Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to prepare fleece wool for classing to comply with the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Preparation of Australian Wool Clips.
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 broad direction of the wool classer and take responsibility for their own work and use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources.
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. Identify characteristics of greasy wool and relate to processor requirements | 1.1 Identify characteristics of wool important in processing and assess uniformity within the fleece 1.2 Determine the portion of fleece to be removed to ensure uniformity of the fleece with the other fleeces from the mob |
2. Check fleeces for impurities | 2.1 Identify natural impurities of the wool and determine the portion of fleece to be removed 2.2 Identify vegetable matter types and determine the portion of fleece to be removed 2.3 Identify mineral impurities and relate to yield potential and determine the portion of fleece to be removed 2.4 Identify and remove any contamination from the fleece 2.5 Check work regularly with the wool classer and adjust procedures if required |
3. Check fleeces for presence of wool faults | 3.1 Identify hairy breeches and cotted wool and determine the portion of fleece to be removed 3.2 Identify unscourable colour, water stain and dermatitis and handled as directed 3.3 Remove skin pieces and place where directed 3.4 Carry out work safely and at a rate appropriate to the enterprise |
4. Skirt and roll fleeces | 4.1 Skirt fleeces to remove those portions determined above that adversely affect the uniformity and value of the remaining fleece 4.2 Double skirt fleeces containing clumpy vegetable matter or prepared as directed 4.3 Assess necks and backs for soundness, dust and VM levels, and handled as directed 4.4 Roll fleeces and present to classer 4.5 Place skirtings in the nominated bins 4.6 Remove waste and dispose of appropriately taking into account environmental implications |
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:
assess fleece characteristics and prepare fleeces as directed by wool classer
assess levels of vegetable matter and other impurities
accurately skirt fleeces at commercial pace
roll fleeces in preparation for classing
communicate with wool classer and other team members using industry standard terminology
follow enterprise work health and safety procedures
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
characteristics wool and their impacts on processing
principles and requirements of wool processing methods-woollen and worsted
features of wool growth
features of the parts of a fleece
features of wool faults and impurities
enterprise the work health and safety procedures
requirements of Code of Practice for the Preparation of Australian Wool Clips as they relates to the preparation of fleece wool
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.
Evidence of competency must be demonstrated in Fine/Superfine Merino, Medium/Strong Merino and Crossbred wool clips.
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
Classing must include the preparation of Fine/Superfine Merino, Medium/Strong Merino and Crossbred fleece wools
Sectors
Wool (WOL)