Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This competency covers the outcomes required to effectively measure current resource use and carry out improvements including those reducing negative environmental impacts of work practices.

This unit is based on the sustainability guideline standard GCSSUS01A Participate in environmentally sustainable work practices.

Application of the unit 

This competency applies to operators/team members who are required to follow procedures so as to work in an environmentally sustainable manner. This ensures regulatory compliance and also aims at minimising environmental risks and maximises the environmental performance of the process and the organisation.

It includes:

• Resources used
• Potential environmental hazards
• Improving environmental performance (within scope of competency and authority).

This competency applies to all sectors of the manufacturing industry and members of its value chain. It may also be applied to all sections of an organisation, including office, warehouse etc. This unit will need to be appropriately contextualised as it is applied across an organisation and across different industry sectors.

Prerequisite units 

This unit has no  prerequisites

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. Identify current resource use and environmental issues.

1.1. Identify workplace environmental and resource efficiency issues .

1.2. Identify resources used in own work role.

1.3. Measure  and record current usage of resources using appropriate techniques .

1.4. Identify and report workplace environmental hazards to appropriate personnel.

2. Comply with environmental regulations.

2.1. Follow procedures  to ensure compliance .

2.2. Report environmental incidents  to appropriate personnel.

3. Seek opportunities to improve environmental practices and resource efficiency.

3.1. Follow enterprise plans  to improve environmental practices and resource efficiency.

3.2. Make suggestions  for improvements to workplace practices in own work area.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

Required skills include the ability to:

• report as required by procedures
• follow procedures and instructions and respond to change
• ask questions and seek clarifications relating to work requirements

Reading and writing is required in order to interpretrequired procedures and complete required workplace forms/reports.

Numeracy is required to interpret numeric workplace information, readings and measurements, handle data as required and complete numeric components of workplace forms/reports.

Required knowledge 

Competency includes sufficient knowledge to:

• have a basic understanding of sustainability
• know the environmental hazards/risks, resource use and inefficiencies associated with own workplace (at an appropriate level)
• know the relevant environmental and resource efficiency systems and procedures for own work area
• know the impact of laws and regulations to a level relevant to the work context

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 competence in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to follow workplace procedures according to instructions given and to participate in the improvement of environmental and resource efficient work practices at own level of responsibility. Evidence must be strictly relevant to the particular workplace role.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the knowledge and skills defined in this unit. These may include the ability to:

• identify and measure resources used in their job
• identify situations likely to lead to an environmental incident
• follow procedures related to environmental performance.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that:

• work is routinely to procedures
• the minimum of resources is used consistent with the job requirements, good practice and the procedures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the Elements, Performance Criteria and skills and knowledge.

Depending on the selected methods of assessment access may be required to:

• workplace procedures and plans
• documentation in relation to production, waste, overheads, hazard control/management
• reports from supervisors/managers
• case study/scenarios

Method of assessment 

A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.

Competence in this unit may be assessed:

• by demonstration in the workplace
• using targeted questioning for appropriate portions
• by use of a suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios
• by a combination of these techniques.

In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge and theoretical assessment will be combined with appropriate practical/simulation or similar assessment.

Guidance information for assessment 

Assessors need to be aware of any cultural issues that may affect responses to questions. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.

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.

Procedures 

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures including all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.

Environmental and resource efficiency issues 

Environmental and resource efficiency issues include minimisation of environmental risks and maximisation of opportunities to improve business environmental performance and to promote more efficient production and consumption of natural resources, for example by:

• minimisation of waste, through implementation of the waste management hierarchy
• efficient and effective use of energy and other resources
• seeking alternative sources of energy
• efficient use of materials and appropriate disposal of waste
• use of controls to minimise the risk of environmental damage from hazardous substances
• efficient water use
• reducing emissions
• life cycle analysis applied to issues such as energy supply, materials, transport, production

Measure 

Measure should be interpreted in a manner consistent with the scope of the job and may include things like:

• counting the number of items entering/leaving a work area
• reading indicators in the work area
• obtaining relevant information from support personnel
• other simple means

Appropriate techniques 

Appropriate techniques include:

• material fed to/consumed by plant/equipment
• plant meters and gauges
• job cards including kanbans
• examination of invoices from suppliers
• measurements made under different conditions
• examination of relevant information and data.

Compliance 

Compliance includes meeting relevant federal, state and local government laws, by-laws, regulations and mandated codes of practice. It also includes any codes and standards that the enterprise applies voluntarily.

Incidents 

Incidents include:

• breaches or potential breaches of regulations
• occurrences outside of standard procedure which may lead to lower environmental performance.

Enterprise plans 

Enterprise plans include:

• documented policies and procedures
• work plans to minimise waste, increase efficiency of water/energy use, minimise environmental hazards

Suggestions 

Suggestions include ideas that help to:

• prevent and minimise environmental risks and maximise opportunities
• reduce emissions of greenhouse gases
• reduce use of non-renewable resources
• improve energy efficiency
• increase use of renewable, recyclable, reusable and recoverable resources
• reduce waste
• increasing the reusability/recyclability of wastes/products
• reduce water usage and/or water wastage.

Unit sector 

Competency field 

Competitive manufacturing tools

Co-requisite units