Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to undertake basic skirting of alpaca fleece during and after shearing.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety, animal welfare and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision and exercise limited autonomy with some accountability for their own work. They identify and provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare for skirting | 1.1 Assemble and check all tools, equipment and materials required for the task 1.2 Identify work health and safety hazards and report to the supervisor 1.3 Select and use suitable personal protective equipment 1.4 Follow site quarantine and other biosecurity protocols 1.5 Take midside fleece samples from each alpaca prior to shearing |
2. Collect fleece during shearing | 2.1 Use safe work practices at all times 2.2 Pick fleece up as blanket, neck and pieces during shearing 2.3 Keep blanket, neck and pieces and weigh separately, label and record weight 2.4 Discard severely contaminated fleece 2.5 Carry blanket to classing table to enable skirting |
3. Skirt saddles under supervision and according to industry guidelines | 3.1 Throw blanket lightly onto classing table exposing entire fleece so as to enable loose sand or dirt to fall through without disturbing structure of saddle 3.2 Remove fleece with excessive medullation, or not consistent with general style, character, micron and length of staples and place in pieces bag 3.3 Discard Fleece with major faults and of No Commercial Value (NCV) |
4. Process neck pieces and finalise operation | 4.1 Separate individual pieces into small bags 4.2 Place small bags containing pieces into a larger bag regardless of colour, micron or length 4.3 Place neck pieces in appropriate classing line 4.4 Seek feedback on work done from supervisor and note any required improvements for future action |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
identify hazards and follow safe work practices
pick up and throw alpaca fleeces
skirt of alpaca fleece to industry standards
package fleece and skirtings to industry standards
communicate faults, malfunctions and workplace hazards
report on and maintain operational records
communicate with supervisor and work team work team
follow work health and safety policies
follow enterprise biosecurity protocols
follow enterprise animal welfare policies
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
features of the parts of Huacaya and Suri alpaca fleeces
types of shearing shed layouts
duties and responsibilities of a board person
types and sources of contamination of the alpaca fleece
enterprise policies with regard to recording and reporting routines
equipment and bag requirements for skirting and handling fleece to industry standards
relevant state and territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to work health and safety, environment , biosecurity and animal welfare.
features of the Alpaca Fleece classing Code of Practice
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the work place or workplace and simulated environments that accurately reflect performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Wool (WOL)