This unit applies to installers who plan and coordinate gravity-fed irrigation systems for an allocated set of fields and are responsible for monitoring and directing work crews.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan irrigation activities

1.1. Work crews are briefed to carry out the required gravity fed irrigation activities in accordance with enterprise, environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

1.2. Sufficient irrigation equipment is checked and available for the allocated fields to be irrigated.

1.3. Water availability is checked.

1.4. Pumps, bores and other water delivery mechanisms are checked for serviceability.

1.5. Irrigation sequence is determined.

2. Coordinate irrigation activities

2.1. Crew activities are monitored for efficient team work, and direction provided as necessary.

2.2. Water levels in ditches and channels are monitored and maintained to provide sufficient head.

2.3. Pumps and other mechanical equipment are monitored and operating problems identified and corrected as necessary.

3. Record irrigation activities

3.1. Personnel hours and activities are recorded in accordance with enterprise practice.

3.2. Irrigation start and finish times are recorded in accordance with enterprise practice.

3.3. Water storage levels are recorded in accordance with enterprise practice.

3.4. Monitoring activities and data are recorded in accordance with enterprise practice.

3.5. Recommendations for service and maintenance activities are recorded in accordance with enterprise practice.

Required skills

identify hazards and monitor safe systems of work

operate gravity fed irrigation systems

apply enterprise monitoring procedures

brief, monitor and direct work crews

identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and take appropriate remedial action

coordinate a range of activities and procedures

implement and follow relevant enterprise OHS and environmental policies and procedures

use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views

use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data

use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge

soil/plant/water relationships

environmental impacts of irrigation using water from any ground or underground source

irrigation system components

common operational problems

OHS and environmental legislation, codes of practice and enterprise procedures.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

operate gravity fed irrigation systems,

apply enterprise monitoring procedures and identify adverse environmental impacts

brief, monitor and direct work crews

coordinate a range of activities and procedures for effective and efficient water use.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Surface irrigation systems may include:

border check

contour irrigation

furrow irrigation

hillside flooding

basin irrigation.

Gravity fed systems may include:

manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

Unit sector

Irrigation

This unit contains employability skills.