Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to inspect premises and surrounding areas for timber pests. It includes collecting and testing evidence from the site, assessing the type of timber pest, nature of activity and extent of damage, and preparing an inspection report with recommendations for timber pest management.

Types of timber pests vary in different geographic regions. This unit applies to those timber pests found in the local geographic area.

A person working at this level would be expected to take responsibility for organising and completing tasks assigned to them without close supervision.

This unit forms part of the licensing requirements for people engaged in pest management in some states and territories. For further information, check with the relevant regulatory authority.

Pre-requisite Unit

Nil

Unit Sector

Urban Pest Management

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Candidates require:

• oral communication skills to use questioning and active listening to clarify client expectations
• reading skills to interpret key requirements of Australian standards and industry codes of practice
• numeracy skills to measure dimensions and calculate area and volume of premises
• writing skills to accurately and legibly record findings when undertaking site inspections.

Unit Mapping Information

Supersedes and equivalent to CPPPMT3008 Inspect for and report on timber pests.

Links

Companion volumes to this training package are available at the VETNet website - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=6f3f9672-30e8-4835-b348-205dfcf13d9b

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

To demonstrate competency, a candidate must meet the performance criteria of this unit by inspecting for and reporting on timber pests at ten different premises involving:

• inspection for evidence of activity from subterranean termites at a minimum of five premises
• identification of evidence of subterranean termites at one premises
• inspection for evidence of activity from two other types of timber pests from the list below:

• borers
• damp wood termites
• dry wood termites
• wood decay fungi.

At each premises:

• the following evidence must be inspected for:

• chambers
• damp swell (bulging walls)
• discolouration of timber or plaster
• evidence of feeding
• holes
• mud tracks and leads
• nests and nest materials
• specimens
• timber damage, timber shavings and sawdust

• inspection areas must include four or more of the following:

• external areas of property including trees and fences
• external surfaces
• floor areas
• interiors
• timber areas including trims and mouldings
• outbuildings
• roof voids
• subfloors

• site assessment must include five or more of the following:

• age of structures
• associated building or land use
• dark and humid areas
• drainage
• evidence of previous treatments
• level of moisture
• risk factors encouraging timber pest activity
• soil types
• timber types
• ventilation.

Knowledge Evidence

To be competent in this unit, a candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

• climatic and geographic impact on timber pest activities
• compliance requirements associated with inspecting for and reporting on timber pests:

• Australian standards, quality assurance and certification requirements including:

• AS/NZS 3660 Termite Management Set (AS/NZS 3660)
• AS 4349.3 Inspection of buildings Timber pest inspections

• industry guides, advisory standards and relevant industry codes of practice
• key requirements of commonwealth, state and territory legislation and local government regulations:

• consumer protection
• legal implications of timber pest management work
• licensing requirements for timber pest management
• privacy
• public health and safety

• construction terminology used to describe building structures and construction methods in relation to timber pest activity
• difference between general timber inspections and pre-purchase inspections
• information and industry terminology typically contained in pest management work instructions
• soil and timber types in relation to timber pest activity
• tools and equipment used when inspecting for timber pests:

• inspection tools and equipment:

• camera
• hand lens
• ladder
• measuring tape
• mirror
• moisture meter
• pliers
• probes or knife
• report check sheet or notepad
• sounding tools
• specimen bottle
• torch

• personal protective equipment (PPE):

• eye, ear and respiratory protection
• site-specific PPE and clothing
• soap and towel
• sun protection

• types of timber pests and their ecology, biology, lifecycles, habits and harbourages:

• borers
• damp wood termites
• dry wood termites
• subterranean termites
• wood decay fungi

• types of further inspections that may be recommended to clients:

• detailed inspections including thermal inspections
• inspections by other personnel including builders, electricians and plumbers
• invasive inspections including those using a bore-scope

• typical hazards encountered when inspecting for timber pests, and risk control measures for each:

• animal bites and stings
• confined or restricted spaces
• electrical
• environmental contamination
• fire
• ladder use
• lighting
• manual handling
• moving vehicles and machinery
• noise
• remote locations
• residual pesticides and other chemicals
• respiratory
• slips and trips
• temperature
• ultraviolet radiation
• work at heights

• typical timber pest pressure areas
• workplace policies and procedures that apply to inspecting for and reporting on timber pests:

• documentation and reporting
• format and content of inspection plans
• work health and safety:

• emergency response procedures
• hazard identification, risk assessment and control using the hierarchy of control
• injury, dangerous occurrence and incident reporting
• safe work methods including ladder use.

Assessment Conditions

Assessors must meet the requirements for assessors contained in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

Evidence of assessment for pest management activities in seven of the ten premises as specified in the performance evidence, must be based on documentation and photographic evidence that has been validated by a workplace supervisor. A workplace supervisor is a person duly authorised to perform and validate the work being undertaken.

Evidence of assessment for pest management activities in three of the ten premises as specified in the performance evidence:

• must be based on direct observation and assessment of the candidate by an assessor:

• physically, or
• via audio and visual media provided the candidate is physically accompanied by a person who is licensed or holds the required competency to inspect for timber pests

• must involve subterranean termites for a minimum of one premises
• must be in a real workplace for a minimum of two premises
• may be simulated for one premises provided the simulation allows demonstration of all performance criteria.

Candidates must have access to premises and associated work instructions, information, tools, equipment and PPE required to achieve the performance evidence including:

• previous inspection reports or pest treatment records if available
• Australian standards: AS/NZS 3660 and AS4349.3.
• relevant industry codes of practice including:

• A Code of Practice for Prior to Purchase Specialist Timber Pest Inspections
• Code of Best Practice for Termite Management
• Code of Best Practice for Termite Management During Construction.

Links

Companion volumes to this training package are available at the VETNet website - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=6f3f9672-30e8-4835-b348-205dfcf13d9b