Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to transport and place concrete into prepared formwork or foundations to establish a strong base for further building work to progress from.

The unit includes the moving of concrete from truck to pour location, concrete placement and screeding.

Application of the unit 

This unit of competency supports the attainment of the understanding and skills to place concrete, which may include working with others and as a member of a team.

Prerequisite units 

CPCCOHS2001A

Apply OHS requirements, policies and procedures in the construction industry

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan and prepare.

1.1. Work instructions and operational details are obtained using relevant information , confirmed and applied for planning and preparation  purposes.

1.2. Safety  (OHS ) requirements are followed in accordance with safety plans and policies.

1.3. Signage and barricade requirements are identified and implemented.

1.4. Plant, tools and equipment  selected to carry out tasks are consistent with the requirements of the job, checked for serviceability and any faults are rectified or reported prior to commencement.

1.5. Materials quantity requirements are calculated in accordance with plans, specifications and quality requirements .

1.6. Materials  appropriate to the work application are identified, obtained, prepared, safely handled and located ready for use.

1.7. Environmental requirements  are identified for the project in accordance with environmental plans and regulatory obligations and applied.

2. Receive and dispatch concrete.

2.1. Delivery advice is checked for accuracy against ordered material.

2.2. Concrete delivery  vehicle is directed to location of discharge.

2.3. Concrete is discharged via chute into wheelbarrow, kibble, pump or hopper.

3. Define and prepare work area.

3.1. Location of concrete placement is determined from plans and specifications and location for placement is checked to be free of debris and waste.

3.2. Safe working area is maintained around pour location using barriers and signage consistent with OHS regulations.

3.3. Plant, tools and equipment are located to suit planned placement.

4. Place concrete.

4.1. Concrete is placed  in horizontal layers into location to levels indicated by markers, level pegs or lines.

4.2. Height of vertical drop of concrete is minimised to avoid segregation of concrete  materials.

4.3. Poured concrete is consolidated during process using approved compaction or vibration method .

4.4. Finished  levels are checked against datum using appropriate levelling device.

5. Screed/level concrete.

5.1. Concrete is screeded  to correct levels and grades using appropriate straight edged tool/formwork mounted screed.

6. Clean up.

6.1. Work area is cleared and materials disposed of, reused or recycled in accordance with legislation, regulations, codes of practice and job specification.

6.2. Plant, tools and equipment are cleaned, checked, maintained and stored in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and standard work practices.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

Required skills for this unit are:

• communication skills to:

• determine requirements
• enable clear and direct communication, using questioning to identify and confirm requirements, share information, listen and understand
• follow instructions
• read and interpret:

• documentation from a variety of sources
• drawings and specifications

• report faults
• use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences
• use and interpret non-verbal communication, such as hand signals

• evaluating own actions and making judgments about performance and necessary improvements
• identifying and accurately reporting to appropriate personnel any faults in tools, equipment or materials
• organisational skills, including the ability to plan and set out work
• recognising procedures, following instructions, responding to change and contributing to workplace responsibilities, such as current work site environmental and sustainability frameworks or management systems
• teamwork skills to coordinate own work with others to action tasks and relate to people from a range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities
• technological skills to:

• use a range of mobile technology, such as two-way radio and mobile phones
• voice and hand signals to access and understand site-specific instructions.

Required knowledge 

Required knowledge for this unit is:

• cold joints
• compaction
• concrete materials
• concrete reinforcement techniques
• concreting techniques
• general construction terminology
• job safety analysis (JSA) and safe work method statements
• levelling techniques
• material safety data sheets (MSDS)
• materials storage and environmentally friendly waste management
• mix specifications
• plans, drawings and specifications
• processes for the calculation of material requirements
• quality requirements
• segregation
• slump testing
• types, characteristics, uses and limitations of plant, tools and equipment
• workplace and equipment safety requirements.

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 

This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:

• locate, interpret and apply relevant information, standards and specifications
• comply with site safety plan and OHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to workplace operations
• comply with organisational policies and procedures including quality requirements
• safely and effectively operate and use tools, plant and equipment
• communicate and work effectively and safely with others
• move and place a minimum of 100 square metres, screed to level and compact/vibrate to specifications.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include:

• an induction procedure and requirement
• realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the mandatory task requirements
• relevant specifications and work instructions
• tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
• support materials appropriate to activity
• workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
• material safety data sheets
• research resources, including industry related systems information.

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.

Method of assessment 

Assessment methods must:

• satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
• include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
• reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
• confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

• competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
• where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
• all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.

Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Information  includes:

• diagrams or sketches
• instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel
• manufacturer specifications and instructions, where specified
• MSDS
• memos
• regulatory and legislative requirements pertaining to placing concrete
• relevant Australian standards
• safe work procedures relating to placing concrete
• signage
• verbal, written and graphical instructions
• work bulletins
• work schedules, plans and specifications.

Planning and preparation  include:

• assessment of conditions and hazards
• determination of work requirements and safety plans and policies
• equipment defect identification
• work site inspection.

Safety  (OHS ) is to be in accordance with state and territory legislation and regulations and project safety plan and may include:

• emergency procedures, including extinguishing fires, organisational first aid requirements and evacuation
• handling activities that may require the assistance of others or the use of manual or mechanical lifting devices where size, weight or other issues, such as a disability are a factor
• hazard control
• hazardous materials and substances
• organisational first aid
• PPE prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices
• safe operating procedures, including the conduct of operational risk assessment and treatments associated with:

• earth leakage boxes
• lighting
• power cables, including overhead service trays, cables and conduits
• restricted access barriers
• surrounding structures
• traffic control
• trip hazards
• work site visitors and the public
• working at heights
• working in confined spaces
• working in proximity to others

• use of firefighting equipment
• use of tools and equipment
• workplace environmental requirements and safety.

Tools and equipment :

• include:

• chutes
• measuring tapes and rules
• screed boards
• shovels
• trowels

• may include:

• brooms
• compressors
• concrete placing booms
• kibbles
• line pumps
• mechanised dumpers
• rakes
• stipple devices
• trowelling machines
• vibrators
• wheelbarrows.

Quality requirements  include:

• internal company quality policy and standards
• manufacturer specifications where specified
• relevant regulations, including Australian standards
• workplace operations and procedures.

Materials  include:

• concrete.

Environmental requirements  include:

• clean-up management
• dust and noise
• stormwater management
• vibration
• waste management.

Concrete delivery  includes:

• crane and kibble
• pre-mix truck
• wheelbarrow.

Placing of concrete  includes:

• kibble
• pumping equipment
• shovelling
• tremmies
• truck placed
• vibrating
• wheelbarrows.

Methods to avoid segregation of concrete  include:

• using a tremmie, through minimising the height of a vertical drop (no greater than 2 metres high for 20MPA at 80 slump)
• using pumps with a flexible hose.

Compaction or vibration methods  include:

• mechanical vibrators.

Finishing  techniques include:

• broom finished
• brushed
• mechanical trowelling machine
• steel trowel
• wood float.

Screeding :

• includes a hand screed
• may include:

• a mechanical vibrating screed
• magic screeds.

Unit sector 

Construction

Co-requisite units 

Nil

Functional area