Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to set up and use pressure washing equipment to clean surfaces by producing a variable stream of water or cleaning chemical. The unit covers assessing the extent of the cleaning task, and selecting the equipment, chemicals and cleaning methods required for the task.
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 using pressure washing. | 1.1. | Type and condition of surfaces to be pressure washed are assessed, job requirements are reviewed, and issues are clarified. |
1.2. | Work site hazards are assessed and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. | ||
1.3. | Soil types are identified by observation and cleaning chemicals required for the task are selected and prepared. | ||
1.4. | Equipment is selected according to job requirements, checked for serviceability, and faults are rectified or reported before starting work. | ||
1.5. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is sourced according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
1.6. | Signs and barricades are selected and installed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
1.7. | Pre-existing damage is identified and reported according to company requirements. | ||
2. | Use pressure washing equipment and techniques. | 2.1. | Items requiring protection from pressure spray are covered and secured according to specified requirements. |
2.2. | Heavily soiled areas are pre-sprayed according to manufacturer specifications and company requirements. | ||
2.3. | Pressure washing is conducted using equipment and chemicals and according to manufacturer specifications. | ||
2.4. | Hand washing is performed on areas requiring additional treatment, using suitable equipment and chemicals according to manufacturer specifications. | ||
2.5. | Washed area is rinsed using required equipment and allowed to dry. | ||
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. | Protective coverings are removed and items returned to position according to specified 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 pressure wash three of the following surface types:
brick, including rendered brick surfaces
concrete, including polished concrete
metal surfaces, including industrial kitchen equipment and industrial machinery
painted
polyresin.
In doing the above work, the person must:
remove three of the following different soil types:
graffiti
grease and oil
mould and mildew
pollution marks
identify site hazards and control risks before commencing the task
identify surface and soil types
select and prepare required cleaning equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE) and cleaning chemicals
use safe and efficient cleaning methods using pressure washing.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
suitability of different surfaces for pressure washing
key requirements of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to cleaning using pressure washing, including industry advisory standards and codes, such as dangerous goods codes
processes for safely handling and disposing of waste, including:
chemicals past their expiry date
obsolete equipment
disposal of packaging
sweeping detritus
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)
range and functionality of equipment used in pressure washing
procedures for selecting and applying cleaning chemicals required for different surfaces, including:
acid cleaners
alkaline cleaners
low environmental impact chemicals
neutral cleaners
solvent cleaners.
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:
equipment operating manuals
product labels
SDS
physical conditions:
suitable work site with range of surfaces as listed in the performance evidence
relationships with team members and supervisor:
work may be conducted alone or as part of a team.
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 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. |
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. | |
Surfaces must include at least three of the following: | brick, including rendered brick surfaces concrete, including polished concrete metal surfaces, including industrial kitchen equipment and industrial machinery painted polyresin. |
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. |
Soil types must include at least three of the following: | graffiti grease and oil mould and mildew pollution marks. |
Cleaning chemicals must include at least one of the following: | acid cleaners alkaline cleaners low environmental impact chemicals neutral cleaners solvent cleaners. |
Equipment must include at least two of the following: | brooms cloths hoses lances pressure washers squeegees wet area electrical safety connections. |
Personal protective equipment must include at least three of the following: | ear muffs and plugs gloves eye protection disposable respirators safety shoes sun protection wet-work clothing. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations