FPISAW3223B
Assess wood chips

This unit describes the outcomes required to collect wood chip samples, to test wood chips, and to report and follow up on the results to ensure quality outcomes for downstream processingGeneral workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publicationThis unit replaces FPISAW3223A Assess wood chips

Application

The unit involves assessing wood chips in a forest products factory setting

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


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for assessment

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to assessing wood chips are identified and followed

1.2. Work order is reviewed and checked with appropriate personnel

1.3. Type and quantity of wood chips for assessment are obtained

1.4. Equipment is selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations

1.5. Testing processes are selected and planned in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

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

2. Collect and assess samples

2.1. Material being chipped is inspected for contaminants

2.2. Chip production, transport and storage processes are examined for potential sources of contamination

2.3. Chips are visually assessed at production, transport and storage locations in line with site procedures

2.4. Potential problems with chip characteristics and contamination are reported in line with site procedures and environmental requirements

2.5. Chip samples are collected from designated locations and kept free from mixing and contamination

2.6. Sampling records are completed in line with site procedures

3. Test wood chips and report outcomes

3.1. Chip specifications are identified from production schedules and order requirements

3.2. Chips are tested for moisture content, size distribution, shape and contamination

3.3. Chip samples are stored and test reports completed in line with site requirements

3.4. Test results are communicated to production personnel to facilitate process control or changes

3.5. Test sampling is modified in response to new problems and production changes

3.6. Testing process and equipment faults are recorded and reported to the appropriate personnel

Required Skills

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

Required skills

Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; efficiently and safely assess wood chips

Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace

Literacy skills sufficient to accurately record and report workplace information, and maintain documentation

Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate, measure and calculate time required to complete a task

Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems and equipment faults and 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 assessing wood chips

Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material, minimising carbon emissions and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment

Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for assessing wood chips

Environmental risks and hazards

Sampling and testing techniques

Characteristics of wood chips

Visual assessment techniques

Storage systems and labelling

Established communication channels and protocols

Problem identification and resolution strategies and common fault finding techniques

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

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

Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

Evidence Required

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 wood chips within 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 assessing wood chips

following organisational policies and procedures relevant to assessing wood chips

assessing wood chips in line with the work order and within prescribed organisational requirements

testing wood chips for contamination and moisture content

reporting on outcomes of testing

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


Range Statement

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

machine isolation and guarding

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 and maintenance and storage requirements

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

Work order is to include:

instructions for the sampling and testing of wood chips

and may also include:

instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures

environmental care requirements relevant to the work

Appropriate personnel may include:

supervisors

suppliers

clients

colleagues

managers

Wood chips

are the output product as a result of converting wood into chip material which is then used to produce other products

Assessment is to include:

the inspection of wood chips to determine:

size distribution

shape

finish quality

contamination

faults

Equipment may include:

moisture meters

basic testing equipment

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

body language

Contaminants may include:

disease

infestation

rot

paint

plastic

bark

charcoal

rock

metal

Chip characteristics are to include:

moisture content

size

shape

species

Sampling

is the selection of small lots of wood chips from various points of the stockpile or other designated locations

Designated location may include:

stock piles

production points

transport methods

from transfer systems

Testing is to include:

the most appropriate approach taken to:

ascertain the cause of a problem

improve a current methodology

Moisture content

is the amount of moisture maintained in wood chips after processing to avoid cracking and deforming

in Australia generally ranges between 10% in warmer, more humid climates to 14% in cooler climates

Records and reports may include:

sampling and testing results

quantities produced

condition changes

production difficulties

storage locations

quality outcomes

hazards

incidents

equipment malfunctions

and may be:

manual

using a computer-based system or other appropriate organisational communication system


Sectors

Unit sector

No sector assigned


Competency Field

Sawmilling and Processing


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor