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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan and prepare to clean carpets.
  2. Undertake cleaning process.
  3. Tidy work site.
  4. Clean and safety check equipment, and store equipment and chemicals.

Range Statement

This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below.

Type of carpet fibre must include:

natural:

organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal

wool

synthetic:

acrylic

nylon

polyester.

Hazards that must be assessed include:

biological and environmental contaminants

chemical exposure via absorption, ingestion and inhalation

chemical reactivity

dust and fibre particulates

electrical

environmental allergens

explosions

fatigue

fire

manual handling

noise

poor ventilation

slips, trips and falls

syringes and sharps

working in confined spaces.

Health and safety requirements must include:

access to communication devices when working alone

compliance with Safe Work Australia regulations and guidelines

electrical equipment test and tag compliance

emergency response procedures

environmental controls

hazard signs and barricades

health and safety induction and refresher training

manual handling techniques

processes for safely dispensing and handling chemicals while undertaking work tasks

risk assessment procedures, including:

hazardous chemicals register

hierarchy of control

job safety analyses (JSA) for low-risk situations

safe work method statements (SWMS) for high-risk situations

incident reporting

SDS

selection and use of required PPE

storage and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer specifications

use of first aid according to SDS information.

Equipment must include at least two of the following:

carpet-cleaning bonnets and hand bonnets

carpet-drying equipment

cleaning cloths

extraction unit

garbage bin

measuring equipment

plastic coaster or polystyrene block

rotary or cylindrical scrubbing machine

scraper or spatula

sponge

spray equipment

steam iron

trigger sprayer

vacuum cleaner

waste recovery tank.

Cleaning chemicals must include at least one of the following:

acid cleaners

alkaline cleaners

neutral cleaners

protein spotter

solvent cleaners.

Personal protective equipment must include at least two of the following:

disposable respirators

eye protection

gloves

safety shoes.

Cleaned must include:

selecting and using required:

equipment

PPE

chemicals

cleaning techniques.


Performance Evidence

Performance Evidence

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.

The person must also clean two different carpet types where:

one carpet type must be a natural fibre selected from:

organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal

wool

one carpet type must be a synthetic fibre selected from:

acrylic

nylon

polyester.

In cleaning the above carpets, the person must:

identify site hazards and control risks before commencing the task

correctly identify the type and characteristics of the carpet and carpet fibres

identify cleaning techniques and chemicals required for the task

use the following cleaning methods:

bonnet cleaning

hot water extraction

use cleaning equipment safely

check carpet after cleaning process and assess whether further cleaning is required

correctly and safely handle waste.


Knowledge Evidence

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:

carpet characteristics, including:

carpet construction

features of fibres

range and application of cleaning equipment and chemicals, including:

encapsulation

low environmental impact chemicals

low-moisture use equipment

correct application and techniques for different cleaning methods, including:

dry absorbent compound

bonnet cleaning

hot water extraction

dry foam shampoo

wet foam shampoo

environmental requirements relating to removing stains from carpets, including:

clean-up, containment and isolation procedures

emergency chemical spill control measures

environmental protection agency requirements relating to using and disposing of carpet cleaning chemicals

hazardous materials handling

use of low-energy carpet-cleaning methods

use of low-moisture carpet-cleaning methods

use of low water-use equipment and other water-efficient cleaning methods

use of non-chemical carpet-cleaning methods

key requirements of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to carpet cleaning, including:

Australian standards AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting

industry advisory standards and codes, such as dangerous goods codes

processes for safely handling and disposing of waste, including:

chemicals past their expiry date

litter

machine exhaust emissions

obsolete equipment

used containers

used or contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE)

used or unused chemicals

range and application of cleaning solutions used to clean carpets and their reactions with different carpet types

safe handling techniques for working with hazardous chemicals, including:

emergency chemical spill control measures

routes of entry and potential symptoms of exposure to chemicals

safe methods for diluting chemicals

working according to safety data sheets (SDS).