Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers developing a plant pest destruction strategy and specifies the outcomes required to develop a strategy for the destruction of plant pests for the purposes of eradication. The plant pest destruction strategy forms part of the Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (PLANTPLAN).

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to personnel who have been appointed or engaged to undertake a role within a plant pest incursion. The unit may also apply to personnel involved with planning responses to emergency animal diseases and aquatic animal diseases.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Obtain and analyse information for inclusion in the plant pest destruction strategy

1.1. Characteristics of plant pest that may determine best method of destruction are identified.

1.2. Characteristics of host plants and/or plant products are identified.

1.3. Possible destruction treatments are identified and estimated costs are obtained.

2. Determine destruction methodology

2.1. Pre-treatments that will limit organism's risk of escape are identified.

2.2. Affected areas, including buffer areas, are identified.

2.3. Occupational health and safety and environmental standards that will apply to all phases of destruction strategy are identified, incorporated into destruction methodology and documented.

2.4. Most cost-effective, safe and effective method of destruction is selected as appropriate for circumstances.

2.5. Contingencies for prevailing weather conditions are developed.

2.6. Instructions for destruction teams are developed, including specific checklists on performance of operations.

2.7. Need for approvals associated with destruction activities is identified and documented.

2.8. Biosecurity issues are identified and contingency plans are prepared.

3. Determine the required resources

3.1. Resources required for implementation of destruction strategy are determined in conjunction with technical experts and are documented.

4. Develop communication procedures

4.1. In conjunction with communications manager, procedures and protocols for communicating with contractors, emergency services, property owner/manager, government, media and other stakeholders are developed.

4.2. Plant pest destruction strategy is communicated to appropriate authorities.

5. Determine post-destruction processes

5.1. Review processes to evaluate effectiveness of plant pest destruction treatments are determined.

5.2. Surveillance needed to demonstrate pest-free areas is determined.

5.3. Review processes to evaluate effectiveness of plant pest destruction strategy are determined.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• costing alternative destruction treatments
• developing a budget
• planning biological strategies
• researching and analysing information
• supervising others working in a special purpose team
• use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports
• 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 numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record complex workplace measures
• 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 

• approvals required for such things as burning
• communication procedures and protocols
• crop destruction methods
• equipment needed for plant pest destruction
• government processes
• group of organisms relevant to strategy being developed
• legislation and regulations defining and affecting destruction of plant pests
• logistics requirements
• rates and methods of application of selected biocides
• relevant guidelines, including PLANTPLAN.

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 critical requirements for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below:

• assessment must confirm one's ability to:

• plan pre-treatment, destruction and site clean-up
• communicate plans to destruction teams, contractors and emergency services.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to develop a plant pest destruction strategy.

The candidate must also have access to a functioning control centre, or a control centre established for a plant pest response simulation exercise.

Method of assessment 

Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will most appropriately be assessed in a real or simulated plant pest incursion response.

Guidance information for assessment 

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The skills and knowledge required to develop a plant pest destruction strategy must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts, including the ability to deal with unplanned events. For example, this could include work within urban, farming, forestry and natural environments.

RANGE STATEMENT 

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

Characteristics of plant pest to be analysed may include:

• likely efficacy of treatment considering the susceptibility of pest and life form of organism, such as resistant spore forms in soil
• means of organism dispersal, escape points and associated risks
• position of pest in/on host organism:

• on or inside plants:

• leaves
• stems
• fruit
• seeds
• roots
• tuber bulbs

• in the soil:

• risks of survival post-treatment.

Characteristics of host plants and/or plant products to be analysed may include:

• analysis of morphological characteristics such as:

• cellulose or lignified
• perennial or annual
• size
• extent of root system
• presence of fruits or other materials that may be difficult to treat by usual destruction methods

• identity, area, location and other important characteristics of host plants/plant products such as ownership.

Pre-treatments may include:

• application of pesticides to close down escape routes of organism, such as:

• spores
• winged insects.

Approvals may be required for activities such as:

• burial and/or disposal of affected plants and plant products
• chemical use
• destruction of vegetation on public land
• environmental approvals
• excessive noise
• fires.

Resources required for plant pest destruction treatments may include:

• contractors
• destruction teams
• emergency services to control site access
• equipment for affected host organism removal and transportation
• equipment for site clean-up
• equipment for application of treatments and biocides.

Communication strategies with stakeholders may involve a range of methods such as:

• liaison with technical experts
• reporting to appropriate authorities
• reporting to media.

Appropriate authorities may include:

• chief plant health manager
• consultative committee on emergency plant pests
• planning manager
• survey manager.

Review of effectiveness of plant pest destruction treatments may involve:

• checks of biosecurity of routes for off-site disposal of affected material
• integrity of disposal and burial areas
• site inspection for signs of infected material and unacceptable debris.

Review of effectiveness of plant pest destruction strategy may need to consider:

• best timing for review
• checks required on possible points of weakness of destruction program
• detailed analysis of effectiveness
• resources required for review.

Unit sector 

Pest management

Co-requisite units 

Competency field