Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit specifies the outcomes required to prepare and implement a tending operation in a plantation. It includes the conduct of consultative processes, analysis of the effectiveness of the operation and presentation of findings to a range of individuals and groups

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

There may be applicable Codes of Practice governing tending operations in some areas

This unit replaces FPIFGM5205A Coordinate plantation tending operations

Application of the unit 

This unit involves coordinating plantation tending operations in a forest environment

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. Plan tending operation

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety  (OHS ), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to plantation tending operations  are identified and followed

1.2. Timeline  and budget are identified and checked with appropriate personnel 

1.3. Operation requirements  are reviewed and analysed for inputs and impact  on the overall plan in line with site requirements

1.4. Consultative processes  are used to obtain input  to the plan in line with site requirements

1.5. Tending plan is developed, documented and communicated in line with site requirements

1.6. Necessary approvals  are sought and obtained in line with site requirements

2. Implement tending operation

2.1. Tending operation is implemented in line with plan, schedule, budget and legislative requirements

2.2. Required resources  and authorisations  are coordinated and obtained in line with site and legislative requirements

2.3. Emergency treatments and hazard  notification procedures are implemented in line with legislative requirements

2.4. Schedule for site is organised in conjunction with technical operators in line with site requirements

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

2.6. Documentation requirements  are identified and communicated in line with OHS requirements

3. Monitor tending operation

3.1. Monitoring points  are identified and adhered to in line with organisational procedures

3.2. Compliance requirements  are checked to ensure tending operation is compliant with environmental, OHS, organisational and legislative requirements and documentation is completed and submitted as required

3.3. Communication with operations supervisor is maintained in line with OHS and organisational requirements

3.4. Tending operation plan and processes are amended as required to ensure specifications, quality and performance targets are met

4. Review tending operation

4.1. Tending operation is reviewed against documented plan and site requirements

4.2. Information  and data is analysed to check effectiveness of tending operation and improvements to future plans

4.3. Recommendations for future operations are prepared based on findings of analysis and consultation conducted

4.4. Plantation tending operations are recorded and reported  to the appropriate personnel

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• Technical skills sufficient to accurately prepare a range of reports, documentation and submissions where precise meaning is required
• Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace
• Literacy skills sufficient to present written and oral information to a wide range of individuals and groups
• Numeracy skills sufficient to analyse qualitative and quantitative information and data
• Problem solving skills sufficient to demonstrate time and project management
• Planning and organisational skills sufficient to coordinate and schedule operations and to coordinate required resources and authorisations

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 coordinating tending operations in a plantation
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for coordinating tending operations in a plantation
• Problem identification and resolution
• Procedures for the development and implementation of a range of environmental management strategies
• Impact of tending operations on forest productivity and various end products
• Biology of relevant forest health problems
• Tree growth and development
• Weed species and herbicide interactions
• Hydrology and hydrological principles
• Botany, including plant identification and classification skills
• Ecology and ecological interactions
• Soil types and structure
• 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 relevant to coordinating plantation tending operations
• 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 coordinate plantation tending operations

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 coordinating tending operations
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to coordinating tending operations
• planning a tending operation using consultative processes with colleagues and stakeholders to obtain inputs, and ensuring efficient and safe processes
• safely implementing a tending operation in line with documented plan and budget, and making adjustments to plan or operation
• reviewing and analysing operation and use of findings to document improvements to future operations
• preparing and presenting a detailed report including costs, processes and analysis findings of the tending operation

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 comply with 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 methods applicable to this unit may include direct observation of tasks with questioning of required knowledge and the completion of projects, assignments or written tests
• 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:

• Codes of Practice
• environmental management requirements including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines

and may be related to:

• road, river/stream reserves

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
• heritage and traditional land owner issues

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 and maintenance and storage requirements
• environmental management requirements (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Tending operations 

• may have the potential to impact on the site's public relations

and may be designed to:

• maintain the health of the stand
• improve productivity and long-term sustainability
• provide for end product mix requirements
• manage notifiable weeds

Timeline  may be critical to:

• the productivity of the forest
• success of the operation
• suitability for various forest products (e.g. pruning certification)

Appropriate personnel  may include:

• operations supervisor
• management
• colleagues
• clients
• relevant groups

Operation requirements  may include:

• end product requirements
• stand treatment certification documentation
• contractual requirements and obligations
• environmental and public relations imperatives
• current state of the forest resource

Impact  may relate to:

• nature and size of the crop and non-crop species
• availability and skill level of the labour force

Consultative processes  may include:

• face-to-face meetings
• telephone
• facsimile
• written and email communication

and may be with:

• clients
• neighbours
• technical operators
• marketing groups
• operations supervisor
• colleagues
• relevant groups/bodies such as environmental bodies
• local, State and federal government bodies and agencies
• internal policy groups
• labour force

Input  may include:

• details of equipment
• methods and consumables to be used
• specifications for thinning
• weed/insect management
• stand health, pruning and tree selection
• necessary notifications of relevant groups/bodies
• specifications and quality parameters
• performance indicators

Approvals  may be required by:

• environmental bodies
• local, State and federal government bodies and agencies

and may relate to:

• long-term budget

Resources  may include:

• people
• materials and equipment

Authorisations  may include:

• permits
• approvals
• licences relating to neighbouring properties

and may relate to:

• hours of operation
• use and application of chemicals
• the environment

Hazards  may include:

• use of chemicals
• off-site effects
• tools and equipment
• dangers to the public

Communication  may include:

• regular communication with the operations supervisor to ensure smooth operation and progress

Documentation requirements 

must be clear and accurate and may include:

• changes to the plan or process
• supplementary approvals
• supplementary notifications

Monitoring points 

• should be performed at key stages of the process

Compliance requirements  may include:

• OHS
• organisational
• legislative and environmental regulations
• procedures
• practices and precautions
• adherence to site environmental imperatives
• specifications
• quality
• performance targets

Information 

may be from numerous sources and include:

• legislation
• forest biology
• tree physiology
• new technology

Records and reports  may relate to:

• difficulties or issues faced during conduct of tending operation
• recommendations for future work
• results
• costs
• data analysis

and may be:

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

Competency field 

Forest Growing and Management