Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the process of monitoring and interpreting weather and climate conditions and assessing its likely impact on staff, crops, livestock, produce, property, natural resources, equipment and work tasks and defines the standard required to: monitor and interpret weather and climate information; communicate warnings and concerns; identify resource requirements and dangers; minimise loss and damage to staff, livestock, crops, natural resources, property, and produce; implement alternative livestock or other programs; continue to monitor weather changes.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to workers in agricultural, horticultural and land management industries. The work is likely to be carried out with limited or minimal supervision within enterprise guidelines.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Interpret weather and climate information

1.1. Weather and climate information and warnings are regularly monitored to determine likely conditions.

1.2. Potential variations in weather and climate conditions are anticipated and assessed according to warnings, weather patterns and historical experience.

1.3. Possible impacts of weather and climate on crops, livestock and work tasks are identified to determine appropriate preventative action.

1.4. Suitable preventative actions are reviewed to ensure availability of appropriate resources and responses.

2. Carry out preventative action

2.1. Information and advice is promptly disseminated to relevant personnel.

2.2. Preventative action is determined according to the known effects on livestock, crops and work tasks.

2.3. Actions to minimise loss and damage are implemented.

2.4. Livestock or crop management program and work schedules are adjusted and revised according to climatic changes.

3. Monitor weather and climate

3.1. Regular updates are accessed to determine the ongoing suitability of current programs.

3.2. Viability of livestock and crop management practices and scheduling of work tasks are reviewed to ensure suitability within meteorological conditions.

3.3. Research on forecasting techniques is undertaken to maintain currency of information.

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

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• relate forecasts to impact on current operations and activities
• relate weather and climate conditions and changes to decision-making and prevention of loss and damage
• monitor physical signs in the context of available information
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• working knowledge of climate and weather
• weather and climate conditions and its impact upon farming and grazing activities
• effects of wind and rain on wind chill
• relevant legislative health and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements especially as they relate to weather and climate monitoring and preparations for hazardous weather
• enterprise and industry policies for monitoring weather and climate conditions and recording and reporting weather and climate conditions
• if applicable, effects of shearing and/or parturition and wind chill exposure
• if applicable, effects of wind chill on metabolism of animals
• if applicable, effects of prolonged dry periods on pastures and animal production and natural resources.

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:

• monitor and interpret weather and climate information
• communicate warnings and concerns
• identify resource requirements and dangers
• minimise loss and damage to staff, livestock, crops, natural resources, property, and produce
• implement alternative livestock or other programs and continue to monitor weather changes.

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.

Interpreting weather and climate conditions may include:

• all situations, techniques and sources of evidence for monitoring and assessing its likely impact.

Unit sector 

Work

Co-requisite units 

Competency field