Assessor Resource

FWPSAW3201
Treat timber

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to chemically treat timber and to operate the treatment plant to complete treatment cycles. Work is completed in a forest products factory setting.

The unit applies to those who treat timber in a forest products factory setting. Specific job roles can include treatment plant operator, kiln operator or timber products technician.

Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) chemical is a restricted chemical product, which means that CCA can only be supplied to and handled by suitably trained and authorised persons.

The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) advised that as of 1 July 2012, CCA products can only be supplied to, and used by, suitably trained persons authorised under a relevant state or territory law from that date.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction.

In Victoria, to comply with licence/permit requirements, organisations must ensure that employees working with CCA demonstrate competence in this unit (FWPSAW3201 Treat timber), or that persons working with CCA do so under the direct supervision (sight and sound) of a trained and authorised person.

For regulatory information and details in other states and territories refer to the state or territory licensing body.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1. Prepare for treating timber

1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel.

1.2 Select appropriate personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness.

1.3 Obtain chemicals and type and quantity of timber for treatment from storage.

1.4 Plan treating cycles in line with work order.

2. Use equipment to treat timber

2.1 Complete pre start-up equipment checks to ensure operational effectiveness.

2.2 Identify water requirements and check to ensure treatment process requirements are met.

2.3 Test moisture content of timber in line with organisational procedures.

2.4 Check, adjust and maintain strength of preservative solution at specified strength and volume.

2.5 Bring treating plant to full operating condition and regularly check operating parameters to ensure optimum output.

2.6 Load timber into treatment vessel and complete treatment cycles.

2.7 Brand treated timber in line with organisational procedures.

2.8 Safely handle treated timber and transfer to storage area.

3. Complete operator maintenance

3.1 Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment.

3.2 Check all treatment mechanisms for effective condition.

3.3 Keep machine clear of dust and debris in line with organisational safety procedures.

3.4 Store chemicals in line with organisational safety procedures and report on stock levels.

3.5 Record and report timber treating process and equipment faults to appropriate personnel.

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. If a specific volume or frequency is not stated below, then evidence must be provided that the following requirements have been performed on at least one occasion:

complete chemical timber treatment processes in line with an individual work orders prescribing different timber types selected from the following list:

native timber species

imported timber species

dressed timber, stress and non-stress graded timber

in-the-rough timber

sleepers

logs, rounded poles

beams, laminated beams

across the above jobs, check, adjust and maintain the strength and volume types of preservative solutions including:

water-borne solutions

oil-based solutions

solvent-based solutions

at the completion of each of the above jobs, complete operator maintenance, store chemicals and report on stock levels.

A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

environmental protection practices for chemically treating timber:

reducing water and energy use

water management strategies

cleaning plant, tools and equipment

disposing of hazardous substances

storage layout and categories for:

raw materials

storing finished boards

chemicals and preservative solutions

purpose of treating timber

characteristics of timber types, effects of the treatment process and appropriate range of temperatures

properties, at a basic level of understanding, of chemicals used to treat timber and their purpose:

water-borne, oil and solvent based preservative solutions with chemical treatments including:

creosote and modified creosote-based

copper chrome arsenate salts (CCA)

compounds of boron and fluoride salts

alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ)

light organic solvent-borne preservative (LOSP)

micronised copper azole (MCA or Tanalith E)

personal safety risks associated with handling and using chemicals and methods used to minimise these

methods used to safely store chemicals

typical work flow processes and techniques for chemically treating timber:

full cell

modified cell

empty cell

immersion

rueping

double vacuum

dip diffusion

vat and sprays

methods used to brand treated timber and range of industry and organisation markings:

burning

hammer impressions

ink

tags

purpose, features and operation of equipment used to chemically treat timber including from the following list:

treatment cylinders

working tanks

mix tanks

concentrate storage tanks

effluent tanks

vacuum pump and seals

organisational procedures specific to chemically treating timber:

workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out, use of personal protective equipment and handling hazardous substances

communication reporting lines

recording and reporting chemical stock levels, processes and equipment faults.

The following resources must be made available:

one or more of the following types of equipment used to chemically treat timber:

treatment cylinders

working tanks

mix tanks

concentrate storage tanks

effluent tanks

branding equipment and consumables

personal protective equipment suitable for chemically treating timber

one or more of the following types of timber to be chemically treated:

native timber species

imported timber species

dressed timber

in-the-rough timber

stress and non-stress graded timber

sleepers

logs

rounded poles

beams

laminated beams

one or more of the following types of preservative solution:

water-borne solutions

oil-based solutions

solvent-based solutions

manufacturers ‘safety data sheets, or equivalent plain English information, for chemicals and preservative solutions

work order with specific instructions for chemical treatment of timber

template documents for recording chemical stock levels, processes and equipment faults

organisational procedures for chemically treating timber

relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information

a suitably licensed person to monitor and supervise handling of CCA during assessment.

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must:

hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and

be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and

be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions.

1. Prepare for treating timber

1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel.

1.2 Select appropriate personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness.

1.3 Obtain chemicals and type and quantity of timber for treatment from storage.

1.4 Plan treating cycles in line with work order.

2. Use equipment to treat timber

2.1 Complete pre start-up equipment checks to ensure operational effectiveness.

2.2 Identify water requirements and check to ensure treatment process requirements are met.

2.3 Test moisture content of timber in line with organisational procedures.

2.4 Check, adjust and maintain strength of preservative solution at specified strength and volume.

2.5 Bring treating plant to full operating condition and regularly check operating parameters to ensure optimum output.

2.6 Load timber into treatment vessel and complete treatment cycles.

2.7 Brand treated timber in line with organisational procedures.

2.8 Safely handle treated timber and transfer to storage area.

3. Complete operator maintenance

3.1 Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment.

3.2 Check all treatment mechanisms for effective condition.

3.3 Keep machine clear of dust and debris in line with organisational safety procedures.

3.4 Store chemicals in line with organisational safety procedures and report on stock levels.

3.5 Record and report timber treating process and equipment faults to appropriate personnel.

Not Applicable

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. If a specific volume or frequency is not stated below, then evidence must be provided that the following requirements have been performed on at least one occasion:

complete chemical timber treatment processes in line with an individual work orders prescribing different timber types selected from the following list:

native timber species

imported timber species

dressed timber, stress and non-stress graded timber

in-the-rough timber

sleepers

logs, rounded poles

beams, laminated beams

across the above jobs, check, adjust and maintain the strength and volume types of preservative solutions including:

water-borne solutions

oil-based solutions

solvent-based solutions

at the completion of each of the above jobs, complete operator maintenance, store chemicals and report on stock levels.

A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:

environmental protection practices for chemically treating timber:

reducing water and energy use

water management strategies

cleaning plant, tools and equipment

disposing of hazardous substances

storage layout and categories for:

raw materials

storing finished boards

chemicals and preservative solutions

purpose of treating timber

characteristics of timber types, effects of the treatment process and appropriate range of temperatures

properties, at a basic level of understanding, of chemicals used to treat timber and their purpose:

water-borne, oil and solvent based preservative solutions with chemical treatments including:

creosote and modified creosote-based

copper chrome arsenate salts (CCA)

compounds of boron and fluoride salts

alkaline copper quaternary (ACQ)

light organic solvent-borne preservative (LOSP)

micronised copper azole (MCA or Tanalith E)

personal safety risks associated with handling and using chemicals and methods used to minimise these

methods used to safely store chemicals

typical work flow processes and techniques for chemically treating timber:

full cell

modified cell

empty cell

immersion

rueping

double vacuum

dip diffusion

vat and sprays

methods used to brand treated timber and range of industry and organisation markings:

burning

hammer impressions

ink

tags

purpose, features and operation of equipment used to chemically treat timber including from the following list:

treatment cylinders

working tanks

mix tanks

concentrate storage tanks

effluent tanks

vacuum pump and seals

organisational procedures specific to chemically treating timber:

workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out, use of personal protective equipment and handling hazardous substances

communication reporting lines

recording and reporting chemical stock levels, processes and equipment faults.

The following resources must be made available:

one or more of the following types of equipment used to chemically treat timber:

treatment cylinders

working tanks

mix tanks

concentrate storage tanks

effluent tanks

branding equipment and consumables

personal protective equipment suitable for chemically treating timber

one or more of the following types of timber to be chemically treated:

native timber species

imported timber species

dressed timber

in-the-rough timber

stress and non-stress graded timber

sleepers

logs

rounded poles

beams

laminated beams

one or more of the following types of preservative solution:

water-borne solutions

oil-based solutions

solvent-based solutions

manufacturers ‘safety data sheets, or equivalent plain English information, for chemicals and preservative solutions

work order with specific instructions for chemical treatment of timber

template documents for recording chemical stock levels, processes and equipment faults

organisational procedures for chemically treating timber

relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information

a suitably licensed person to monitor and supervise handling of CCA during assessment.

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.

Assessor requirements

Assessors must:

hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and

be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and

be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 
Select appropriate personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 
Obtain chemicals and type and quantity of timber for treatment from storage. 
Plan treating cycles in line with work order. 
Complete pre start-up equipment checks to ensure operational effectiveness. 
Identify water requirements and check to ensure treatment process requirements are met. 
Test moisture content of timber in line with organisational procedures. 
Check, adjust and maintain strength of preservative solution at specified strength and volume. 
Bring treating plant to full operating condition and regularly check operating parameters to ensure optimum output. 
Load timber into treatment vessel and complete treatment cycles. 
Brand treated timber in line with organisational procedures. 
Safely handle treated timber and transfer to storage area. 
Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment. 
Check all treatment mechanisms for effective condition. 
Keep machine clear of dust and debris in line with organisational safety procedures. 
Store chemicals in line with organisational safety procedures and report on stock levels. 
Record and report timber treating process and equipment faults to appropriate personnel. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

FWPSAW3201 - Treat timber
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

FWPSAW3201 - Treat timber

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: