ICASAS303A Care for computer hardware

Release: 1

ICASAS303A Care for computer hardware

Modification History

Release	Comments
Release 1	This Unit first released with ICA11 Information and Communications Technology Training Package version 1.0

Unit Descriptor

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to manage the maintenance and location of hardware.

Application of the Unit

This unit applies to frontline technical support personnel who are required to manage organisational hardware assets, maintaining both them and their records.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement but users should confirm requirements with the relevant federal, state or territory authority.

Pre-Requisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills Information

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Element	Performance Criteria
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

1. Establish safe work practices	1.1 Determine, record and apply relevant legal requirements and OHS standards to the installation and maintenance of computer hardware 1.2 Determine, record and apply requirements specified by hardware manufacturers 1.3 Determine, record and apply safe work practices, taking into account legal and manufacturer requirements
2. Establish location requirements for hardware and peripherals	2.1 Determine and apply suitable environmental conditions for hardware and peripherals 2.2 Determine and apply system protection devices where appropriate 2.3 Determine and apply requirements when moving hardware 2.4 Determine and apply suitable storage principles for hardware and associated peripherals and media
3. Establish maintenance practices	3.1 Determine maintenance requirements specified by the equipment manufacturer 3.2 Produce maintenance schedules 3.3 Perform diagnostic functions, including replacing suspect components with other serviceable components and reloading associated software 3.4 Determine whether unserviceable components are replaceable through warranty, replacement or upgrade 3.5 Perform diagnostic functions using the operating system (OS) and third-party diagnostic tools
4. Determine appropriate hardware quality standards	4.1 Consider and apply business requirements in respect of hardware matters 4.2 Determine and apply quality standards to the selection of appropriate hardware and associated peripherals

Required Skills and Knowledge

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

Required skills

communication skills to provide advice and guidance to others

literacy skills to:

comprehend basic workplace documents and technical information

determine whether unserviceable components are replaceable through warranty, replacement or upgrade

interpret user manuals and help functions

problem-solving skills to address common operational problems with computer hardware

safety-awareness skills to work safely in regard to the specific hardware

technical skills to:

diagnose hardware problems

reload software

replace suspect components

reload associated software

select appropriate hardware for a given situation

set up and maintain hardware

undertake diagnostic procedures using OS and third-party diagnostic tools.

Required knowledge

range of quality levels in current common hardware

importance of maintenance

OHS principles specific to mains-powered equipment

potential environmental effects of common types of hardware

security issues:

viruses

worms

software related to hardware operations

system hardware and associated peripherals’ functions.

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 and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit	Evidence of the ability to: perform diagnostic functions by replacing components, reloading software and by using operating system and other diagnostic tools establish siting requirements for system hardware and associated peripheral devices implement safe work practices determine maintenance requirements and establish maintenance schedule apply appropriate quality standards to computer hardware and peripherals.
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment must ensure access to: computer hardware software and diagnostic tools warranty records and reports, maintenance schedules, vendor documentation and safe work practices appropriate learning and assessment support when required modified equipment for people with special needs.
Method of assessment	A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct observation of candidate performing a range of diagnostic tasks review of maintenance schedule documentation completed by candidate verbal or written questioning to assess candidate’s knowledge of: quality standards applied to computer hardware and peripherals safe work practices.
Guidance information for assessment	Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, where appropriate. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and suitable to the communication skill level, language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. Indigenous people and other people from a non-English speaking background may need additional support. In cases where practical assessment is used it should be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge.

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 standards may include:	electrical safety ergonomics in the workplace: correct posture style and adjustments of chair type of desk type of monitor working position length of time in front of computer lighting level placement of light fittings repetitive strain injury (RSI) prevention safe lifting methods ventilation.
Hardware may include:	communications equipment: modems or other connectivity devices, including digital subscriber line (DSL) modems wireless access points network equipment: cables hubs racks routers servers switches personal computers (PCs) remote sites servers workstations.
Safe work practices may include:	codes of practice hazards and hazardous material manual handling physical separation of data cables and mains cables reporting and following OHS procedures testing and tagging electrical mains cables.
Environmental conditions may include:	air circulation dust extreme cold heat moisture temperature stability.
System protection devices may include:	line conditioning surge protection uninterruptible power supplies (UPS).
Peripherals may include:	Bluetooth device Firewire (IEEE 1394) device keyboard laptop mobile phone modem mouse multimedia kit pen personal digital assistant (PDA), such as palmtop printer scanner speaker tape cartridge touch pad universal serial bus (USB) device wi-fi router.
Equipment may include:	DSL modems hard drives hubs modems or other connectivity devices monitors other peripheral devices PCs PDA printers switches workstations.
Maintenance may include:	faulty components returned to depot on-site response planned maintenance: dust and grease removal from filters and components lubrication of fan and blower bearings remote diagnostics.
Components may include:	CD and DVD drives central processing unit (CPU) complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) battery fax or modem cards interface cards motherboards power supply random access memory (RAM).
Software may include:	application: database internet browser spreadsheet word-processing commercial customised in-house programming: assembler compiler development tools system: computer security software device drivers OS.
Operating systems may include:	GNU and Linux Mac OS X Microsoft Windows Unix-like operating systems: HP-UX IBM AIX Silicon Graphics IRIX Sun Solaris.
Business requirements may include:	capability for further system upgrades cost and quality existing facilities industry standard components installation: ease lead time licensing issues reliability robustness service level agreements (SLAs) technical support required: in-house vendor.

Unit Sector(s)

Systems administration and support