Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to operate a mobile chipping or mulching unit to chip or mulch timber refuse such as branches and other timber waste left after felling operations. Work is completed in a forest or forest farm setting.
The unit applies to those who operate a mobile chipping or mulching unit in a forest environment.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
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 for mobile chipping or mulching. | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 1.3 Identify type and quantity of timber refuse to be chipped or mulched. 1.4 Plan chipping or mulching activities in line with work order. |
2. Chip or mulch timber refuse | 2.1 Reject timber refuse assessed as unsuitable for chipping or mulching and dispose of or recycle in line with environmental protection practices. 2.2 Use equipment in line with organisational safety procedures, manufacturer’s instructions and environmental protection requirements. 2.3 Position, secure and set up chipping and mulching unit in line with manufacturer's specifications and required size. 2.4 Direct timber refuse into chipper or mulcher at rate applicable to machine capacity. 2.5 Chip timber refuse to chip sizes specified in work order. 2.6 Respond to critical situations requiring emergency shutdown to prevent personal injury or damage to machine or product. |
3. Complete operator maintenance. | 3.1 Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment. 3.2 Check cutters for wear and damage at appropriate or recommended intervals. 3.3 Remove, replace and dispose of cutters in line with manufacturer’s recommendations, s ite procedures and environmental protection practices. 3.4 Complete operator maintenance tasks in line with manufacturer’s recommendations and site procedures. 3.5 Record and report production outcomes and equipment faults to appropriate personnel. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
complete chipping and mulching jobs in line with individual work orders which prescribe different quantities of timber refuse and different chip sizes
complete operator maintenance, including fuelling, safety checks, cleaning, lubricating, operational adjustments, cutter inspection, removal, disposal and replacement to manufacturer recommendations and site procedures.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental protection practices for forest and forest farm settings:
reducing water and energy use
cleaning plant, tools and equipment
disposing of, recycling and reusing timber
types of timber refuse suitable and unsuitable for chipping and mulching
purpose, features and operation of mobile chipping and mulching units
capacity of chippers and mulchers to cope with differing sizes and diameters of branch
feed rates at which waste is fed into chippers and mulchers to optimise output without damaging or blocking machinery
methods for checking cutting blade condition
operator maintenance procedures including for fuelling, safety checks, cleaning, lubricating, operational adjustments, cutter inspection, removal, disposal and replacement
common hazards associated with chipping and mulching operations and methods to minimise associated risks
organisational procedures specific to chipping and mulching timber refuse:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out and use of personal protective equipment
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting production outcomes and equipment faults.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
mobile chipping and mulching units feeding into a truck or other form of transportation:
truck mounted
trailer mounted
tools and consumables for operator maintenance
tools and equipment for removing and replacing cutters
consumable cutters
personal protective equipment suitable for chipping and mulching timber refuse
timber refuse for processing
manufacturers’:
instructions for equipment use
recommendations for operator maintenance
work order with specific instructions for chipping or mulching timber refuse
template documents for recording production outcomes and equipment faults
relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information
organisational procedures for chipping and mulching timber refuse.
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must:
hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and
be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and
be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence
Foundation Skills
This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Numeracy skills to: | identify quantities of required material within work orders read basic numerical machine settings and choose according to chip size complete routine production records involving quantities tallied against orders. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders. |
Reading skills to: | interpret workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures work orders manufacturers’ instructions and maintenance recommendations. |
Writing skills to: | complete accurate basic records for production outcomes and equipment faults. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation and processing activities using work order to guide activities. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Harvesting and Haulage