Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to clean carpets using selected processes, chemicals and equipment. Cleaning carpets is undertaken in addition to daily maintenance of carpets to provide a thorough and deep clean of the carpet fibres. The selection of equipment, chemicals and methods suited to the task is essential for performing the work safely and efficiently.
The unit supports cleaners who work alone or in teams. It applies in a range of commercial and residential work sites.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Plan and prepare to clean carpets. | 1.1. | Type of carpet fibre and carpet construction are assessed, job requirements are reviewed, and issues are clarified. |
1.2. | Work site hazards are identified and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. | ||
1.3. | Required carpet cleaning process is determined according to type of carpet and job requirements. | ||
1.4. | Equipment is | ||
1.5. | Required cleaning chemicals are selected and prepared. | ||
1.6. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is sourced according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
1.7. | Signs and barricades are selected and installed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
1.8. | Pre-existing stains or damage are identified and reported according to company requirements. | ||
1.9. | Tasks are sequenced to ensure maximum efficiency for completing cleaning requirements. | ||
2. | Undertake cleaning process. | 2.1. | Furniture and fittings are removed to allow cleaning tasks to be performed. |
2.2. | Carpet is cleaned according to manufacturer specifications, and legislative, health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
2.3. | Cleaned carpet area is compared with surrounding carpet surface, and need for further cleaning action is identified and carried out according to job and company requirements. | ||
2.4. | Results are reported according to company requirements. | ||
3. | Tidy work site. | 3.1. | Collected soil and waste are disposed of according to client and company specifications, and legislative, environmental, and health and safety requirements. |
3.2. | Furniture and fittings are returned to original position according to client requirements. | ||
3.3. | Signs and barricades are removed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
4. | Clean and safety check equipment, and store equipment and chemicals. | 4.1. | Equipment and PPE are cleaned, safety checked and stored according to manufacturer specifications and environmental, health and safety, and company requirements. |
4.2. | Unused chemicals are stored or disposed of according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
Evidence of Performance
Performance Evidence
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also clean two different carpet types where:
one carpet type must be a natural fibre selected from:
organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal
wool
one carpet type must be a synthetic fibre selected from:
acrylic
nylon
polyester.
In cleaning the above carpets, the person must:
identify site hazards and control risks before commencing the task
correctly identify the type and characteristics of the carpet and carpet fibres
identify cleaning techniques and chemicals required for the task
use the following cleaning methods:
bonnet cleaning
hot water extraction
use cleaning equipment safely
check carpet after cleaning process and assess whether further cleaning is required
correctly and safely handle waste.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
carpet characteristics, including:
carpet construction
features of fibres
range and application of cleaning equipment and chemicals, including:
encapsulation
low environmental impact chemicals
low-moisture use equipment
correct application and techniques for different cleaning methods, including:
dry absorbent compound
bonnet cleaning
hot water extraction
dry foam shampoo
wet foam shampoo
environmental requirements relating to removing stains from carpets, including:
clean-up, containment and isolation procedures
emergency chemical spill control measures
environmental protection agency requirements relating to using and disposing of carpet cleaning chemicals
hazardous materials handling
use of low-energy carpet-cleaning methods
use of low-moisture carpet-cleaning methods
use of low water-use equipment and other water-efficient cleaning methods
use of non-chemical carpet-cleaning methods
key requirements of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to carpet cleaning, including:
Australian standards AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting
industry advisory standards and codes, such as dangerous goods codes
processes for safely handling and disposing of waste, including:
chemicals past their expiry date
litter
machine exhaust emissions
obsolete equipment
used containers
used or contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE)
used or unused chemicals
range and application of cleaning solutions used to clean carpets and their reactions with different carpet types
safe handling techniques for working with hazardous chemicals, including:
emergency chemical spill control measures
routes of entry and potential symptoms of exposure to chemicals
safe methods for diluting chemicals
working according to safety data sheets (SDS).
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
as listed in the range of conditions
PPE as listed in the range of conditions
materials:
cleaning chemicals as listed in the range of conditions
specifications:
AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting
equipment operating manuals
product labels
SDS
contingencies:
carpet cleaning action is repeated when carpet has not cleaned sufficiently first time
physical conditions:
suitable work site or venue with carpet types listed in the performance evidence
relationships with team members and supervisor:
work may be conducted alone or as part of a team
relationship with client:
communication with the client is required.
Timeframe:
as specified by the task.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Numeracy skills to: | dilute and mix required chemicals using whole numbers and routine fractions. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify job requirements respond clearly and concisely to client questions. |
Reading skills to: | interpret simple, structured manufacturer instructions when using equipment and preparing chemicals interpret directions and safety instructions, including: equipment operating manuals product labels safety data sheets (SDS). |
Writing skills to: | document and report faults in equipment to manufacturer and other personnel. |
Teamwork skills to: | work collaboratively with others when accessing and cleaning carpets. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Type of carpet fibre must include: | natural: organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal wool synthetic: acrylic nylon polyester. |
Hazards that must be assessed include: | biological and environmental contaminants chemical exposure via absorption, ingestion and inhalation chemical reactivity dust and fibre particulates electrical environmental allergens explosions fatigue fire manual handling noise poor ventilation slips, trips and falls syringes and sharps working in confined spaces. |
Health and safety requirements must include: | access to communication devices when working alone compliance with Safe Work Australia regulations and guidelines electrical equipment test and tag compliance emergency response procedures environmental controls hazard signs and barricades health and safety induction and refresher training manual handling techniques processes for safely dispensing and handling chemicals while undertaking work tasks risk assessment procedures, including: hazardous chemicals register hierarchy of control job safety analyses (JSA) for low-risk situations safe work method statements (SWMS) for high-risk situations incident reporting SDS selection and use of required PPE storage and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer specifications use of first aid according to SDS information. |
Equipment must include at least two of the following: | carpet-cleaning bonnets and hand bonnets carpet-drying equipment cleaning cloths extraction unit garbage bin measuring equipment plastic coaster or polystyrene block rotary or cylindrical scrubbing machine scraper or spatula sponge spray equipment steam iron trigger sprayer vacuum cleaner waste recovery tank. |
Cleaning chemicals must include at least one of the following: | acid cleaners alkaline cleaners neutral cleaners protein spotter solvent cleaners. |
Personal protective equipment must include at least two of the following: | disposable respirators eye protection gloves safety shoes. |
Cleaned must include: | selecting and using required: equipment PPE chemicals cleaning techniques. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations