The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, required skills and knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A holistic approach should be taken to the assessment.

Assessors must be satisfied that the person can consistently perform the unit as a whole, as defined by the Elements, Performance Criteria and skills and knowledge.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the knowledge and skills defined in this unit. These may include the ability to:

recognise the importance of material properties and qualities in the welding process

apply approved procedures

respond to routine problems.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that:

welding production standards are met consistently

upstream and downstream communication is timely and effective operating procedures and work instructions are read and interpreted correctly.

Assessment method and context

Assessment will occur on an industrial plastics welding machine(s) equipment and will be undertaken in a work-like environment.

Competence in this unit may be assessed

by use of an appropriate, industrial plastics welding equipment requiring demonstration of operation

in a situation allowing for the generation of evidence of the ability to respond to problems

by using a suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios

through a combination of these techniques.

In all cases it is expected that practical assessment will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge and theoretical assessment will be combined with appropriate practical/simulation or similar assessment. Assessors need to be aware of any cultural issues that may affect responses to questions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.

Specific resources for assessment

This section should be read in conjunction with the Range Statement for this unit of competency. Resources required include suitable access to an operating plant or equipment that allows for appropriate and realistic simulation. A bank of case studies/scenarios and questions will also be required to the extent that they form part of the assessment method. Questioning may take place either in the workplace, or in an adjacent, quiet facility such as an office or lunchroom. No other special resources are required.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

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

Application of knowledge of the materials, equipment and process sufficient to recognise material and equipment conditions which may lead to out of specification production of welded plastic joints or components such as:

different types of materials and their behaviour when prepared and welded

different welding equipment and procedures and suitability for material

types of welds and ways of achieving them

weld faults common with types of weld and materials welded

welding symbols.

Knowledge of organization procedures and relevant regulatory requirements along with the ability to implement them within appropriate time constraints and work standards.

Competence includes the ability for the practical completion of the job to identify:

equipment controls used in welding

types of welders used

routine faults in products

routine problems in process.

Competence also requires the ability to determine the appropriate action (including reporting to the appropriate person) by distinguishing between causes of faults such as:

materials

changes to materials during the welding process

equipment - adjustments/set-up

equipment - maintenance requirements.

Language, literacy and numeracy requirements

This unit requires the ability to read and interpret typical product specifications, job sheets and material labels as provided to operators.

Writing is required to the level ofcompleting workplace forms.

Basic numeracy is also required to interpret specifications, make measurements and read and interpret process conditions.

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.

Context

This competency applies to processes required to fabricate plastic products by welding or otherwise weld plastic materials or pipe to specified requirements. It includes welding the processes of:

butt fusion welding

electro fusion welding

extrusion welding

heated wedge welding

high speed nozzle

hot gas welding

infrared welding

socket fusion welding.

Materials may be from a range of thermoplastic materials for which a compatible welding polymer rod or filler can be provided to form a homogeneous melt. The material may be in any form: sheet, pipe, formed tube, solid section, formed profile, etc

It also includes the operation of hot air and other hand held welding equipment of various types and all relevant ancillary equipment. Procedures means all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards

Procedures

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

Procedures include all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.

Tools and equipment

This competency includes use of equipment and tools such as:

welding equipment

hand tools as required

jigs, clamps and other fixing devices

relevant personal protective equipment

Hazards

Typical hazards include:

fumes from overheating or poor ventilation

cuts from sharp edges on components

burns from manual handling

eye injury

power tools, leads and power supplies

welding equipment, parts and attachments

Problems

'Respond to routine problems' means 'apply known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems'. Typical process and product problems may include:

pattern incorrect or inaccurate assembly or clamping

incorrect filler rods selected

poor surface preparation

incorrect selection of welding nozzle or attachments

moisture contacting welding devices

burns to electrical leads

sequencing problems, weld run too fast or too slow

bonding problems, weld deposit incomplete or plastication not achieved.

Variables

Key variables to be monitored include:

weld temperature

feed rate of filler rod

variations in materials being welded

thickness of materials being welded.

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