Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to convert timber residue from a process into products designed for further use

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

Application of the unit 

The unit involves converting timber residue in a variety of settings including:

• saw mill
• wood chip mill
• veneer mill
• board/plywood mill
• timber treatment plants
• downstream processing of timber
• timber and wood products production

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 for residue conversion processing operation

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to operating machinery, grading residue  and handling material are identified and followed

1.2. Timber residue product outcome is identified and conversion process determined

1.3. Work order  is reviewed and confirmed with appropriate staff

1.4. Timber residue is graded in line with conversion process requirements

1.5. Equipment  is selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for effectiveness in line with manufacturer's specifications

1.6. Timber residue is transferred  and stored  in line with material handling specifications and chain of custody priorities

1.7. Communication  with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

2. Undertake conversion process to produce timber products

2.1. Work procedures are followed in line with OHS, environmental, legislative and residue output obligations and specifications

2.2. Product specifications and quality standards are confirmed, and plant and equipment set to ensure outputs are compliant with product specifications and environmental standards

2.3. Plant and equipment is operated in line with OHS standards, environmental requirements and manufacturer's specifications

2.4. Process is monitored, ensuring inputs and outputs are compliant with product specifications and environmental requirements

2.5. Waste is monitored, contained and disposed of  in line with environmental and legislative requirements and organisational protocols

2.6. Products are inspected to ensure they meet work order

2.7. Products are transferred and stored in line with material handling specifications and chain of custody priorities

3. Record outputs

3.1. Product volumes and any associated additives required for conversion to a marketable product are tallied and quantity surveyed

3.2. Outputs for quality control and certification purposes are recorded and reported 

3.3. Variations are reported in line with organisational requirements 

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; efficiently and safely grade and process wood and timber residue
• Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace
• Literacy skills sufficient to accurately record and report workplace information, and maintain documentation; read work orders; follow legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices and procedures, for screening wood or timber residue
• Numeracy skills sufficient to accurately tally and quantity-survey wood and timber residue products
• Problem solving skills sufficient to 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 converting timber residue for further use
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material (including preservative treated timber), the safe use and storage of chemicals and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for grading and handling wood and timber residue
• Environmental risks and hazards
• Minimising environmental impact
• Using energy effectively and efficiently
• Using material effectively and efficiently
• Product grading techniques and assessment
• Characteristics of wood chips and stock levels
• Chip production process
• Timber production processes
• Storage systems and labelling
• Alternative products for timber residue
• Established communication channels and protocols
• Problem identification and resolution
• Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their safe use and maintenance
• Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimation and measurement
• Procedures for the recording, reporting and maintenance of 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 convert timber residue for further use

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 converting timber residue
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to converting timber residue
• reading work order to establish conversion process requirements
• converting timber residue into marketable products in line with product specifications and environmental requirements
• monitoring, containing and disposing of waste in line with environmental legislation and organisational protocols
• transferring and storing timber residue and products in line with chain of custody priorities
• reporting and recording information relevant to the conversion process

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 may 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 identification and risk control
• fatigue management
• elimination of hazardous materials and substances
• 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)

Residue  may include:

• bark
• green chip and sawdust
• dry chip and sawdust
• resin and tannin extractives
• log peeler cores and veneer off-cuts
• particle board and MDF off-cuts
• treated boards
• treatment solution

Work order  must include:

• machine operating procedures specific to product and product quality standards
• product quality guidelines
• product processing guidelines
• packaging and/or shipping requirements

and may include:

• instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures
• environmental care requirements relevant to the work

Equipment  may include:

• processing plant
• hand tools
• transfer systems
• chippers
• washing plants
• aggregate sorters

Transfer  may include:

• initial production process
• conversion process
• chemical alteration

Storage  may include:

• hopper
• pallets
• yard
• warehouse
• dumps

Communication  may include:

• verbal and non-verbal language
• hand or other agreed signals
• eye contact with other operators or personnel
• active listening
• questioning to clarify and confirm understanding
• use of electronic communication devices

Disposing of  may include:

• recycling waste
• re-using waste
• redirecting waste for energy recovery

Records and reports  may include:

• product type
• size
• profile
• inspection
• grading and labelling outcomes
• storage locations
• quality outcomes
• incidents
• hazards
• equipment malfunctions

and may be:

• manual
• or by using a computer-based system or other appropriate organisational communication system

Competency field 

Common Technical