Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to maintain landfill sites including access roads, landfill cells and surroundings. The unit covers preparing for maintenance work by visually inspecting the site and interpreting maintenance schedules, and organising and using plant, equipment, tools and materials required for the maintenance work. The unit also covers maintaining access roads by conducting repairs and maintaining drainage. It covers maintaining landfill cells by creating ditches, bunds and slopes, replacing eroded cover and taking action to prevent further erosion, surface pitting and flooding, as well as managing vermin infestations. Basic gardening and maintenance work is also required to manage vegetation, and clear drains, fences, gates and barriers.
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. | Organise waste site maintenance. | 1.1. | Waste disposal site maintenance requirements are identified from maintenance schedule and physical observation of site. |
1.2. | Plant and equipment, tools and landscape materials required for maintenance work are identified, obtained and checked in accordance with work requirements. | ||
1.3. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected, checked and used according to maintenance, organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
1.4. | Hazards and risks are identified and managed or reported according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
2. | Maintain access roads. | 2.1. | Condition of access roads is maintained to ensure public and personnel safety and to maximise efficiency of site operations according to organisational requirements. |
2.2. | Road repairs are planned and carried out to minimise disruption to site operations. | ||
2.3. | Effective drainage is maintained to maximise removal of excess water. | ||
2.4. | Water is spread to maintain a uniform wet surface to suppress dust according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3. | Maintain landfill cells. | 3.1. | Ditches, bunds and slopes are created to prevent overland flow from entering exposed working face of cell according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
3.2. | Minimum coverage on landfill cell and batter covers is maintained according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3.3. | Eroded cover is replaced and preventative action is taken to avoid further erosion. | ||
3.4. | Cover is kept smooth and rounded to prevent pitting of surfaces and flooding. | ||
3.5. | Vermin infestations are detected and pest management response is undertaken according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3.6. | Vegetation on landfill site is trimmed, mowed, cleared or replaced as appropriate according to organisational requirements. | ||
3.7. | Organisational security procedures are followed to prevent unauthorised scavenging. | ||
4. | Maintain surroundings. | 4.1. | Drains are cleared regularly to prevent build-up of silt or blockages. |
4.2. | Litter screens, fences, gates and barriers are cleared regularly to remove litter and debris and to maintain a safe and clean environment. | ||
4.3. | Fences, gates and barriers are repaired as required to ensure integrity of form and prevent unauthorised entry to waste site. | ||
4.4. | Litter and debris are cleared away to ensure full and clear visibility of signage. | ||
5. | Record maintenance activities. | 5.1. | Maintenance activities are recorded according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
5.2. | Faulty equipment is identified and repairs arranged according to organisational 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 undertake maintenance on a waste disposal site on two occasions. For each occasion, the following maintenance activities must be conducted:
maintain access roads
maintain landfill cells
maintain landfill surroundings.
While undertaking above site maintenance, the person must:
identify maintenance requirements by physically observing the site environment and interpreting the maintenance schedule
follow organisational procedures to work safely and comply with regulatory and legal requirements
select, obtain, check and operate plant and associated equipment and tools for maintenance activities
select and obtain landscape materials for required maintenance work
maintain and repair access roads with minimal disruption to site operations
maintain characteristics of landfill cells, including:
creating ditches, bunds and slopes to prevent overland flow from entering exposed workface face of the cell
maintaining minimum coverage on the landfill cell and batter covers
replacing eroded cover and taking preventative actions to avoid further erosion
keeping the cover smooth and rounded to prevent pitting and flooding
undertake pest management response to vermin infestations at the landfill site
undertake basic gardening including clearing, lawn mowing and pruning to maintain vegetation on landfill sites
follow security procedures to prevent unauthorised access to the landfill site
maintain surroundings including regular clearing of drains, fences, gates and barriers
record details of maintenance activities using organisational proformas
identify and organise the repair of faulty equipment.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
basic drainage clearing techniques
basic road maintenance requirements
classifications of dangerous goods
environmental management techniques to maintain landfill cells and prevent erosion
fire risk mitigation techniques including fire breaks and controlled burns
hazards and risks associated with waste including hazardous substances and dangerous goods
landfill cover requirements and considerations
organisational policies and procedures and regulatory and legal requirements relating to maintaining waste disposal sites
procedures to start up, shut down, lock out and isolate plant used to maintain waste disposal sites
security procedures for waste disposal sites
types of waste cover materials, their uses and benefits
types, streams and characteristics of waste including hazardous and dangerous waste and non-conforming waste streams
vermin control methods and their potential impact on the environment and other species.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
plant and equipment necessary to carry out maintenance activities, as specified by organisational requirements
personal protective equipment (PPE), 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 |
Reading skills to: | interpret maintenance schedules to identify work requirements. |
Writing skills to: | record plant operation details using organisational proformas. |
Problem-solving skills to: | decide methods for dealing with vermin infestations. |
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 relating to maintaining waste disposal sites, including: environmental protection hazardous substances and dangerous goods industry codes work health and safety licensing requirements. |
Sectors
Waste management