Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to set up, operate and maintain a mechanical sorting machine to process boards of varying sizes

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 FPISAW2203A Sort boards mechanically

Application of the unit 

The unit involves sorting boards mechanically 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

Prerequisite units 

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 sorting

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to sorting boards mechanically are identified and followed

1.2. Work order  is reviewed and checked with appropriate personnel 

1.3. Type and quantity of boards  to be sorted  are assessed and acquired from the storage location 

1.4. Equipment  is selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations

1.5. Sorting process is planned in line with site procedures

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

2. Sort boards

2.1. Pre start -up checks  are carried out on equipment in line with site requirements

2.2. Board cross-sections, lengths and grades  to be sorted are identified, size discriminations  set and timber flow to the machine planned

2.3. Program  linking board sizes to storage bins or trays is selected, entered and adjusted to optimise storage space and ensure an efficient operation

2.4. Sorting process is conducted automatically and correct operation of the machine, gates, conveyors and bins checked

2.5. Flow of material is maintained and boards are directed to subsequent operations in line with size and grade

2.6. Machine performance is monitored to ensure board sizes are consistent with machine settings and visual inspection 

2.7. Boards rejected during the automatic sorting process or visual inspection are disposed of  in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

2.8. Sorting process and equipment faults are recorded and reported  to the appropriate personnel

3. Conduct operator maintenance

3.1. Equipment lock-out procedures are followed in line with OHS legislation and site procedures

3.2. Photo electric cells and reflectors  or other switching systems are regularly cleaned and checked

3.3. Sorting machine size identification mechanisms are checked, maintained and cleaned

3.4. Sorting area is kept clear of dust, off-cuts and debris in line with OHS 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 operate sorting equipment
• Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace
• Literacy skills sufficient to accurately locate, record and report information
• Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate, measure and calculate time required to complete a task
• Problem solving skills sufficient to review and accurately identify work requirements; identify problems and equipment faults and 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 sorting boards mechanically
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material, minimising carbon emissions and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for sorting boards mechanically
• Environmental risks and hazards
• Sorting procedures and mechanical sorting techniques
• Grading markings and quality standards
• Storage systems and labelling
• 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 operate mechanical sorting equipment in line with organisational requirements

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 sorting boards mechanically
• following with organisational policies and procedures relevant to sorting boards mechanically
• operating mechanical sorting equipment in readiness for allocation of timber to storage or downstream operations
• accurately setting mechanical sorting equipment parameters
• conducting operator maintenance on mechanical sorting equipment

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
• manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying
• machine isolation and guarding

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 and maintenance and storage requirements
• environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Work order  is to include:

• instructions for the mechanical sorting of timber

and may include:

• type
• width
• length
• thickness
• quantity

and may also include:

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

Appropriate personnel  may include:

• supervisors
• suppliers
• clients
• colleagues
• managers

Boards  may include:

• native timber species
• imported timber species
• dressed timber
• in-the-rough timber
• stress and non-stress graded timber
• preservative treated timber

Sorting  may include:

• classifying timber into lots consisting of the same size and grade dependent on:

• length
• width
• thickness
• quality of board
• or sorting for other production lines or waste

Storage locations  may include:

• storage racks
• storage bays
• bins
• stacks
• pallet boxes
• modularised storage components
• temporary stacking bays (stand, frame or ground)

and may be divided into:

• standard product classification
• product designation
• size
• dimension
• stack number
• weight
• grade
• shelf life
• stock rotation position

Equipment  is to include:

• mechanical sorting machines

and may include:

• drop sorters
• waterfalls
• unscramblers
• tray sorters

and is to include:

• procedures for equipment lock-out such as protecting operators and co-workers from accidental injury by isolating the machine from the power source

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
• body language

Pre start-up checks 

are conducted to ensure:

• equipment has been set-up correctly
• systems are performing accurately
• equipment is operating to optimum performance

Grading 

is the process of:

• visually evaluating material characteristics and defects for classification into varying strength and appearance grades
• inspecting timber to classify quality of individual boards

Size discrimination 

is the settings on the mechanical sorting machine which identify and classify the size of boards, determining their allocation to a size category

Program 

is the computer based program which determines sorting of varying sized boards to their allocated storage area

Visual inspection  is to include:

the assessment of timber to determine:

• finish quality
• faults

Disposing of  may include:

• recycling rejected boards
• re-using rejected boards

Records and reports  may include:

• automatic sorting requirements
• product type
• size
• inspection
• grading and marking outcomes
• storage locations
• quality outcomes
• hazards
• incidents
• equipment malfunctions

and may be:

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

Photo electric cells and reflectors 

are sensory devices which calculate size and tell the computer where to direct the board

Unit sector 

No sector assigned

Co-requisite units 

Competency field 

Sawmilling and Processing