Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to maintain a pest management vehicle storage space for pest management equipment and pesticides. It also covers the movement and control of equipment and pesticides used in the provision of pest management services.
Maintaining a storage area requires the ability to follow established procedures, understand the issues associated with the storage and use of pesticides, and adhere to legislative and public health and safety requirements. These work functions would be carried out according to company guidelines.
The unit supports pest management technicians responsible for ensuring that pest management equipment and pesticides are stored, transported and controlled according to legislative requirements; in particular health and safety environmental safety and public health and safety. It applies to maintaining and operating a safe and efficient pest management storage area within a strict legislative context.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to pest management in some States. Relevant state and territory regulatory authorities should be consulted to confirm those requirements.
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. | Set up storage area in pest management vehicle. | 1.1. | Storage area is secured from unauthorised access according to company and compliance requirements. |
1.2. | Storage area is organised to comply with relevant company and compliance requirements. | ||
1.3. | Existing hazards are identified and risks controlled in storage area according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
1.4. | Vehicle equipment and passenger compartments are separated to minimise transportation risks according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
1.5. | Vehicle is equipped to enable implementation of emergency response procedures according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
1.6. | Vehicle signage is fixed, as required, according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
1.7. | Safety warnings are displayed prominently and safety information is made accessible according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
2. | Stock vehicle storage area. | 2.1. | Equipment is stored, maintained and safety checked to enable ready access and re-use according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. |
2.2. | Chemicals are stored according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
2.3. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is cleaned, safety checked and stored and maintenance requirements are recorded according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
2.4. | Storage area is maintained free from obstacles according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
2.5. | Waste is collected and disposed of according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
3. | Control and maintain stocks of equipment and chemicals. | 3.1. | Inventory system, with maximum and minimum holding levels of equipment and chemicals, is operated and maintained according to company and compliance requirements. |
3.2. | Equipment and chemical usage patterns are monitored and reordered to maintain required levels according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
3.3. | Accurate labelling system is maintained for all containers according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
3.4. | Chemicals are used on an oldest-manufactured, first-out basis according to company requirements. | ||
3.5. | Obsolete equipment and chemicals are disposed of according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
4. | Control a pest management vehicle storage area. | 4.1. | Chemicals are secured to prevent accidental spillage, according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. |
4.2. | Estimated quantities of chemicals required for immediate work requirements are stored and transported according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
4.3. | PPE is stored separately to chemicals and vehicle occupants. | ||
4.4. | Equipment, including PPE, is secured, used and maintained according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
4.5. | Access to and operation of the pest management vehicle are restricted to authorised personnel according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
5. | Maintain a pest management vehicle. | 5.1. | Vehicle is safety checked and regular servicing is arranged to ensure roadworthiness according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. |
5.2. | Vehicle is cleaned regularly to remove chemical contaminants according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
5.3. | Waste is collected and disposed of according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. | ||
5.4. | Vehicle is presented and maintained in line with company’s public image according to company requirements. | ||
6. | Respond to emergency situations. | 6.1. | Emergency response procedures are implemented when accidental spillages or emergency situations occur, according to manufacturer specifications and company and compliance requirements. |
6.2. | Regulatory and company documentation is prepared according to company and compliance requirements. | ||
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 |
Learning skills to: | identify and use reliable sources of compliance requirements information relating to maintaining pest management equipment and pesticide storage areas. |
Numeracy skills to: | read and interpret numerical information from equipment manuals, safety data sheets (SDS), safety warning signs and symbols, and pesticide labels. |
Oral communication skills to: | confirm compliance requirements for storage of pest management equipment and pesticides. |
Reading skills to: | read and interpret directions and safety instructions in equipment manuals, safety warning signs and symbols, pesticide labels and SDS. |
Writing skills to: | prepare accurate and legible labels with essential safety information, if required, for containers holding decanted and diluted pesticides. |
Planning and organising skills to: | plan and organise the setting up and maintenance of pest management equipment and pesticide storage areas. |
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. | |
Compliance requirements must include: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation and local government regulations relating to maintaining pest management vehicle storage areas, including: pesticide registers and manifests pesticide use consumer protection dangerous goods privacy public health and safety environmental requirements relating to maintaining pest management vehicle storage area, including: clean up, containment or isolation of hazards company policies and guidelines emergency chemical spill control measures hazardous materials handling licensing requirements for pest management national and industry codes of practice and advisory standards relating to maintaining pest management vehicle storage areas regulations, by-laws and guidelines of environmental protection agencies and government departments relating to maintaining pest management vehicle storage areas work health and safety requirements relating to maintaining pest management vehicle storage areas, including: injury, dangerous occurrence and incident reporting procedures procedures for hazard identification, risk assessment and hazard control, including hierarchy of hazard control requirements of national registration authority and state government authorities use of safe work methods work documentation and reporting procedures. |
Hazards to be considered | animal bites and stings pesticides and other chemicals electrical environmental contamination fire lighting manual handling moving vehicles and machinery noise respiratory slips and trips temperature ultraviolet (UV) radiation. |
Equipment must include: | bunding and spill kit inspection equipment lockable storage areas pesticide application equipment pesticide measuring and mixing equipment waste disposal containers. |
Emergency response procedures must include one of more of the following: | calling emergency numbers, as required cleaning up containing hazards decontaminating evacuating work site or workplace isolating hazards notifying authorities using PPE. |
Safety warnings must include one or more of the following: | charts and posters instructions labels signs and placards symbols. |
Safety information must include: | chemical co-location, separation and segregation requirements chemical manifests chemical registers company policies and procedures container and package storage arrangements dangerous goods diamonds emergency management plans health and safety information manufacturer instructions manufacturer specifications operation manuals product labels SDS waste disposal information. |
Personal protective equipment must include: | appropriate eye, ear and respiratory protection first aid kits appropriate for a range of tasks and locations site specific PPE and clothing requirements soap and towel sun protection. |
Sectors
Pest management