Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to operate forklifts in specific work areas, which may require fitting forklifts with specialised lifting attachments or shifting hazardous materials. These areas include freezers, cold stores, loadouts, skin sheds, smallgoods and rendering plants.
This unit is applicable to workers in meat processing plants and smallgoods enterprises who operate forklifts in environments requiring specific competencies. Prior to undertaking this unit, individuals should have gained the necessary licence or permit to operate a forklift.
This unit must be delivered in the context of Australian meat industry processing standards and regulations.
All work should be carried out in relation to workplace requirements, regulatory requirements and hygiene standards.
This unit applies to individuals who work under general supervision, exercise limited autonomy and have some accountability for their own work.
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 load characteristics | 1.1 Take characteristics of the load into account and employ appropriate attachments 1.2 Identify hazardous materials and take workplace, industry and regulatory requirements into account when operating a forklift carrying hazardous materials |
2. Consider specific features of workplace in transporting product | 2.1 Transport and load product, taking into consideration specific features of the workplace environment |
3. Transport and store product | 3.1 Identify and follow specific workplace health and safety requirements for work area 3.2 Handle forklift and pallets in accordance with the requirements of specific work locations 3.3 Transport product in accordance with workplace, Quality Assurance (QA), and hygiene and sanitation requirements 3.4 Store product in accordance with workplace, QA, and hygiene and sanitation requirements 3.5 Rack or store products and pallets in accordance with work instructions |
4. Maintain equipment records | 4.1 Maintain equipment records in accordance with workplace requirements |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must:
gain a licence and satisfy traffic authority examiner, where required by government regulation
explain operational safety requirements including workplace health and safety requirements
operate a forklift in a specific workplace to requirements of that workplace
operate a forklift in accordance with workplace requirements, and workplace health and safety, and manufacturer's specifications
transport and store a variety of products to meet production requirements
maintain equipment records
apply hand-eye coordination
apply relevant communication and mathematical skills
assess, interpret and apply technical information
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate a basic factual, technical and procedural knowledge of:
characteristics, capabilities and limitations of the forklift
operational safety requirements including workplace health and safety requirements
QA considerations for transporting product within the plant
critical aspects of:
identification of damage or leaks which may compromise operational capability or safety
operational safety
specific features of the workplace that impact on the operation of the forklift (e.g. operating in a cold environment)
workplace operating procedures
Assessment Conditions
Competency must be demonstrated in specific meat processing plant environments such as freezers and under normal operating conditions.
Assessment must be conducted in an operating meat processing plant and assessment tools must be customised to the workplace-specific workplace health and safety procedures and work instructions.
The following three forms of assessment must be used:
quiz of underpinning knowledge
workplace demonstration
workplace referee or third-party report of performance over time
Assessors must satisfy the current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.