Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to assess and control dried boards, separate them from the seasoning racks, and monitor their use and supply for the timber dressing process

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 FPISAW2206A De-stack seasoning racks

Application of the unit 

The unit involves de-stacking seasoning racks 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 de-stacking

2. De-stack racks

2.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to de-stacking seasoning racks are identified and followed

2.2. Work order  is reviewed and checked with appropriate personnel 

2.3. Type and quantity of boards  to be de -stacked  are assessed and acquired from the seasoning racks 

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

2.5. De-stacking process is planned in line with site procedures

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

2.7. Racks are visually assessed  for board type, size and quality

2.8. Racks that do not meet process requirements are rejected and disposed of  in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

2.9. Moisture content  of boards is measured and boards approved for de-stacking

2.10. Racks are loaded onto separation equipment  in line with site procedures

2.11. Boards are separated and loaded onto conveyor systems

2.12. Bearers  and other protective timber are removed and stored for return to stacking area

2.13. Spacing stick  removal and collection are checked for correct operation and stored

2.14. De-stacking area is kept clear of timber scraps and timber scraps are disposed of in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

3. Monitor board usage and maintain supply

3.1. Conveyor transfer procedures are maintained free of blockages

3.2. Racks are supplied to board separation equipment consistent with required size and species for dressing 

3.3. Dressing process size changes are received and board supply changed at designated times

3.4. Changeover points are monitored in line with site requirements

3.5. De-stacking process, board supply and equipment faults are recorded and reported  to the appropriate personnel

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 de-stack seasoning racks
• 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 de-stacking seasoning racks
• 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 de-stacking seasoning racks
• Environmental risks and hazards
• De-stacking techniques
• Moisture content and seasoning methods
• Mechanical separation systems
• Supply procedures
• 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 and efficiently de-stack seasoning racks 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 de-stacking seasoning racks
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to de-stacking seasoning racks
• de-stacking seasoning racks in readiness for allocation of timber to storage or downstream operations
• accurately setting board separation equipment parameters
• supplying de-stacked timber for the dressing 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 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
• 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 separation and supply 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
• in-the-rough timber
• stress and non-stress graded timber
• preservative treated timber

De-stacking 

• is the process of breaking down seasoning racks, moisture testing the boards and visually assessing their appearance quality
• includes separating the boards from the rack bearers and spacing sticks

Seasoning racks  are to include:

• air seasoning or kiln seasoning racks
• timber, steel or mobile racks with bearers and spacing sticks

Equipment  is to include:

• mechanical board separation machines

and may include:

• tilt hoist
• drop slides
• waterfalls
• singulators
• 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

Visual assessment  is

the assessment of timber to determine potential finish, quality and faults

Disposing of  may include:

• recycling rejected racks/timber scraps
• re-using rejected racks/timber scraps

Moisture content 

is the amount of moisture maintained in timber or timber products after kiln drying or to avoid cracking and deforming

Separation equipment 

refer to equipment

Bearers 

are large heavy timbers used to support loads of stacked timber in seasoning racks

Spacing sticks 

are used between layers of drying timber in seasoning racks

Dressing 

is the process of converting in-the-rough timber to planed clean timber using thicknessers and surface planers

Records and reports  may include:

• board separation requirements
• supply 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

Unit sector 

No sector assigned

Co-requisite units 

Competency field 

Sawmilling and Processing