Critical aspects of competency

Correct interpretation of waste dispatch job requirements.

Organisation of equipment and personnel.

Liaison with waste disposal facility and relevant regulatory bodies.

Determining emergency and personal protective equipment requirements.

Identification of potential risks and hazards to waste loading.

Coordination of loading.

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below.

Measurements, including weights and volumes.

Potential risks and hazards.

Loading requirements.

Types of loading equipment.

Signalling techniques.

Emergency response procedures.

Occupational health and safety requirements.

Duty of care in provision of services.

Relevant industry standards.

Relevant legislation.

Relevant environmental regulations.

OHS hierarchy of control.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These are:

communication including liaison, interpersonal and signalling

measurement of waste

materials handling skills

using communications equipment (two-way radio and mobile phone)

reading graduated device

hazard identification

safe and efficient work practices

use of emergency and personal protective equipment

following MSDS.

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function, for example PRMWM19B Prepare waste for re-use.

Resources required to assess this unit

The following resources should be available:

waste dispatch requirements

contact with waste contractor, disposal facility, etc

personal protective equipment

MSDS

communications equipment

waste measurement and recording equipment

waste for dispatch

OHS requirements

site safety plan.

Gaining evidence to assess this unit

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment). The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations, which may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

Evidence of competency is best obtained by observing activities in this field and reviewing dispatch of waste under normal industry operating conditions. If this is not practicable, observations in realistic simulated environments may be substituted.

Consistency in performance

Assessment requires that the plan meets the objectives of the client and that it complies with industry expectations in the particular client environment. If the environment is narrowly defined or is not representative of industry needs, it may be necessary to refer to portfolio case studies of a variety of waste requirements to assess competency in the dispatch of waste.

Oral questioning or written assessment and hypothetical situations (scenarios) may be used to assess underpinning knowledge. (In assessment situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral questioning and written audit, questions are to be identical.)

Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence from existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

Note: All practical demonstrations must adhere to the safety and environmental regulations relevant to each state or territory.

Key competency levels

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added.

Information below highlights how these processes are applied in this competency standard.

Refer to Evidence Guide

The range statement links the required knowledge and organisational and technical requirements to the workplace context. It describes any contextual variables that will be used or encountered when applying the competency in work situations. It allows for different work practices and work and knowledge requirements as well as for differences between organisations and workplaces. The following variables may be present for this particular unit.

Checking integrity of containment should include checks for bunding, contamination, drum expansion, gases, leaching, leaks, seals, spillage and unstable form.

Cleaning of area and equipment may include:

cleaning products/fluids

high pressure water or air-hosing

shovelling

sweeping out

use of decontamination products

vacuuming.

Client/company includes all forms of business enterprises in this context including government agencies, local governments/councils, private and public companies, and residents/ratepayers.

Company requirements are found in environmental management plan, job sheets, OHS plan, verbal or written instructions, waste management plan and work procedures.

Contamination may include exposure to sunlight, infestation, mixing with other waste types, rot or mould, and waterlogging.

Details of dispatch may include:

amount/volume of waste

date dispatched

details of transport

monitoring or maintenance requirements

relevant environmental protection authority documentation

safety measures undertaken

special loading assistance provided

storage space freed

waste type.

Emergency and personal protective equipment must include:

appropriate footwear

communications equipment

eye protection

eyewash kit

fire extinguishers

First Aid kit

gloves

overalls and protective clothing.

Emergency and personal protective equipment could also include:

breathing apparatus

containment devices such as booms

emergency procedure guides

face shield/mask

hard hat

hearing protection

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

oil absorbent materials

spill kit.

Emergency response action/procedures include but are not limited to:

clean up

contain emergency

equipment/plant isolation and shut-down

evacuation

First Aid

make safe

notification of authorities

use of appropriate personal protective equipment.

Equipment includes but is not limited to:

baling materials

calculator

chains and dogs

communications equipment

compactor

crane

earthmoving equipment

forklift

generator

hoses

lifting equipment

load binder winches

loader

plastic sheeting

pumps

recording equipment

regulated waste identification signage

rope

sampling equipment

scales

scraper

shovel

storage containers (bins, hoppers, containers, skips, crates, drums, garbage bags, mobile garbage bins, garbage bins, freight containers)

tape

tarpaulin

trolley

vacuums

weighbridge.

Loading assistance may include cart lifter, high pressure vacuum loading, load by hand, shovelling and use of forklift.

Manufacturers' specifications are found in equipment specifications and operator manuals.

Performance of this unit is carried out in accordance with relevant requirements of the following:

Australian Standards

environmental regulations

legislative requirements

manufacturers' specifications

organisational procedures

relevant state/territory regulations.

Personal protective equipment required will be stored, maintained and worn/fitted in accordance with company requirements and occupational health and safety and other legislation.

Potential risks and hazards are those risks and hazards identified by the organisation that could lead to injury or illness of employees, contractors, visitors or the public, damage to plant, vehicles or property, or that could cause harm to the environment.

This relates to on-site and off-site activities (whether company owned or occupied premises, customer/client premises or public property) over which it could be expected the organisation had control.

Regulated (or prescribed) waste includes all waste declared to be so by the relevant environmental protection authority and the Australian Dangerous Goods Code.

Regulated waste identification signage requirements may include:

classification of dangerous goods

emergency information panels

fire extinguisher indicator sign

hazardous class

HAZCHEM codes

packaging group number.

Relevant legislation and codes cover state and federal:

duty of care

industry codes of conduct

occupational health and safety legislation

Australian Standards

environmental protection legislation.

Safe operating procedures include any activity or operation conducted on site to ensure health and safety of personnel/equipment in the area.

Storage facility may include:

bunded area

bunker

containers

pit

stockpile

tank

truck

under awning

warehouse.

Waste dispatch requirements may include:

access to storage facility and loading site

amount of waste to be dispatched

arrival and departure times

destination

emergency and personal protective equipment

environmental conditions

legislative requirements for loading and transport

loading equipment

method of containment

method of loading

potential risks and hazards of loading

security

signage

transport method

transportation requirements

waste compatibilities.

Waste storage and disposal facility may be located at:

composting facility

landfill site

materials recovery facility

transfer station

treatment site

waste generator's site

waste processing site.

Waste types include:

solid (non-hazardous) e.g. construction and demolition

liquid (non-hazardous) e.g. chemical and aqueous

hazardous - regulated, prescribed, quarantined, medical and clinical

recoverable resources e.g. recyclable and green waste.

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