Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the skills and knowledge required to identify the cotton characteristics necessary to assist in the ginning of seed cotton.

Application of the Unit 

This unit applies to employees in cotton gins. It provides the basic knowledge of cotton and the ginning process to enable employees to work or assist at most locations in a cotton gin.

If a higher level knowledge of cotton characteristics and their relationship to cotton ginning is required then the unit LMTCG3001A Identify cotton quality  should be selected.

Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities. Work is performed within defined procedures under direct supervision.

The application of this unit is according to OHS practices of the enterprise and workplace practices, which may include:

• requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment
• standard operating procedures
• work instructions
• oral, written and visual communication
• quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output
• housekeeping
• tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling

This unit requires the application of skills associated with problem solving to identify and determine features of seed cotton. Learning and self management skills are required to expand and apply knowledge of cotton characteristics and communication skills are used to read module records.

Prerequisites 

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Identify basic features of seed cotton  modules

1.1 Typical trash  found in modules of seed cotton is identified

1.2 Inferior module covers or covering is identified and rectified where required

1.3 Module records regarding date of receival, moisture content at receival, location of module in module yard and grower details are accessed

2. Recognise parts of cotton bolls 

2.1 Mature and immature cotton bolls can be identified

2.2 Cotton seed and lint  are identified

2.3 Short fibres  and long fibres  are identified

3. Recognise key cotton characteristics necessary to maximise cotton value

3.1 Ginning as a process of moisture, seed and trash removal is understood

3.2 Need to protect ginned and seed cotton from rain and dust and other contamination is understood

3.3 Importance of maintaining fibre length, strength and colour is understood

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

Demonstrates knowledge of:

• different parts of the cotton plant
• components of the cotton boll
• purposes of the ginning process
• main risks to a successful ginning outcome, including contamination, moisture content outside specification, damaged or weak fibres.
• OHS practices, including hazard identification and control measures
• quality practices
• workplace practices
• practices for recording and reporting

Demonstrates skills to:

• access information and records
• visually compare seed cotton to test samples in order to understand the effects of moisture, contamination and fibre damage
• analyse and evaluate information
• read, interpret and follow information on work specifications, standard operating procedures and work instructions, and other reference material
• maintain accurate records
• communicate within the workplace
• clarify and check task-related information
• carry out work according to OHS practices

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered 

Demonstrates skills and knowledge to:

• check and identify seed and ginned cotton
• check for and identify trash
• access records
• protect cotton from contamination both in the module yard and in the gin

Consistency in performance 

Consistently applies skills and knowledge when:

• organising work
• completing tasks
• identifying improvements
• using workplace practices
• using OHS practices
• recording and reporting accidents and incidents
• assessing operational readiness of equipment used and work processes
• recognising and adapting to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions
• completing work systematically with attention to detail and without damage to goods and equipment

Resource implications 

Access is required to real or appropriately simulated situations, including work areas, materials and equipment, and to information on workplace practices and OHS practices.

Context for assessment 

Assessment may occur on the job or in an appropriately simulated environment.

Interdependent Assessment 

This unit may be assessed independently or in combination with other relevant units.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Legislative/regulatory requirements

All work must comply with relevant Federal and State or Territory legislative or regulatory requirements.

Seed cotton

• cotton where the seed has not been removed from the cotton boll through the ginning process.

Trash includes:

• cotton bark and branch
• cotton leaves or parts of leaves
• other natural contaminants, such as grass and non-cotton leaves and branches
• insects
• man-made contaminants such as grease, rope, twine, plastic etc.

Cotton bolls

• segmented pods that contain the seeds from which the cotton fibres (lint) will grow.

The cotton boll can be unopened (immature) or opened with seed and cotton fibre visible.

Lint

• cotton fibres that grow from the cotton seed. Fibres are unicellular (one cell) hairs that develop in cells in the outer skin of the seed coat.

Short fibres

• fibres that remain attached to the seed and are also known as the fuzz or linters.

Long fibres

• fibres that remain after the seed is removed during ginning and which form the fibres used for spinning.

Sector 

Cotton ginning