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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for pressing.
   • Review and check work order with appropriate personnel.
   • Identify hazards and control risk in the work area according to workplace requirements.
   • Select type and quantity of chips, flakes or fibre to be pressed, from storage location.
   • Conduct pre-start checks on equipment in line with manufacturer’s recommendations and site requirements.
   • Plan pressing process in line with site procedures.
   • Communicate plan with relevant personnel as required, to ensure safety and production requirements are met, in line with site procedures.
2. Form, press, test and transfer finished boards.
   • Set and adjust press pressures, temperatures and product parameters according to production requirements.
   • Check operational condition and set-up of former to confirm mat condition.
   • Check forming equipment for defects and position to load press in line with standard operating procedures.
   • Press boards while monitoring and adjusting board position, feed rate, mat condition and press condition.
   • Plan size changes and line speeds to meet production schedules.
   • Regularly assess pressed board and thickness changes and make necessary changes to former, press set-up and blending requirements.
   • Test board samples to confirm adherence to industry standard and reject defective boards.
   • Dispose of defective boards in line with site procedures and environmental requirements.
   • Transfer finished boards for further processing in line with site requirements.
3. Shut down, clean equipment and record information.
   • Shut down equipment in coordination with designated stop time and other line operators, in line with site procedures.
   • Separate and remove board and forming equipment from press using unloading equipment.
   • Strip and clean blending equipment, press and handling equipment in line with standard operating procedures.
   • Clear foreign material, dust and debris from machine area in line with workplace requirements.
   • Record and report pressing process and equipment faults to appropriate personnel.

Range Statement

Not Applicable

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Performance Evidence

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:

identify hazards and control risk in the work area

operate blending and continuous press equipment to bond and produce board in line with safe work procedures and production requirements

identify defective boards using visual assessment and by testing sample boards

dispose of defective boards

redistribute material onsite using designated equipment

perform lock-out procedure and clean press equipment according to safe work procedure

record and report board pressing process information (production, quality, faults) using workplace specific recording and reporting channels and protocols (manual or computer-based log, communication with relevant personnel).

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Knowledge Evidence

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

procedures for identifying hazards and controlling risk in the work environment

procedures for the use, operation and maintenance of a continuous press including emergency shut-down and lock-out procedure

safe work procedures relevant to forming and pressing board using a continuous press

board defects: surface blemishes, discolouration, natural timber defects, deformities, clean scalping from pendistors

ingredients and blending methods used in the board pressing process

chip, flake and fibre characteristics

established communication channels and protocols and how they are used to support safety and production requirements

procedures for testing board samples to check conformance with industry standard

procedures for identifying and disposing of defective boards and waste materials according to environmental protection requirements and site procedures

adjustment of feed rates to meet production requirements

common pressed board types: medium density fibreboard, chipboard, fibreboard

procedures for recording and reporting information relevant to the board pressing process (production, quality, faults)

procedures for responding to an emergency during the board pressing process: serious incident, fire or equipment fault.

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