Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of undertaking operational maintenance of machinery and defines the standard required to: select and prepare tools and equipment; carry out lubrication and basic servicing; conduct basic diagnostic tests; report simple faults or report and tag more serious faults; collect, remove and recycle or dispose of wastes; maintain records of machinery maintenance.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to workers in the agriculture, horticulture and land management sectors who use non-specialist skills to perform basic servicing and repairs on a range of machinery according to scheduled maintenance programs. The operational maintenance of machinery will usually follow set routines, methods and procedures.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for maintenance

1.1. Maintenance plans are accessed and understood prior to undertaking maintenance work.

1.2. Tools and supplies are selected appropriate to job requirements and confirmed against maintenance plan.

1.3. Tools are inspected for serviceability and prepared for use according to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise requirements.

1.4. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified and safety concerns reported to the supervisor.

2. Perform scheduled maintenance

2.1. OHS hazards are identified and safety concerns reported to the supervisor.

2.2. Greasing, lubrication and other basic servicing of machinery are carried out according to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise requirements.

2.3. Equipment is adjusted according to manufacturer's specifications and enterprise requirements.

2.4. Basic diagnostic techniques are applied and mechanical faults are identified and rectified according to manufacturer's specifications.

2.5. More serious or complex faults are reported for referral according to enterprise requirements.

3. Complete maintenance activities

3.1. Tools are cleaned and stored according to OHS and enterprise requirements.

3.2. Waste from maintenance activities is collected, treated and disposed or recycled according to enterprise environmental requirements.

3.3. Work areas are cleaned, returned to operating condition and maintained according to OHS and enterprise requirements.

3.4. Relevant information is documented according to industry and enterprise requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• identify hazards and apply safe work practices
• use tools and equipment safely
• carry out basic servicing of machinery
• carry out basic mechanical fault finding and diagnostic tests
• refer complex mechanical faults to appropriate technician
• follow procedures to dispose of waste
• recognise caution or hazard signs and symbols
• interpret tasks or information from labels, manuals or written instructions
• record information accurately or verbally report information
• use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• types and uses of lubricants and other commonly used servicing materials
• operational principles of machinery including mechanical and auto-electrical systems
• servicing characteristics of plant and equipment
• types, characteristics, uses and limitations of hand power tools
• functions of components of common mechanical and hydraulic systems
• working principles of 2-stroke, 4-stroke, petrol and diesel engines
• set-up requirements of plant and equipment, and principles of calibration
• basic diagnostic processes and techniques
• environmental Codes of Practice with regard to maintenance activities
• OHS and environmental legislative and enterprise requirements and Codes of Practice
• hazard identification and OHS procedures.

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:

• select and prepare tools and equipment
• carry out lubrication and basic servicing
• conduct basic diagnostic tests
• report simple faults or report and tag more serious faults
• collect, remove and recycle or dispose of wastes
• maintain records of machinery maintenance.

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.

Operational maintenance of machinery may include:

• the basic operational maintenance of a range of agricultural, horticultural or land management machinery.

Machinery may include:

• sprayers
• tractors
• mechanical pruners
• harvesters
• turf mowers
• rotary hoes
• chainsaws
• hedge trimmers
• winches
• vehicles
• motorcycles.

Unit sector 

Machinery operation and maintenance

Co-requisite units 

Competency field