Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to evaluate, grade and mark logs for segregation to achieve best end use

Compliance with licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may be required in various jurisdictions

This unit replaces FPICOT3223A Grade and mark logs

Application of the unit 

The unit involves grading and marking logs in a range of work environment settings

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 to evaluate logs

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to grading and marking  logs are identified and followed

1.2. Site environmental protection measures  are adhered to in line with relevant legislation and regulations

1.3. Work order  is reviewed and clarified with appropriate personnel 

1.4. Standards, specifications and lengths of timber products  are identified and assessed for potential usage purposes

1.5. Log and wood characteristics  are checked and logs to be graded and recovered are identified

1.6. Log grading and marking operations are checked for safe working conditions  and planned in line with site procedures

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

2. Evaluate and mark logs

2.1. Grading and marking operations are conducted in line with work order, and environmental and OHS requirements

2.2. Log species is identified and assessed  for suitability against standard industry specifications

2.3. Defects are identified and assessed for suitability against product specifications

2.4. Log is evaluated, graded and directed to best end use in line with specifications and site segregation code

2.5. Log is clearly and accurately marked for grading or cutting  in line with site segregation code

2.6. Logs that cannot be safely processed by own personal skill are marked and reported in line with site procedures

3. Complete grading and marking of logs

3.1. Logs are measured  and data recorded clearly and accurately in line with industry standards

3.2. Feedback on grading outcomes is received from appropriate personnel and queries are resolved using suitable interpersonal skills

3.3. Grading and marking results are recorded and reported  in line with site procedures

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• Technical skills sufficient to select, use and maintain appropriate tools and equipment; efficiently and safely grade and mark logs for segregation; grade and segregate logs on the basis of species, size and characteristics across the full range required; identify and calculate log defects; optimise recovery to grade
• Communication skills sufficient to use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques with colleagues and others
• Literacy skills sufficient to record and report workplace information; maintain documentation
• Numeracy skills sufficient to select appropriate mathematical processes to accurately measure logs
• Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems; demonstrate appropriate response procedures

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 grading and marking logs
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for grading and marking logs
• Environmental risks and hazards
• Criteria for recycling and re-using timber with defects
• Using material effectively and efficiently
• Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimation and measurement
• Industry standards for log species, size and characteristics across the full range, and defects and length dimensions
• Procedures to grade and mark logs for segregation, including segregation codes
• Established communication channels and protocols
• Problem identification and resolution strategies, and common fault finding techniques
• Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their safe use 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 evaluate, grade and mark logs for segregation in line with organisational requirements

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 grading and marking logs
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to grading and marking logs
• safely and efficiently evaluating, grading and marking logs for segregation
• estimating and measuring logs and log defects
• identifying requirements for log usage and grade, and determining log grade or potential grade

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)

Grading and marking  may include:

• specific grading requirements
• circumference
• weight
• diameter and volume of logs
• cutting and de-peeling logs

Environmental protection measures  may include:

• ground growth
• canopy
• general forest lean
• wind speed and direction
• fallen trees
• density of trees
• ground slope
• soil and water protection
• ground hazards
• obstacles

Work order  is to include:

• details of logs to be:

• evaluated
• graded
• marked

and may include:

• instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures
• environmental care requirements relevant to the work

Appropriate personnel  is limited to:

• log graders

and may include:

• supervisors
• clients
• colleagues
• managers

Timber products  may include:

• logs
• debarked logs
• poles
• piles
• girders
• veneer
• graded sawlog
• fencing products
• non-graded sawlog
• pulp

Characteristics  may include:

• species
• pipe
• open pipe
• discontinuous and irregular shaped pipes
• loose gum veins
• gum pockets and rings
• termites and grubs
• hearts out of centre
• brown stain
• rot
• punk
• cork or pith
• black borer
• black heart
• straight shakes
• shakes in spiral grain
• overgrowth and doze pockets
• small log pipe allowance
• length
• non-allowable length defects

Safe working conditions  will include:

• control of potential and existing risks and hazards
• ensuring log stability during evaluation, grading and marking processes

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

Assessment :

• is for the purpose of determining the best end use for logs
• of defects may include determining allowable length defects involving limbs, multiple length defects, burn scars, bumps, swellings, kinks and bends, straight splits, spiral grain, and associated splits
• of defects in sawlogs may include pipe and determining calculation using aids, including formulas, data tables, and hand-held programmable computers

Cutting  may include:

• cross cutting to clarify grading decisions

Measurement may include :

• using callipers
• using a measuring tool

Records and reports  may be:

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

Competency field 

Common Technical