Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to protect carpets from the potential effects of odour and soiling by applying suitable topical treatments. The unit covers identifying the type of carpet and selecting equipment, treatments and treatment methods to perform the required task.
The unit supports carpet 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 apply topical treatment. | 1.1. | Type and condition of carpet fibre, construction method and type of underlay are identified, and job requirements are confirmed. |
1.2. | Work site hazards are assessed and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. | ||
1.3. | Application techniques are confirmed according to company requirements. | ||
1.4. | Equipment is selected according to job requirements, checked for serviceability, and faults are rectified or reported before starting work. | ||
1.5. | Topical treatment chemicals are selected and prepared according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
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 damage is identified and reported according to company requirements. | ||
2. | Perform treatment. | 2.1. | Furniture and fittings are removed to allow cleaning tasks to be performed. |
2.2. | Surface area to be treated is prepared according to manufacturer specifications and company requirements. | ||
2.3. | Area is treated according to manufacturer specifications and legislative, health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
2.4. | Treated area is compared with surrounding surface to determine need for further action 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
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:
select and apply suitable topical treatments to one natural fibre carpet and one synthetic fibre carpet specified in the range of conditions
use each of the following topical treatments in the above work:
antimicrobial agents
antistatic agents
deodorisers
protectors.
In doing the above work, the person must:
prepare the work site
identify site hazards and control risks before commencing the task
identify type and characteristics of carpet to be treated
select and prepare equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and topical treatment chemicals, required for the task
use safe and efficient topical treatment methods.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental requirements relating to applying topical treatments to carpets, including:
clean-up, containment and isolation procedures
environmental protection agency requirements relating to applying topical treatments to carpets
use of low-energy cleaning methods
use of low-moisture cleaning methods
use of low water-use equipment and other water-efficient cleaning methods
use of non-chemical cleaning methods.
application processes for applying topical treatments, including:
antimicrobial agents
antistatic agents
deodorisers
protectors
types of carpet installation methods and requirements for applying topical treatments, including:
direct stick
double bond
loose lay
stretch in
tackless carpet gripper
turn and tack
two-sided tape
types of carpet fibres and requirements for applying topical treatments, including:
continuous filament
staple yarn
types, characteristics and features of carpet underlay and requirements for applying topical treatments, including:
crumble foam
felt
foam
sandwich
urethane
waffle rubber
types and characteristics of carpet backing materials and requirements for applying topical treatments, including:
cotton
jute
latex
polyester
polypropylene
polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
types and characteristics of carpet construction methods and requirements for applying topical treatments, including:
flocked
fusion bonded
needle punched
tufted
woven
key requirements of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to carpet cleaning, including AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting
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 PPE
used or unused chemicals
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
materials:
treatment 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
physical conditions:
suitable work site or venue with carpet requiring topical treatment
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 to confirm and clarify requirements.
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: | communicate clearly and concisely with clients request advice or further information. |
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 at the same work site. |
Problem-solving skills to: | identify required treatments for different carpet types. |
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. | |
Carpet must include: | natural fibre: organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal wool synthetic fibre: acrylic nylon polyester polypropylene. |
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 chemicals 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: | absorbent cloths airless sprayers carpet rakes chemical hand spray units horsehair brushes powered sprayers pump-up sprayers. |
Treatment chemicals must include at least one of the following: | antimicrobial agents antistatic agents deodorisers protectors. |
Personal protective equipment must include at least two of the following: | eye protection gloves protective clothing respirators safety shoes. |
Treated must include: | selecting and using required: equipment PPE topical treatment chemicals. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations