Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency involves measuring current resource use effectively and carrying out improvements, including those that will reduce the negative environmental impacts of work practices.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application of the unit 

This unit addresses the knowledge, processes and techniques necessary to participate in environmentally sustainable work practices in the seafood industry. Most seafood enterprises are required to have an environmental management system. This unit can be used for training and assessing personnel in the implementation of that system.

All enterprise or workplace procedures and activities are carried out according to relevant government regulations , licensing and other compliance requirements . Equipment operation, maintenance, repairs and calibrations are undertaken in a safe manner that conforms to manufacturer instructions.

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. Identify current resource use

1.1. Workplace environmental and resource efficiency  issues are identified and conveyed to work team or supervisor.

1.2. Resources used in own work role are identified and potential for environmental improvement  considered.

1.3. Current usage of resources is measured using appropriate techniques , and data recorded and stored.

1.4. Workplace environmental hazards  are identified and reported to appropriate personnel.

2. Comply with environmental regulations

2.1. Procedures are followed to ensure compliance  with relevant regulations.

2.2. Breaches or potential breaches of relevant regulations are reported to appropriate personnel.

3. Seek opportunities to improve resource efficiency

3.1. Enterprise plans  to improve environmental practices and resource efficiency are followed.

3.2. Suggestions  are made for improvements to workplace practices and resource efficiency.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• communicating to clarify work requirements, suggest improvements to workplace practices and resource efficiency, and report compliance concerns to appropriate personnel
• embracing changes to work practices that support environmental and resource efficiencies
• innovation skills to identify potential improvements to work practices and resource efficiency
• sharing information on environmental practices and resource efficiency with work team and/or supervisor
• using technology to record and store measurement data on resource usage.

Literacy skills used for :

• interpreting data relating to resource usage
• interpreting enterprise environmental policy and procedures.

Numeracy skills used for :

• recording resource usage measurement data.

Required knowledge 

• basic environmental sustainability principles
• environmental and resource hazards and risks associated with the seafood sector relevant to work area
• environmental laws, regulations and standards and why they are relevant to the work context and seafood industry
• procedures and processes relevant to work area that support environmental and resource efficiencies
• procedures for reporting environmental and resource hazards and risks, and environmental and resource efficiencies and inefficiencies.

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 

Critical aspects for assessment evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit 

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

• contribute to the enterprise environmental management system or plan within scope of work role
• identify environmental hazards/risks and opportunities for improvements and inefficiencies in the workplace
• record and store measurements of current resource use.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

• common environmental hazards and risks in work area and industry sector
• enterprise environmental management system or plan and its application to own work role.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Assessment must relate to the individual's work area or area of responsibility.

Resources include:

• access to appropriate workplace documentation and personnel
• relevant legislation, standards and guidelines
• reports from other parties involved in the process of identifying and implementing improvements.

Method of assessment 

The following assessment methods are suggested:

• interview
• project (work or scenario based)
• workplace documentation, such as recorded data of resource usage, and minutes or meeting notes showing contribution
• written or oral short-answer testing.

Guidance information for assessment 

This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.

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.

Relevant government regulations , licensing and other compliance requirements  may include:

• biodiversity and genetically modified organisms
• biosecurity, translocation and quarantine
• Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) and other import requirements
• business or workplace operations, policies and practices
• correct marketing names and labelling
• ecologically sustainable development (ESD) principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control
• fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences
• food safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), hygiene and temperature control along chain of custody
• health and welfare of aquatic animals
• Indigenous land rights and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods
• maritime and occupational diving operations, safety at sea and pollution control
• occupational health and safety (OHS) hazard identification, risk assessment and control.

Environmental and resource efficiency issues  may include:

• maximising opportunities to improve business environmental performance
• minimising environmental risks
• promoting more efficient production and consumption of natural resources (e.g. minimising waste by participating in or using a waste management system)
• using resources efficiently, such as material usage, energy usage (e.g. seeking alternative sources of energy or energy conservation) or efficient water usage.

Potential for environmental improvement  may include:

• applying animal welfare ethics and procedures
• complying with environmental regulations for biosecurity and translocation of livestock and genetic material
• controlling effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution
• controlling weeds, pests, predators and diseases, and stock health maintenance
• improving energy efficiency
• increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources
• maintaining biodiversity by sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection
• minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions
• preventing live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment
• reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
• reducing energy use
• reducing interactions with native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas
• reducing use of non-renewable resources
• maintaining facility quarantine
• using and recycling of water, and maintaining water quality.

Appropriate techniques  may include:

• efficiency rating tables
• examination of invoices from suppliers to compare per unit cost of product or service
• examination of relevant information and data, for example:

• labelling of contents
• measurement of resource consumption under a range of conditions
• place of origin and manufacture.

Environmental hazards  may include:

• by-catch
• biosecurity and translocation of livestock and genetic material
• excessive feeding
• fish mortalities and organic waste
• poorly maintained machinery and equipment
• waste and debris (e.g. from netting and fishing tackle, oil and fuel containers).

Compliance  may include meeting the requirements of:

• federal, state and territory environmental legislation, such as:

• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
• Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000

• International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)
• local government by-laws and regulations, including regional land and water management plans
• state and territory environmental protection authorities and agencies
• third-party standards, such as the ISO 14000 series and those of the Marine Stewardship Council.

Enterprise plans  may include:

• documented policies and procedures
• environmental management system
• work plans, including those relating to minimising waste, increasing the efficiency of water use and improving water quality.

Suggestions  may include ideas that help to:

• improve energy efficiency
• increase the use of renewable, recyclable, re-usable and recoverable resources
• maximise opportunities, such as the use of solar or other alternative forms of energy, where appropriate
• prevent and minimise risks
• reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

Unit sector 

Environment and sustainability

Co-requisite units 

Competency field