Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to operate an excavator with grabs to shift materials and complete tasks. Work is completed in a forest or forest farm setting and includes operator maintenance.
The unit applies to those who operate excavator operations with grabs in a forest environment.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction.
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. Plan excavator operations | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Select appropriate personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 1.3 Identify type, quantity and weight of material to be moved to determine load requirements. 1.4 Determine and confirm location, level and suitable surface to ensure stability of excavator. 1.5 Plan excavator operations in line with work order and heritage concerns. 1.6 Check excavator controls and functions, implements, brakes and manoeuvrability to ensure operational effectiveness. |
2. Operate excavator to shift materials | 2.1 Use equipment in line with organisational safety procedures, manufacturer’s instructions and environmental protection practices. 2.2 Position excavator on stable surface and secure to ensure stability throughout operations. 2.3 Select, attach and stabilise lifting gear in line with safe working load requirements and organisational safety procedures. 2.4 Operate excavator to shift material with optimum efficiency; observe and respond to people and hazards present. 2.5 Use communication signals throughout excavator operations to notify nearby personnel of ongoing operations. |
3. Complete operator maintenance | 3.1 Safely park, shut down and prepare excavator for maintenance. 3.2 Inspect excavator for faults, remove and replace defective parts in line with manufacturer’s recommendations 3.3 Complete cleaning and programmed maintenance tasks for excavator; dispose of waste materials in line with environmental protection practices. 3.4 Record and report process outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements 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.
operate an excavator, attachments and lifting gear to complete tasks, chosen from the following list, in line with individual work orders:
lifting and moving materials
tree removal
stripping
spreading materials
stockpiling
bulk excavation
land clearing
towing equipment
winching
boxing
constructing fire breaks
complete operator maintenance after the completion of each of job.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental protection practices for operating excavators:
reducing water and energy use
cleaning plant, tools and equipment
disposing of, recycling and reusing timber and other waste
common range of environmental and heritage concerns relevant to operating an excavator methods used to minimise damage:
dust
noise
water
flora and fauna
culturally sensitive sites and artefacts
plantations
native forest
typical workplace hazards present during excavator operations and methods of minimising risks
capacity of excavators and attachments in relation to dimensions and weight
operating techniques for excavators and range of movements
methods to correctly position and secure excavators to ensure stability of load and equipment
key features of these varying signal systems used for excavator operations:
hand signals
whistles
sirens
loud speaker announcements
two way radios
typical industry chain of command for communicating signals during excavator operations
purpose, features, operation and shut down of excavator equipment:
excavators
buckets
forks
lifting gear:
slings
cables
grabs
methods for:
assessing condition of excavator parts
removing and replacing defective parts
organisational procedures specific to operating excavators:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out and use of personal protective equipment
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting process outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
excavators
lifting gear including:
slings
cables
grabs
maintenance tools and equipment for removing and replacing defective excavator parts
communication equipment used to signal operation of excavator
personal protective equipment suitable for operating an excavator
manufacturers’ instructions for equipment use and maintenance
work order with specific instructions for excavating operations
template documents for recording process outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements
organisational procedures for operating excavators.
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 and weight of material to be moved from work orders complete routine calculations to determine material dimensions and weights for loading and shifting. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders provide clear, unambiguous verbal and non-verbal communication signals. |
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 process outcomes, equipment faults and maintenance requirements. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation and material moving, using work order to guide activities. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Harvesting and Haulage