FPIHAR3210C Conduct mechanical processor operations

Release: 2

FPIHAR3210C Conduct mechanical processor operations

Modification History

Performance criteria numbering added

Unit Descriptor

Unit descriptor	This unit describes the outcomes required to operate a wheeled or tracked mechanical processor in a forest environment. It requires the mandatory functions of processing trees mechanically, and segregating and stacking logs Compliance with licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may be required in various jurisdictions This unit replaces FPIHAR3210B Conduct mechanical processor operations

Application of the Unit

Application of the unit	The unit involves conducting mechanical processor operations in a forest environment The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor

Pre-Requisites

Not Applicable

Employability Skills Information

Employability skills	This unit contains employability skills

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

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.

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Plan and prepare for operations	1.1.Applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to conducting mechanical processor operations are identified and followed 1.2.Site environmental protection measures are adhered to in line with relevant legislation and regulations 1.3.Work plan is reviewed and checked with appropriate personnel 1.4.Equipment is selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations 1.5.Tree or log load placement and access requirements are identified and assessed for safe working conditions 1.6.Mechanical processor operations are planned in line with site procedures and environmental and heritage concerns 1.7.Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements
2. Operate equipment	2.1.All work is conducted in line with work plan, environmental and OHS requirements 2.2.Mechanical processor is operated within equipment capabilities and limitations, and manoeuvred to ensure safe and efficient operations 2.3.Pre-operational checks are carried out on equipment and attachments in line with manufacturer's recommendations and site procedures 2.4.Operating techniques are selected and adjusted as required to meet work requirements and site conditions 2.5.Mechanical processor performance is systematically monitored to ensure and maintain efficient operations 2.6.Site hazards associated with crawler operations are detected and safe operating techniques are used to minimise risk 2.7.Emergency plan procedures are followed in line with OHS, environmental, legal and site requirements
3. Process individual trees	3.1.Movement and whereabouts of other personnel is monitored and work modified to be in line with OHS requirements 3.2.Access and processing characteristics of fallen trees are assessed and processing is planned to ensure minimal tree damage and maximum recovery 3.3.Required length cutting patterns are programmed or modified on processing controller to meet work plan requirements 3.4.Equipment is positioned for stable and safe access to felled tree and loads are placed within rated load/reach capacity 3.5.Tree is processed to produce standard length and diameter of logs with optimal grade and length combination in line with work plan requirements 3.6.Equipment is safely and efficiently operated to stack pre-bunched logs/stems to facilitate subsequent recovery operations 3.7.Processing techniques are adjusted as required in response to unexpected characteristics, movement or condition of tree 3.8.Personnel safety and minimal damage to the timber and surrounding environment are ensured through method used to move timber/stems to pre-bunching site 3.9.Equipment is moved over pre-arranged routes with minimal damage to the environment
4. Segregate and stack logs	4.1.Planned landing layout and log handling procedures are identified from site and work plan instructions and checked with appropriate personnel as required 4.2.Stacks are located to provide appropriate space for access by site equipment and to allow for the conduct of other landing operations 4.3.Log stacks are positioned and maintained in line with planned layout and site requirements 4.4.Log stacks are constructed to provide stability and minimise problems from slippage and falling of logs 4.5.Delivered logs are visually assessed and directed/moved to appropriate location for further processing or stacking
5. Carry out machine operator maintenance	5.1.Equipment lock-out procedures are followed in line with OHS requirements and site procedures 5.2.Visual inspection and fault finding procedures are conducted in line with manufacturer's recommendations and site procedures 5.3.Routine operational servicing is conducted to maintain optimum operational performance of equipment in line with manufacturer's recommendations 5.4.Equipment, attachments and other ancillary equipment is cleaned and stored in line with manufacturer's recommendations and site procedures 5.5.Faults, malfunctions or problems with equipment are diagnosed and reported in line with site procedures 5.6.Mechanical processor operation results are recorded and reported in line with site procedures

Required Skills and Knowledge

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 process trees, segregate and stack logs Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace; interpret, apply and convey information in written, diagrammatic and/or verbal form Literacy skills sufficient to accurately record and report workplace information, and maintain documentation Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate, measure and calculate time required to complete a task Problem solving skills sufficient to 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 mechanical processor operations Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for mechanical processor operations Detailed range of products Operational procedures and checks including start-up and shut-down procedures 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 and maintenance including equipment safety requirements Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

Evidence Guide

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 conduct mechanical processor operations 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 mechanical processor operations following organisational policies and procedures relevant to mechanical processor operations communicating effectively and working safely with others in the work area planning, preparing and carrying out mechanical processor operations to safely and efficiently process trees mechanically and segregate and stack logs conducting pre-operational checks and routine operational servicing of 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

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
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 heritage and traditional land owner issues
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 disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)
Mechanical processor	may be wheeled or tracked
Environmental protection measures	may include action to limit the impact to: ground growth and canopy may include action to limit the impact of: soil and water general forest lean wind speed and direction fallen trees density of trees ground slope ground hazards obstacles
Work plan is to include:	instructions for mechanical processor operations including trees to be processed and cutting length requirements and may include information about: landing layouts site plans forest operational plans emergency procedures in case of fire and/or accident instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures environmental care requirements relevant to the work
Appropriate personnel may include:	supervisors clients colleagues managers
Logs may include:	full range of species size conditions encountered in local harvesting operations softwood or hardwood
Safe working conditions may include:	identification of risks and hazards unsafe ground fences holes, pot holes materials vehicles abandoned equipment personnel adverse weather conditions (electrical storms, floods) fires
Mechanical processor operations must include:	the mechanical processing of trees and segregating and stacking of logs and may include: the mechanical falling of trees the de-barking, pre-bunching and loading of logs
Planning	requires ensuring minimal equipment and product movement during operations including determining level and stable surfaces for safely relocating logs
Environmental and heritage concerns may include:	dust noise water flora and fauna heritage legislation culturally sensitive sites and artefacts plantations native forest
Communication may include:	verbal and non-verbal language hand or other agreed signals eye contact with other operators or personnel active listening questioning to clarify and confirm understanding use of electronic communication devices
Capabilities	of equipment and/or attachments may include: efficient and safe operating speed duration of operation type of activities performed weight and/or load limitations operating limitations
Pre-operational checks	are conducted to ensure equipment and attachments have been set-up correctly, the systems are performing accurately and operating to optimum performance and may be to: visual and audio warning devices and lights engine and stop engine lights fluid levels cab display instrumentation and gauges on-board computer systems, if relevant and may also involve: start-up, park and shut-down procedures including safety mechanisms operation (horn, operating lights), correct location of equipment, vehicle security
Site conditions may include:	wet, dry day, night stability of ground broken ground slope of working surface location of water table
Hazards may include:	uneven/unstable terrain trees fires overhead and underground services bridges buildings excavations traffic embankment cuttings structures and hazardous materials
Emergency plan may include:	notification of authorities evacuation procedures isolation procedures equipment shut-down procedures clean up first aid use of personal protective equipment and guarding access and exit
Positioning	of equipment is to ensure: machine stability to minimise movement during and between processing operations safe access to felled tree safe processing and placement clearance for the efficient extraction of processed logs
Maintenance	of log stacks includes: providing for anticipated stock levels stock rotation requirements size segregation of lengths species grades
Visual assessment	of logs includes: identifying and determining species diameter, length, grade landing layout stock rotation requirements
Visual inspection and fault finding procedures may include:	vehicle number danger tag personnel proximity tyres and rim condition wheel nuts and studs light positioning and cleanliness radiator top up tank oil leaks, fuel leaks, water leaks no combustible material around exhaust damage to equipment portable fire extinguisher fire suppression system cab mounts windows engine oil to be checked before starting engine grease lines cab conditions
Routine operational servicing may include:	checking fluid levels greasing tightening loose fittings filter changing
Cleaning methods may include:	water steam degreasing vacuum forced air
Records and reports may include:	end of shift documentation work log supplies log computer readings and may be: manual using a computer-based system or another appropriate organisational communication system

Unit Sector(s)

Not Applicable

Competency field

Competency field	Harvesting and Haulage