This unit is likely to be carried out under routine supervision within enterprise guidelines.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare materials and equipment for operation

1.1. Materials and services are confirmed as available and ready for operation.

1.2. Materials are prepared to meet fertigation requirements.

1.3. Injection or fertigation equipment is connected, as directed, and calibrated according to manufacturer's specifications.

1.4. Fertiliser concentration is calculated and the solution thoroughly mixed according to enterprise, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and environmental requirements.

1.5. Equipment is set to meet fertigation requirements.

2. Operate the fertigation process

2.1. Start up sequence is implemented according to operations manual and enterprise procedures.

2.2. Fertigation process is operated and monitored to ensure delivery is maintained according to enterprise specifications and procedures.

2.3. Fertigation equipment is monitored to ensure no adverse environmental impact is caused by faulty operation.

2.4. Corrections to the process and equipment adjustments are implemented as necessary.

3. Shut down fertigation equipment

3.1. Injection equipment is flushed out according to enterprise standards prior to shut down.

3.2. Equipment is cleaned according to enterprise procedures.

3.3. Waste generated by both the fertigation process and cleaning procedures is managed according to environmental protection requirements and enterprise OHS procedures.

3.4. Fertigation activities are reported and recorded according to regulatory requirements and enterprise procedures.

Required skills

identify hazards and implement safe work procedures

calculate and prepare fertigation materials

connect, calibrate and operate the equipment, and monitor and adjust the delivery of fertilisers

shut down, clean equipment and dispose of waste

use personal protective equipment

identify adverse environmental impacts of fertigation activities and appropriate remedial action

implement enterprise, OHS and environmental policies and procedures

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 oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required

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

fertigation injection equipment

chemical handling procedures for fertiliser, chlorine, acid and cleaning agents

cleaning procedures for fertigation equipment

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)

environmental impacts of delivering fertilisers via the irrigation system

OHS issues

enterprise policies and 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:

calculate and prepare fertigation materials

connect and calibrate equipment

operate, monitor and adjust delivery

shut down and clean equipment

dispose of waste in an environmentally responsible way.

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.

Fertigation equipment may include:

injection and fertigation equipment such as:

injection pumps

injection points

chemical holding tanks.

Unit sector

Nursery

This unit contains employability skills.