Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to identify, sort and rack hardwood or softwood material. The unit includes verification of material to ensure appropriate quality and separation of material with faults

General workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publication

This unit replaces FPICOT2202A Rack material

Application of the unit 

The unit involves racking material in a forest products factory setting

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

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. Prepare to rack material

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to racking material  are identified and followed

1.2. Work order  is reviewed and clarified with appropriate personnel 

1.3. Tools and equipment are selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer recommendations and site procedures

1.4. Racking material procedures are identified and assessed for safe working conditions and planned in line with site procedures

1.5. Communication  with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements and site procedures

2. Identify material

2.1. Type and quantity of material to be racked is identified in line with work order

2.2. Round poles are identified by visual estimate or using a measuring tool to meet industry requirements for standard diameter ranges

2.3. Sawn or dressed boards are identified by visual estimate or using a measuring tool to meet industry requirements for standard cross sections

2.4. Industry requirements for standard lengths of material are identified by visual estimate or using a measuring tool

2.5. Stress grade labels, colour identification marks and other tags are identified and interpreted

3. Rack material

3.1. Material is racked in line with work order, and environmental and OHS requirements

3.2. Material of consistent type, section and length is racked in line with work order requirements

3.3. Material with faults is identified, separated and disposed of  in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

3.4. Bearers and spacing sticks are placed squarely, evenly and consistently in line with site procedures

3.5. Bearers and spacing sticks are checked for consistent thickness and damage, and disposed of as necessary

3.6. Work area is regularly cleared to maintain a safe and efficient workflow in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

3.7. Problems associated with racking material processes are rectified or reported for resolution

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Required skills 

• Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; safely rack material to industry and site standards; use suitable bearers and spacing sticks for racking
• Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace; locate and report information
• Literacy skills sufficient to follow legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices and procedures for racking material; locate, interpret and apply workplace information and instructions
• Numeracy skills sufficient to apply appropriate mathematical processes to measure material against industry standards for sizing; estimate, measure and calculate time required to complete a task
• Problem solving skills sufficient to review and identify work requirements; identify problems and equipment faults; demonstrate appropriate response procedures

Required knowledge 

• Applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for racking material
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material (including preservative treated material) and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for racking material
• Criteria for recycling and re-using material with faults
• Hazards and risks associated with racking material, including environmental hazards and risks
• Range and types of material to be racked
• Industry standard cross section and length dimensions and tolerances
• Industry standard cross section profiles and names
• Established communication channels and protocols
• Problem identification and resolution strategies, and common fault finding techniques
• Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance
• Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks
• Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

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 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently:

• identify, sort and rack hardwood or softwood material to industry standards
• separate material with identified faults according to organisational guidelines

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, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

• following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to racking material
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to racking material
• safely preparing, sorting and racking material to industry standards
• identifying, separating and safely disposing of material with faults

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
• Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
• Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
• Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
• The following resources should be made available:

• workplace location or simulated workplace
• materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit
• specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment 

• Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package
• Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge
• Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills
• Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge
• Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
• Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances
• Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
• The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
• Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
• Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
• Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

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.

OHS requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

• personal protective equipment and clothing
• safety equipment
• first aid equipment
• fire fighting equipment
• hazard and risk control
• fatigue management
• elimination of hazardous materials and substances
• safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire
• manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

Environmental requirements may include :

• legislation
• organisational policies and procedures
• workplace practices

Legislative requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

• award and enterprise agreements
• industrial relations
• Australian Standards
• confidentiality and privacy
• OHS
• the environment
• equal opportunity
• anti-discrimination
• relevant industry codes of practice
• duty of care

Organisational  requirements may include:

• legal
• organisational and site guidelines
• policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility
• quality assurance
• procedural manuals
• quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
• OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures
• ethical standards
• recording and reporting requirements
• equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements
• environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Material  may be:

• hardwood or softwood
• sawn or dressed finish
• timber species
• preservative treated or untreated, with preservative treatment type, including:

• copper chromium arsenate (CCA)
• light organic solvent preservatives (LOSP)
• creosote
• water-borne

• round poles of all industry standard diameter ranges
• rectangular and common profile cross sections with industry standard dimensions and industry standard lengths to a maximum weight and flexibility consistent with manual handling

Work order  is to include:

• details of material to be racked
• special client requirements
• production timelines
• instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures
• environmental care requirements relevant to the work

Appropriate personnel  may include:

• supervisors
• clients
• colleagues
• line management

Communication  may include:

• verbal and non-verbal language
• constructive feedback
• active listening
• questioning to clarify and confirm understanding
• use of positive, confident and cooperative language
• use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences
• control of tone of voice

Disposing of  may include:

• recycling material with faults/inconsistent or damaged spacing sticks and bearers
• re-using material with faults/inconsistent or damaged spacing sticks and bearers
• redirecting material with faults/inconsistent or damaged spacing sticks and bearers for energy recovery

Competency field 

Common Technical