Unit of competency details

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.

1

Identify services to be provided.

1.1

Services are identified from business plan and company marketing strategy according to company requirements .

1.2

Types of pests  to be treated and target client  groups are reviewed and equipment  and material  requirements are assessed according to manufacturer specifications  and company, legislative  and environmental and occupational  hea lth and safety (OHS) requirements .

2

Select a pest management vehicle.

2.1

Suitability of vehicle  for performing pest management activities is determined according to manufacturer specifications and legislative, occupational health and safety (OHS) and company requirements.

2.2

Vehicle’s compliance with roadworthiness and registration rules is confirmed in accordance with legislative, OHS and company requirements.

3

Determine performance characteristics and select equipment and materials.

3.1

Equipment, materials and personal protective equipment  (PPE) performance requirements are specified in relation to types of services provided, according to company requirements.

3.2

Equipment performance requirements are reviewed against relevant legislation and applicable industry standards according to manufacturer specifications and OHS and company requirements.

3.3

Suitability  of equipment, materials and PPE for purposes required is determined according to manufacturer specifications and legislative, OHS and company requirements.

3.4

Maintenance, repair costs, downtime and life expectancy are estimated  according to company requirements.

3.5

Weather resistant equipment is selected for external use according to manufacturer specifications and legislative, OHS and company requirements.

3.6

Equipment manufactured from non-absorbent substances is selected to minimise chemical  build-up and other contamination according to manufacturer specifications and legislative, OHS and company requirements.

3.7

Pumps, hoses, fittings and tanks are selected to meet anticipated volume or pressure delivery according to manufacturer specifications and legislative, OHS and company requirements.

4

Ensure access to supplies of equipment and materials.

4.1

Ownership, hiring and leasing options for equipment are examined and selected to suit budget and usage patterns according to company requirements.

4.2

Relationship with suppliers  is built and maintained on suitable trading terms according to company requirements.

5

Maintain up-to-date information on equipment and materials.

5.1

Business network is maintained according to company requirements in order to access regular and current information on new and improved equipment and materials.

5.2

Latest information and publications are accessed from regulatory authorities, industry sources and suppliers according to company requirements

5.3

Offers by suppliers to test new products are utilised where relevant to services provided and according to company requirements.

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

Required skills 

• interpersonal skills to:

• build and maintain relationships with suppliers
• maintain business networks

• problem-solving skills to assess vehicles, equipment and materials against requirements
• language, literacy and numeracy skills for:

• communicating equipment, chemical, purchase and financial requirements clearly and concisely
• reading and interpreting manufacturer specifications, marketing materials, purchase documents and financing contracts
• requesting advice or further information
• costing and budgeting

• self-management skills to prioritise and engage in activities to build information and relationships that benefit the business

Required knowledge 

• legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards that apply to providing pest management services, including environmental and OHS legislation
• company management structure and procedures, including:

• documentation requirements
• emergency response procedures
• enterprise maintenance and servicing procedures
• environment protection procedures
• injury, dangerous occurrence and incident reporting requirements
• OHS procedures
• purchasing, hiring and leasing procedures
• reporting procedures

• equipment and chemical types and functions
• financing options
• hazards and risks associated with different types of equipment and materials
• product knowledge, including manufacturer specifications for equipment and products being used
• sources of industry and product information.
• types of pests relevant to the area and their life cycles, habits and harbourages

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 by an activity involving the preparation of a plan and costing for the acquisition of a pest management vehicle and relevant equipment and materials to suit a particular pest management business.

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 required skills and knowledge specified in this unit.

In particular the person should demonstrate the ability to:

• assess performance characteristics of equipment and materials
• comply with company, legislative and regulatory requirements
• identify:

• hazards and risks associated with pest management
• vehicle capacities against intended use
• services to be provided from the business plan

• knowledge of hierarchy of hazard control
• select equipment and materials in relation to the vehicle and services to be delivered.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.

Resource implications for assessment include access to:

• databases and information sources, including product information
• company policies, procedures and records
• assessment instruments, including personal planner and assessment record book.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must:

• satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Property 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.

Guidance information for assessment

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.

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.

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function, for example:

• CPPPMT3017A Repair and maintain service equipment.

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.

Company requirements  may include: 

• access and equity policy, principles and practice
• business and performance plans
• client communication procedures
• client confidentiality procedures
• client service standards
• company goals, objectives, plans, systems and processes
• company issued identification badge, card or pass
• company policies and procedures
• defined resource parameters
• dress and presentation requirements
• duty of care, code of conduct and code of ethics
• emergency response and evacuation procedures
• employer and employee rights and responsibilities
• establishing operator identity with client
• internal communication channels and reporting procedures
• maintenance procedures for equipment and PPE
• OHS policies and procedures
• personnel practices and guidelines
• policies and procedures relating to own role, responsibility and delegation
• quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
• records and information systems and processes
• training (induction and refresher) materials
• work site access security clearance procedures.

Pests  may include:

• any pest of commercial significance in an urban environment.

Clients  may include:

• bodies corporate
• building supervisors
• companies or organisations
• environmental health officers
• executive housekeepers
• maintenance managers
• owners
• persons in control of work processes
• property agents or managers
• tenants.

Equipment  may include:

• brooms
• bulk liquid tanks, pumps, hoses and fixtures
• bunding materials
• cameras
• dishes or bowls
• drills
• dusters
• electrical extension leads
• elevated work platforms
• equipment decontamination materials
• first aid kits
• flexible lights
• flushing agents
• generators
• hoses
• injectors
• knives
• ladders
• ladder racks
• lockable chemical and equipment storage
• magnifying glasses
• measuring jugs
• mirrors
• personal protective clothing and equipment
• probes
• safety harnesses
• sand and other absorbent materials
• screwdrivers
• sharps containers
• shovels and rakes
• sound, moisture and movement detectors
• sounding instruments
• specimen bottles
• spray equipment
• torches
• trays
• waste disposal containers
• water supply access facilities fitted with suitable backflow prevention devices.

Materials  may include:

• building components
• chemicals, including:

• cleaning products
• flammable products
• pesticides
• registered agricultural and veterinary (AGVET) products

• physical barriers
• sealing components.

Manufacturer specifications  may include:

• emergency response resources
• equipment operating manuals
• government publications
• instructional guides
• material safety data sheets (MSDS)
• other resources supplied by manufacturer, such as:

• laminated cards
• notices
• wall posters

• product labels
• safety instructions pre-printed on equipment.

Legislative requirements  may include:

• Australian standards, quality assurance and certification requirements
• award and enterprise agreements
• industry advisory standards and codes, such as:

• building codes
• dangerous goods codes

• relevant commonwealth, state and territory legislation and local government regulations that affect company operation, such as:

• anti-discrimination and diversity
• chemical controls
• chemical registers and manifests
• consumer protection legislation
• dangerous goods Acts and regulations
• declared pest (plant and animal) reporting
• environmental protection issues
• equal employment opportunity
• freedom of information
• industrial relations
• motor and commercial vehicle transportation
• motor licence and endorsement regulations
• OHS Acts and regulations
• privacy
• public health
• trade practices
• workplace consultative arrangements.

Occupational health and safety  (also known as workplace health and safety) requirements  may relate to:

• allergic reactions, such as contact dermatitis
• animal management or control procedures
• communication devices for remote and isolated locations, such as:

• mobile phone
• two-way radio

• dermatoxicological control and prevention measures
• emergency procedures for contact with toxic substances, such as:

• splashes in eye or on skin
• inhalation
• ingestion

• hazard identification and risk assessment mechanisms
• health surveillance and monitoring, such as regular blood testing
• hierarchy of hazard control procedures
• industry advisory standards
• information provided by national registration authority for chemical approval and state government authorities, such as:

• agriculture
• environment protection
• health
• primary industry

• injury and dangerous occurrence reporting
• national and industry codes of practice
• OHS control procedures, such as:

• health and safety plans
• job plans
• job safety analyses
• risk assessments
• safe operating practices and procedures
• safe work instructions
• safe work method statements

• routes of entry and potential symptoms of exposure to chemicals
• safe work practices for equipment, PPE and chemical storage, including interpretation of MSDS and hazardous substance information, such as long latency periods
• safety, induction and refresher training
• selection and use of PPE and clothing appropriate to hazard
• up-to-date electrical test and tag compliance
• use of chemicals according to MSDS
• use of residual current devices
• use, storage and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer specifications and equipment operating manuals
• withholding periods and spray drift.

Vehicles  may be either two or four-wheel drive and include:

• all terrain vehicles (ATV)
• equipment trailers
• light trucks and vans
• panel vans
• tray utilities.

Personal protective equipment  may include:

• air-line and self-contained respirators
• breathing respirators:
• full-face
• half-face
• chemical-impervious gloves
• chemical-resistant aprons
• communication equipment
• contaminated clothing bags
• cradles
• drinking fluids
• dust masks
• eye protection, such as:

• safety glasses
• goggles
• eyewashes and showers

• face shields (splash-proof)
• first aid kits appropriate to tasks and locations
• hair nets
• hard hats
• high-visibility vests or clothing
• long pants
• noise protection
• non-slip safety shoes or boots
• overalls, coveralls or other chemical protective clothing
• prodding or probing sticks and rods
• safety harnesses
• soap and towel
• sunscreen
• tongs
• torches
• washable sun hats
• wet-work protective clothing.

Suitability  criteria may include:

• compliance with regulatory or legislative requirements
• containment of chemicals
• durability in normal working conditions
• ease of cleaning
• ease of use
• maintenance costs
• repair costs
• safety
• spray equipment application rates.

Estimation  may be based on:

• maintenance records
• manufacturer specifications
• previous experience
• usage patterns.

Chemicals  may include:

• cleaning products
• flammable products
• pesticides
• registered AGVET products.

Suppliers  may include:

• distributors
• manufacturers
• retail outlets.