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 blend and test binding mixes within 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 blending and testing binding mixes

following organisational policies and procedures relevant to blending and testing binding mixes

blending and testing binding mixes in line with the work order and within prescribed organisational requirements

conducting blending operations and maintenance procedures

storing batches of binding mix in line with organisational requirements and OHS regulations

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

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 blend and test binding mixes

Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace

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 blending and testing binding mixes

Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material, the safe use and storage of chemicals, and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment

Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for blending and testing binding mixes

Environmental risks and hazards

Blending techniques and ingredients

Characteristics of ingredients and additives

Weather conditions affecting blending conditions

Blending operations and maintenance procedures

Storage systems and labelling

Established communication channels and protocols

Problem identification and resolution strategies and common fault finding techniques

Types of tools and equipment and procedures for their use, operation and maintenance

Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks

Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

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

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 minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Work order is to include:

instructions for the blending of binding mixes

and may include:

type

quantity

setting rate

mixing percentages

additives

hardness

instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures

environmental care requirements relevant to the work

Appropriate personnel may include:

supervisors

suppliers

clients

colleagues

managers

Binding mix may include:

chips

flakes

fibre

glue

additives

other enterprise specified ingredients

Storage locations may include:

drums kept in flammable goods storage areas

plastic tubs kept in flammable goods storage areas

Equipment may include:

blenders with manually controlled feed

mixers with pre-programmed mix quantities

cycles

transfer pumps

valves

Blending:

usually includes mixing a base ingredient with a hardener to aid setting plus any specified additives to specified quantities

can occur manually or mechanically

Communication may include:

verbal and non-verbal language

constructive feedback

active listening

questioning to clarify and confirm understanding

use of positive, confident and cooperative language

use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences

control of tone of voice

body language

Pre start-up checks

are conducted to ensure:

equipment has been set-up correctly

systems are performing accurately

equipment is operating to optimum performance

Ingredients may include:

synthetic or animal based adhesives such as:

casein

rubber based adhesives

poly vinyl acetate

epoxy resins and formaldehydes

chips

flakes or fibre

hardeners

softeners

accelerants

decelerators

dyes

Additives may include:

agents which:

harden

soften

accelerate or decelerate glue or resin setting

Transfer lines may include:

transfer of ingredients to the blenders

transfer of the binding mix to storage or production

Testing is to include:

regular sampling of the blending mix to check:

mix quantities

ingredient characteristics

viscosity

colour

spread

tack

cured bond strength

setting speed (is it going off)

how weather conditions may be affecting the process

Records and reports may include:

binding and testing results

quantities produced

condition changes

production difficulties

storage locations

quality outcomes

hazards

incidents

equipment malfunctions

and may be:

manual

using a computer-based system or other appropriate organisational communication system