This unit requires some judgement and discretion and is carried out routinely.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Identify faults in milking machines

1.1. Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards are identified, risk assessed and recorded.

1.2. Poor performance of milking equipment is identified from observations at milking.

1.3. Minor machine adjustments are carried out to rectify identified poor performance characteristics.

1.4. Fault finding and fault diagnosis is completed with minimum disruption to milking routines.

2. Identify external faults

2.1. Independent electrical appliances that impact on the farm dairy operation are identified and isolated.

2.2. Animal behaviour during milking is observed and recorded to identify abnormalities.

2.3. Earthing systems and grids are installed to minimise potential differences in the milking shed.

3. Carry out operational service&maintenance of milking machines

3.1. Machine components are cleaned, adjusted and defective parts or components repaired or replaced to bring machine up to industry performance standards.

3.2. Defective electric motors are disconnected, removed and replaced to conform to manufacturer's recommendations and OHS guidelines.

3.3. Programmed maintenance routines are completed to replace consumables and maintain lubrication in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations.

3.4. OHS hazards identified in safety audits are eliminated or risk controlled according to manufacturer's guidelines and industry standards.

3.5. Adjustments are completed to restore optimum performance of milking equipment.

Required skills

identify hazards and implement safe work procedures

observe and critically evaluate the performance of milking equipment

operate the full range of milking equipment components

identify common sources of air leakage

operate hand tools and use a range of test equipment proficiently

communicate effectively with the dairy farmer, milkers and other personnel to identify all contributing factors to milking equipment performance

disassemble and assemble a range of milking equipment components such as pulsators, regulators

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

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

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

Required knowledge

familiarity with the components that make up milking equipment installations and their individual contributions to milking function

common symptoms of poor milking machine performance

symptoms demonstrated by animals in the milking environment when external problems are apparent

routine maintenance requirements for milking equipment

consumable replacement strategies recommended for milking equipment

lubrication requirements for milking equipment

OHS legislation and industry and enterprise safety standards for milking equipment installations

environmental legislation and impacts of milking machinery servicing.

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:

observe and critically evaluate the performance of milking equipment

operate the full range of milking equipment components

identify common sources of air leakage

operate hand tools and use a range of test equipment proficiently

read and interpret operators manuals and maintenance data supplied

disassemble and assemble a range of milking equipment components such as pulsators, regulators.

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.

Operational service may include:

setting, adjusting and servicing pulsators

inspecting and servicing vacuum pumps

topping up of oil or water in vacuum pumps

servicing of milk pumps

cleaning and servicing of automatic cup removers.

Unit sector

Milk harvesting

This unit contains employability skills.