sub-standard material  may include:

• material with defects
• material cut outside established standard tolerances for length and angle relative to centre

Disposing of  may include:

• recycling sub-standard material
• re-using sub-standard material
• redirecting sub-standard material for energy recovery

Problems  may relate to:

• performance of saw
• defects in material
• communication
• hazards and risks at the work site
• capping and splitting of material

Records and reports  may include:

• tally sheets
• quality sheets and forms
• production sheets and downtime sheets
• production details
• maintenance details
• breakdown or equipment faults
• computer problems
• interruptions to production

and may be:

• manual
• computer-based system
• other appropriate organisational communication system

Dealing with  may include:

• repairing or sending for repair blunt or damaged saw blades
• recycling blunt or damaged saw blades that cannot be repaired
• sending blunt or damaged saw blades that cannot be repaired to landfill

Competency field 

Common Technical