This unit applies to working under supervision and according to enterprise procedures and industry guidelines for harvesting alpaca fleece.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for skirting

1.1. Midside fleece samples are taken from each alpaca prior to shearing.

1.2. All tools, equipment and materials required for basic skirting are assembled and checked for serviceability prior to beginning skirting and fleece handling.

1.3. Existing and potential Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) hazards in the workplace are recognised and reported to supervisor, and actions are taken to minimise risks to self and others.

1.4. Site quarantine and other biosecurity protocols are observed.

2. Collect fleece during shearing

2.1. Fleece is picked up as blanket, neck and pieces during shearing.

2.2. Blanket, neck and pieces are kept and weighed separately, labelled and weight is recorded according to enterprise procedures.

2.3. Severely contaminated fleece is discarded.

2.4. Unavoidable bending, reaching and lifting are carried out in line with safe work practices.

2.5. Blanket is carried to classing table to enable skirting.

3. Skirt saddles under supervision and according to industry guidelines

3.1. Blanket is lightly thrown onto classing table exposing entire fleece so as to enable loose sand or dirt to fall through without disturbing structure of saddle.

3.2. Fleece with excessive medullation, or not consistent with general style, character, micron and length of staples, is removed and placed in pieces bag.

3.3. Fleece with major faults and of No Commercial Value (NCV) is discarded.

4. Process neck pieces and finalise operation

4.1. Individual pieces are separated into small bags.

4.2. Small bags containing pieces are placed into a larger bag regardless of colour, micron or length.

4.3. Neck pieces are placed in appropriate classing line.

4.4. Feedback on skirting outcomes and compliance with industry standards is sought from owner, classer or processor and any required improvements are noted for future action.

Required skills

identify hazards and follow safe work practices

ability to lightly throw an entire fleece

carrying out skirting of alpaca fleece to industry standards

communicating faults, malfunctions and workplace hazards

demonstrating safe and environmentally responsible workplace practices

reporting and maintaining operational records

use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly

use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor

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

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

Required knowledge

Alpaca Industry Best Practice Standards for Harvesting of Alpaca Fibre

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 workplace OHS, environment and animal welfare.

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:

collect a fleece after shearing

throw a fleece ready for skirting

carrying out skirting of alpaca fleece to industry standards

place skirted and removed wool in required butts or bags.

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.

Animals may include:

all types and strains of alpacas and all fleece types, including crossbred, huacaya, and suri.

Unit sector

Wool

This unit contains employability skills.