CPPWMT3020
Place and compact waste


Application

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to place and compact waste to form a batter at a landfill site. The unit covers preparing for plant operation by reviewing work specifications, identifying hazards and risks, and organising required equipment, tools and materials. It also covers conducting pre-operational checks of plant and equipment to ensure correct and safe operation and resolving identified problems. The unit requires following manufacturer specifications to start, operate, isolate, shut down, clean and maintain plant and equipment. It requires the ability to work with others to maintain communication while operating plant, and monitor gauges, inputs and outputs to ensure optimal operation and safety at all times. The unit also requires the ability to place and compact waste according to the stage of batter development, and using movement and compaction techniques which aid the formation of the waste battering angle, tight compaction and minimise dust and contamination to the environment.

The unit supports those who work under limited supervision in a waste management team.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit of competency in some States where a licence is required to operate various plant, vehicles or equipment used to transport, shift, load, unload, lift, compact or otherwise process waste. 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.

Prepare to place and compact waste.

1.1.

Work specifications are reviewed in consultation with relevant personnel to identify waste placement and compaction requirements.

1.2.

Plant and associated equipment, tools and materials for waste placement and compaction are selected and obtained according to organisational requirements.

1.3.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected, checked and used according to organisational and compliance requirements.

1.4.

Landfill cell is assessed to determine waste placement requirements and cell capacity.

1.5.

Hazards and risks are identified and managed or reported according to organisational and compliance requirements.

1.6.

Safety barriers and signs are erected at work site to ensure safe operating procedures according to organisational and compliance requirements.

2.

Conduct pre-operational checks on plant and equipment.

2.1.

Pre-start visual checks and service checks are conducted according to manufacturer specifications, organisational and compliance requirements.

2.2.

Plant systems and associated equipment are tested for correct functioning according to manufacturer specifications and organisational requirements.

2.3.

Associated equipment is checked and tested to ensure it is operating effectively according to manufacturer specifications.

3.

Operate plant to place and compact waste.

3.1.

Plant is started, operated and driven in a safe and efficient manner according to manufacturer specifications and organisational requirements.

3.2.

Surrounding environment is continuously observed to identify and avoid or minimise potential hazards.

3.3.

Plant operation and gauges are monitored to ensure correct operational functioning according to manufacturer specifications.

3.4.

Communication with other personnel is maintained to ensure safe plant operation according to organisational and compliance requirements.

3.5.

Waste types to be placed are selected according to stage of batter development, and organisational and compliance requirements.

3.6.

Moving and compaction techniques are used to aid the formation of waste battering angle, tight waste compaction and to minimise dust and contamination to surrounding environment.

3.7.

Smaller waste is placed on top of larger waste objects on the batter to ensure even placement and to avoid large waste objects protruding from the batter.

3.8.

Placed waste is traversed to ensure a smooth, tight and compacted surface.

4.

Finalise waste placement and compaction activities.

4.1.

Plant is shut down according to manufacturer specifications and organisational requirements.

4.2.

Plant is parked or stored in a safe location to avoid damage to plant, obstruction of surrounding site activity, and unauthorised use.

4.3.

Plant and associated equipment are cleaned to remove debris and contamination and ensure safe and efficient operation according to manufacturer specifications.

4.4.

Record of placement and compaction activities are completed according to organisational and compliance 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 place and compact waste at a landfill site to form a batter on two separate occasions.

While placing and compacting waste, the person must:

conduct an assessment of the landfill cell to correctly identify:

accessibility due to weather or ground conditions

cover material requirements for batter and stage of landfill development

prepare for the plant operation by interpreting work specifications and organising the required equipment, materials and personnel

follow organisational procedures to work safely and comply with regulatory and legal requirements

follow manufacturer specifications to:

conduct pre-operational checks of the plant and associated equipment to confirm correct function and operation, including:

pre-start visual checks, as specified in the range of conditions

service checks, as specified in the range of conditions

clean the plant and associated equipment

start-up, shut-down and isolate the plant

identify and segregate waste types including regulated and non-conforming waste and valuable resources in waste

use industry-approved techniques to move, place and compact waste to create a batter, including:

aiding the formation of the waste battering angle

ensuring tight waste compaction

minimising dust and contamination to the surrounding environment.


Evidence of Knowledge

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:

classifications of waste

equipment and materials which may be required to operate, clean and maintain plant for waste placement and compaction

hazards and risks associated with waste placement and compaction

organisational policies and procedures and regulatory and legal requirements relating to placing and compacting waste

procedures used to start-up, shut-down, isolate, maintain and clean plant used for waste placement and compaction

techniques used to move and compact waste in a landfill cell

types, streams and characteristics of waste including hazardous and dangerous waste

waste management hierarchy

waste non-conformances and contaminants.


Assessment Conditions

The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:

equipment:

personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by organisational requirements

plant and equipment required to place and compact waste, as specified by organisational requirements

relationships with team members and supervisor:

working under limited supervision.

Timeframe:

as specified by organisational requirements.

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

Oral communication skills to:

ask questions to clarify work information with relevant personnel.

Reading skills to:

interpret safety data sheets related to hazardous waste

interpret signage when monitoring plant operation.

Writing skills to:

record plant operation details using organisational proformas.


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.

Work specificationsmust include at least five of the following:

materials for covering activities

details of special burials, including:

classification of waste

characteristics of waste

waste types

emergency and PPE requirements

tools, equipment, labour and material requirements

landfill development sequence

plant operation requirements

potential hazards and risks

reporting requirements

site requirements

waste types to be processed

work schedules.

Relevant personnel must include at least one of the following:

supervisor or team leader

team member.

Compliance requirements must include:

commonwealth, state and territory legislation relating to waste placement and compaction, including:

environmental protection

hazardous substances and dangerous goods

industry codes

work health and safety

licensing requirements.

Pre-start visual checks must include checks for:

blockages

component wear

damage

leaks

obstructions

potential hazards.


Sectors

Waste management