This unit applies to those whose job role includes determining actions to reduce the impacts of irrigation and drainage systems on the environment, to minimise the risk of environmental pollution and reduce the impact of such events when they occur.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Establish and maintain an irrigation and drainage environmental protection program

1.1. An irrigation and drainage environmental plan is developed in consultation with property owner or manager.

1.2. Environmental responsibilities for the property are clearly defined and included in the duties of all personnel.

1.3. Financial and human resources are made available to implement the environmental plan in a timely and consistent manner.

1.4. Environmental records are established and maintained according to relevant codes of practice, legislation and regulations.

2. Establish and maintain arrangements to ensure the involvement of all personnel in the environmental program

2.1. Procedures and processes that allow and encourage all personnel at all levels to have input into environmental issues are developed.

2.2. Issues raised through involvement and consultation with personnel are addressed promptly.

3. Establish and maintain risk management procedures to protect the environment from irrigation practices and related activities

3.1. Procedures for identifying and assessing existing and potential risks to the environment arising from irrigation practices and related activities are established and maintained according to relevant environmental standards.

3.2. Work processes and procedures are designed to reduce or eliminate risks and hazards to the environment.

3.3. Organisational and administrative systems are established and maintained to control risks to the environment arising from irrigation practices and related activities.

3.4. Procedures to monitor risks to the environment and compliance with relevant legislation and regulations are established and maintained.

4. Establish and maintain procedures for responding to environmental pollution events

4.1. Potential environmental pollution events are identified.

4.2. Procedures to control the level of risk associated with pollution events are developed in consultation with relevant environmental protection agencies and local government authorities.

4.3. Appropriate information and training is provided to enterprise personnel to ensure prompt implementation of response procedures according to organisational and OHS requirements.

5. Establish and maintain an environmental protection induction and training program

5.1. An environmental protection induction and training program is developed and incorporated into the organisational personnel training program to ensure compliance with relevant legislation and regulations is maintained.

5.2. Records of environmental protection training are established and maintained according to enterprise standards.

Required skills

develop policies and procedures

apply and comply with environmental requirements

identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action

use technology to draft documents, develop environmental information, and audit data bases

audit data bases

develop and implement relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures

use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports

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 complex workplace measures

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

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

environmental planning for irrigation and drainage

external factors that may effect the system

relevant OHS and environmental protection 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:

establish and maintain environmental records

identify and assess existing and potential risks to the environment arising from irrigation practices and related activities

monitor risks to, and impacts on, the environment from irrigation

develop an induction and training program to support environmental protection policies and practices

develop an irrigation and drainage environmental plan.

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.

Irrigation systems may include:

pressurised or gravity fed irrigation systems.

Unit sector

Irrigation

This unit contains employability skills.