Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers both livestock and plant based organic production and defines the standard required to: apply principles of organic agriculture to daily work routines; follow supervisor instructions; follow Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) procedures and where appropriate; food safety procedures and report any variations from required standards or procedures to supervisor.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to the provision of support to others undertaking the organic production of animals and crops.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare materials, tools and equipment for organic production work

1.1. Required materials, tools and equipment are identified according to supervisor instructions.

1.2. Checks for serviceability are conducted on all materials, tools and equipment and insufficient or faulty items are reported to supervisor.

1.3. Techniques used when loading and unloading materials demonstrate correct manual handling techniques and minimise damage to self, load and vehicle.

1.4. Suitable personal protective clothing and equipment are selected and checked prior to use.

1.5. OHS hazards are identified and reported to supervisor.

2. Undertake organic production work as directed

2.1. Instructions and directions provided by supervisor are followed and clarification is sought when necessary.

2.2. Work is undertaken in an environmentally appropriate manner and according to workplace information, principles of organic agriculture, OHS requirements and enterprise guidelines.

2.3. Site quarantine, biosecurity protocols and farm and personal hygiene requirements are followed as required by enterprise guidelines.

2.4. Where appropriate to enterprise's activities, food safety requirements are met.

2.5. Interactions with other staff and customers are carried out in a positive and professional manner.

2.6. Enterprise policies and procedures in relation to workplace practices, and handling and disposal of materials are observed.

2.7. Problems or difficulties in completing work to required standards or timelines are reported to supervisor.

2.8. Clean and safe work site is maintained while working.

3. Handle materials and equipment

3.1. Waste material produced during work is stored in a designated area according to supervisor instructions.

3.2. Materials, tools and equipment are handled and transported according to supervisor instructions and enterprise guidelines.

4. Clean up on completion of work

4.1. Materials are returned to store or disposed of according to supervisor instructions.

4.2. Tools and equipment are cleaned, maintained and stored according to manufacturer specifications and supervisor instructions.

4.3. Work outcomes are reported to supervisor.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• following safe work procedures
• cleaning up on completion of work
• handling materials and equipment
• observing interactions between parts of the farm system
• preparing materials, tools and equipment for work
• undertaking work as directed
• where appropriate to enterprise's activities, working safely with and around livestock
• use literacy skills to read and follow a range of basic instructions
• use oral communication skills/language competence to communicate effectively with others
• use numeracy skills to complete basic calculations
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds.

Required knowledge 

• principles of organic production
• organic procedures and recording requirements
• safe work practices relevant to the tasks being undertaken, including safe use of tools and equipment
• where appropriate to enterprise's activities, food safety requirements
• OHS and environmental protection legislation and enterprise 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:

• apply principles of organic agriculture to daily work routines
• follow supervisor instructions
• follow OHS procedures and where appropriate, food safety procedures
• report any variations from required standards or procedures to supervisor.

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.

Work may include:

• support to others undertaking the organic production of animals and crops.

Unit sector 

Organic production

Co-requisite units 

Competency field