Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the implementation of an irrigation related environmental protection program and defines the standard required to: identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action; apply and comply with environmental requirements; provide and explain information on the irrigation and drainage environmental plan; explain and demonstrate enterprise environmental record systems and procedures; calculate stormwater control requirements.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to persons whose job role includes implementing procedures to reduce the impacts of irrigation and drainage systems on the environment and responding to potential and actual environmental pollution events.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Provide information to workers involved in irrigation and related work

1.1. Information on the irrigation and drainage environmental plan is provided and explained to all workers involved in irrigation and related work.

1.2. Relevant codes of practice, legislation and regulations and their application are explained to all workers involved in irrigation and related work.

1.3. Information about known risks to the environment and work practices associated with enterprise irrigation practices and related activities are explained and demonstrated.

1.4. Enterprise environmental record systems and procedures are explained and demonstrated.

1.5. Environmental protection induction and training needs are identified and arrangements made to fulfil those needs.

2. Implement and monitor procedures for identifying risks to the environment and maintaining effective control measures

2.1. Risks to the environment are identified and reported so that adequate risk assessment and control measures are implemented.

2.2. Work procedures to control risks to the environment are implemented, and regular monitoring occurs to ensure ongoing adherence and effectiveness of risk control.

2.3. Inadequacies in existing risk control measures are identified, and measures to reduce exposure to environmental pollution events through improved work processes and procedures are raised with the owner/manager.

2.4. Inadequacies in allocation of resources to ensure environmental protection are identified and reported to the owner/manager.

3. Implement procedures for responding to potential and actual environmental pollution events

3.1. Procedures for responding to potential and actual pollution events are implemented, where necessary, to ensure that prompt and effective control action is taken.

3.2. Pollution events are investigated and reported to identify their cause according to established investigation procedures and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

3.3. Stormwater control requirements are calculated, as necessary, according to environmental protection authority requirements.

3.4. Suitable measures to prevent recurrence and minimise risk of pollution events are discussed with the owner/manager, and revised procedures implemented as necessary.

4. Implement and monitor procedures for maintaining environmental protection record

4.1. Environmental protection records are kept according to enterprise and legal requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
• apply and comply with environmental requirements
• provide and explain information on the irrigation and drainage environmental plan
• explain and demonstrate enterprise environmental record systems and procedures
• calculate stormwater control requirements
• follow relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• environmental legislation, regulations and guidelines
• environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
• OHS procedures relating to investigation of irrigation-related hazards and implementation of an environmental protection program.

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 

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 workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
• apply and comply with environmental requirements
• provide and explain information on the irrigation and drainage environmental plan
• explain and demonstrate enterprise environmental record systems and procedures
• calculate stormwater control requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Pressurised irrigation systems may include:

• micro-irrigation systems
• spray irrigation systems
• gravity fed irrigation systems.

Irrigation systems may include:

• manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

Unit sector 

Irrigation

Co-requisite units 

Competency field