Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to prepare and implement a plan to manage timber pests. It includes reviewing existing reports relating to timber pest activity at the premises and planning, implementing and monitoring strategies to control timber pests. The unit requires selecting equipment, chemicals, materials and methods to effectively manage the timber pest problem.

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 when responding to client issues and concerns
• reading skills to interpret key requirements of Australian standards, SDS and industry codes of practice
• numeracy skills to:

• calculate flow rates and pressures when using termiticide application equipment
• calculate required termiticide volume and bait and dust quantities
• measure dimensions and calculate area and volume of treatment site
• prepare and mix chemicals in the correct quantities and ratios

• writing skills to accurately and legibly prepare certificates and notices and complete documentation.

Unit Mapping Information

Supersedes and equivalent to CPPPMT3010 Control 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 controlling timber pests at ten different premises involving:

• different construction methods including slab-on-ground and suspended floor
• controls for subterranean termites at a minimum of five premises
• controls for two other types of timber pests from the list below:

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

• eradication and exclusion using five or more of the following:

• bait box
• concrete drill
• dust applicator
• foaming applicator
• liquid injection nozzle
• monitoring station
• slab injector
• soil injector
• soil spray nozzle
• termiticide station

• using termiticides and one or more of the following:

• physical termite management system
• sealing components.

• Timber pest management plans for each premises must detail:

• identified timber pest types and potential for timber pest activity
• extent of timber pest activity or infestation including the source, scope and degree of timber pest activity and contributing risk factors
• timber pest management methods
• types and quantities of chemicals to be used and chemical application methods
• risk management plan
• record keeping mandated by licensing or regulatory requirements
• advice on health, safety, environmental protection and other compliance and mandatory notification requirements
• advice on timber pest prevention strategies
• follow-up timber pest management advice, monitoring and call-back schedule.

Knowledge Evidence

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

• building structures and construction methods relevant to work sites described in the performance evidence and control of timber pests at those sites
• chemicals’ routes of entry into the human body and potential symptoms of exposure
• climatic and geographic impact on timber pest activities
• compliance requirements associated with controlling timber pests:

• Australian standards, quality assurance and certification requirements:

• AS/NZS 3660 Termite Management Set (AS/NZS 3660)
• AS 4349.2 Inspection of buildings Group titled properties
• AS 4349.3 Inspection of buildings Timber pest inspections

• environmental requirements:

• clean up, containment or isolation of hazards
• emergency chemical spill control measures
• hazardous materials handling
• waste handling and disposal

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

• chemical use, registers and manifests
• consumer protection
• environmental protection
• legal implications of timber pest management work
• licensing requirements for timber pest management
• mandatory notifications
• privacy

• public health and safety:

• licence endorsements and conditions or limitations
• occupant notifications
• record of site conditions
• warning signs

• information and industry terminology typically contained in pest management work instructions
• meaning of integrated pest management
• pest management methods used to control timber pests:

• chemical, cultural and physical controls in a range of environments and conditions
• difference in action and application of termiticides
• product knowledge and manufacturers’ specifications for equipment and products used to control timber pests

• purpose of, and information typically contained in safety data sheets (SDS)
• soil types in relation to timber pest activities
• tools, equipment and materials used to control timber pests:

• access and inspection tools equipment:

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

• application and installation equipment:

• bait box or station
• concrete drill
• dust applicator
• foaming applicator
• liquid injection nozzle
• monitoring station
• slab injector
• soil injector
• soil spray nozzle
• termiticide station

• materials:

• physical termite management systems
• sealing components
• termiticides

• personal protective equipment (PPE):

• eye, ear and respiratory protection
• first aid kit
• 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

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

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

• workplace policies and procedures that apply to controlling timber pests:

• documentation and reporting
• format and content requirements for timber pest management 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 manual handling and 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 control 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, materials, tools, equipment and PPE required to achieve the performance evidence including:

• inspection reports for premises
• Australian standards: AS/NZS 3660 and AS 4349.2
• 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
• Industry Code of Practice for Training in the Pest Management Industry.

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