Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to enable effective communication between riggers/doggers and drivers during a lift including establishing an agreed communications system and trialing and configuring communication arrangements in accordance with regulatory requirements and codes of practice. Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements are applicable to this unit.

Application of the Unit 

Work must be carried out in compliance with the licence/permit requirements and regulations of the relevant state/territory authorities pertaining to operations of mobile cranes up to and including 20 tonnes.

Work is performed with limited or minimum supervision, with limited accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes. It involves the application of routine principles, procedures and regulations to lift and move loads using slewing and non-slewing mobile cranes up to and including 20 tonnes in a variety of operational contexts.

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 Establishing agreed communications system 

1.1 Forms of signals/communication conforming to Australian Standards and codes of practice are identified

1.2 Methods of communication to be used in crane operations are agreed with relevant personnel

2 Trial and configure communications 

2.1 Communications are trialed and adjusted and/or confirmed as required to ensure a safe and effective lift

2.2 Communications equipment is checked for correct operation and configured in line with legislative and workplace requirements

2.3 Defective equipment is tagged, rejected and reported to authorised personnel for corrective action

2.4 Signals/communications are given both within sight and out of sight of crane operator

3 Use communication methods during a lift 

3.1 Communication methods and systems are used during a lift in accordance with regulatory requirements, manufacturers instructions and workplace procedures

3.2 Problems identified during communications are reported and immediate action initiated in accordance with workplace procedures and regulatory requirements

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS 

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge :

• Relevant road rules, regulations, permit and licence requirements pertaining to mobile crane operation

• Relevant OH&S and environmental procedures and regulations

• Mobile crane applications, capacities, configurations, safety hazards and control mechanisms

• Risks and hazards involved in mobile crane operation and associated action that can be taken to eliminate or minimise the risk

• Workplace procedures and statutory regulations concerning the communications between a rigger/dogger and a mobile crane driver before and during a lift

• Problems that may occur in communications during a lift and associated action that can be taken to address the problems concerned

• Methods used to signal movement of the load during a lift

• Communication systems used during a lift

Required skills :

• Communicate effectively with others when conducting a lift

• Read and interpret instructions, procedures, regulations, information and signals relevant to communication between the rigger or dogger and the crane driver

• Interpret and follow operational instructions and prioritise work

• Operate electronic communication equipment to required protocol

• Work collaboratively with others when conducting a lift

• Adapt appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions with others

• Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems that may arise in the course of communication between a crane driver and the rigger or dogger in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

• Implement contingency plans for unanticipated situations that may occur in the course of communication between a crane driver and the rigger or dogger

• Apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist in the course of communication between a crane driver and the rigger or dogger

• Plan own work including predicting consequences and identifying improvements

• Monitor work activities in terms of planned schedule

• Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

• Work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

• Prioritise and multi-task work

• Identify and correctly use equipment, processes and procedures

• Operate and adapt to differences in equipment in accordance with standard operating procedures

• Select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OH&S standards

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

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 and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying:

• the underpinning knowledge and skills
• relevant legislation and workplace procedures
• other relevant aspects of the range statement

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts
• Resources for assessment include:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or
• access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

• In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

• relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and
• applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment 

• Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation
• As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests
• Practical assessment must occur:

• through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or
• in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

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.

Operations may be conducted:

• by day or night
• in a variety of weather conditions

Environment may include movement of:

• equipment
• goods
• materials
• vehicular traffic

Customers may be:

• internal or external

Mobile crane may be any slewing and non-slewing crane and may be involved in work in a range of industry sectors including:

• construction and demolition
• manufacturing
• waterfront
• mining
• primary industry
• utilities (electricity, gas, water
• arboricultural
• swimming pool
• quarrying

Agreed signals/communications conforming to Australian Standards and codes of practice for load moving include signals for:

• stop
• raise
• lower
• slew-left or right
• luff-boom up and down
• extend boom
• retract boom

Methods used to signal movement of the load may include:

• verbal
• hand signals in accordance with standards and codes of practice
• whistles/hooters in accordance with standards and codes of practice
• two-way radios/telephones in accordance with standards and codes of practice
• light signals in accordance with standards and codes of practice

Consultative processes may involve:

• driver/rigger
• other employees and supervisors
• other professional or technical staff

Hazards may include:

• power lines
• noise, light, energy sources
• overhead service lines
• surrounding buildings, structures, facilities
• underground services
• obstructions
• uneven or unstable ground and recently filled trenches
• stationary and moving machinery and equipment
• hazardous or dangerous materials
• traffic hazards and congestion
• other vehicles and personnel

Hazard management is consistent with:

• the principle of hierarchy of control with elimination, substitution, isolation and engineering control measures being selected before safe working practices and personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment may include:

• gloves
• safety headwear and footwear
• sunscreen, sunglasses and safety glasses
• two-way radios
• high visibility clothing

Requirements for access and/or lift may include:

• a range of mobile cranes
• site restrictions and procedures
• authorities and permits
• hours of operation
• induction
• slings, chains, nets, brackets and other specialised lifting equipment
• noise restrictions
• personal protective equipment
• support trucks
• additional gear and equipment
• communications equipment

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

• company procedures
• enterprise procedures
• organisational procedures
• established procedures
• site procedures

Documentation/records may include:

• site plans
• Safe Working Load (SWL) and Working Load Limit (WLL)
• operations manuals
• induction documentation
• competency standards and training materials
• job specifications and procedures
• manufacturers specifications
• workplace operating procedures and policies
• supplier and/or client instructions
• communications technology equipment, oral, aural or signed communications
• personal and work area work procedures and practices
• conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including:

• workplace agreements and awards
• occupational health&safety procedures
• standards and certification requirements
• quality assurance procedures
• emergency procedures

Applicable procedures and codes may include:

• relevant state/territory regulations and licence/permit requirements pertaining to mobile crane operations including dogging and rigging requirements
• relevant Australian Standards and certification requirements
• relevant state/territory road rules
• relevant state/territory OH&S legislation
• relevant state/territory fatigue management regulations
• relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

Competency Field 

E - Communication and Calculation