The unit involves undertaking brushcutting operations in a variety of work settings, including a forest environment and other settings such as farms, agriculture, workshops, domestic, nursery and local councils

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for brushcutting

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to undertaking brushcutting operations are identified and followed

1.2. Work order is reviewed and checked as required with appropriate personnel

1.3. Tools and equipment are selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer recommendations

1.4. Blunt or damaged brushcutter blades are identified, rectified and reported in line with workplace procedures

1.5. Operational effectiveness of brushcutter blades is monitored to maintain cutting safety and productivity

1.6. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

2. Assess vegetation and plan brushcutting

2.1. Site environmental concerns are identified and monitored in line with relevant commonwealth, state or territory and local legislation and regulations

2.2. Environmental conditions are identified and assessed in line with work order

2.3. Limitations are identified and assistance is sought as required in line with workplace procedures

2.4. Potential and existing risks and hazards in the work area are identified and controlled

2.5. Appropriate cutting methods for identified types of vegetation and situations are determined and planned to optimise time and safety

3. Operate brushcutter

3.1. Work is undertaken using established safe operating practices in line with workplace procedures, manufacturer recommendations and environmental requirements

3.2. Brushcutter safety harness and handles are adjusted to provide the operator with the correct ergonomic position

3.3. Brushcutting operations are undertaken appropriate to site conditions and at a safe distance from other personnel in the work area

3.4. Brushcutter is monitored for operational effectiveness and is refuelled as required in line with manufacturer recommendations

3.5. Cut vegetation is disposed of in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

3.6. Operational faults, malfunctions or problems are identified and reported in line with workplace procedures

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Required skills

Technical skills sufficient to select, operate and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; safely operate and maintain a brushcutter; assess, plan and carry out brushcutting operations appropriate to the vegetation and site conditions; recognise common diseases, pests and nutritional deficiencies

Communication skills sufficient to use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques with colleagues and others; use hand signals with other operators to maintain effective and safe felling

Literacy skills sufficient to locate, record and report information

Numeracy skills sufficient to read and interpret written material; calculate slopes and weights in the metric system

Problem solving skills sufficient to review and identify work requirements; identify problems and equipment faults; demonstrate appropriate response procedures

Required knowledge

Applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for undertaking brushcutting operations

Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material, and the minimisation of environmental impact, including carbon emissions and noise

Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for undertaking brushcutting operations

Environmental risks and hazards

Established communication channels and protocols

Methods of navigating and geographically orienting in the field

Hazards of operating brushcutter, including kickback and flying objects

Operational principles and limitations of brushcutters

Problem identification and resolution strategies, and common fault finding techniques

Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their safe use and maintenance

Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks

Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently assess, plan and conduct brushcutting operations in line with environmental and organisational requirements

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to undertaking brushcutting operations

following organisational policies and procedures relevant to undertaking brushcutting operations

assessing, planning and safely conducting brushcutting operations within the range of variables, vegetation and conditions

selecting, using and maintaining appropriate tools and equipment

safely operating and maintaining a brushcutter and its components

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace

Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context

Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements

The following resources should be made available:

workplace location or simulated workplace

materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit

specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge

Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills

Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English

Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment

Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

OHS requirements:

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

personal protective equipment and clothing

safety equipment

first aid equipment

fire fighting equipment

hazard and risk control

fatigue management

elimination of hazardous materials and substances

safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire

manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

Environmental requirements may include:

legislation

organisational policies and procedures

workplace practices

Legislative requirements:

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

award and enterprise agreements

industrial relations

Australian Standards

confidentiality and privacy

OHS

the environment

equal opportunity

anti-discrimination

relevant industry codes of practice

duty of care

Organisational requirements may include:

legal

organisational and site guidelines

policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility

quality assurance

procedural manuals

quality and continuous improvement processes and standards

OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures

ethical standards

recording and reporting requirements

equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements

environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Appropriate personnel may include:

supervisors

clients

colleagues

line management

Tools and equipment may include:

brushcutter and components

fire equipment

personal protective equipment and clothing

first aid equipment

maintenance requirements

fuel

Rectify may include:

repairing or sending for repair, blunt or damaged brushcutter blades

recycling blunt or damaged brushcutter blades that cannot be repaired

sending blunt or damaged brushcutter blades that cannot be repaired to landfill

Maintenance includes:

safely sharpening blades

changing components as required

Communication may include:

verbal and non-verbal language

constructive feedback

active listening

questioning to clarify and confirm understanding

use of positive, confident and cooperative language

use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences

control of tone of voice

Environmental conditions may include:

ground growth

ground slope

ground hazards

noise

weather

Limitations may include:

job role and responsibilities

own competency level

industry requirements

own understanding of risk identification processes

own interpretation of legislation, regulations and procedures

OHS and environmental requirements

Brushcutting:

will be undertaken in all conditions for which it is safe, including slopes up to the maximum allowed by applicable regulations

Disposing of may include:

recycling cut vegetation

redirecting cut vegetation for energy recovery

Forest Growing and Management

This unit contains employability skills