Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to conduct manual sorting operations to process and store boards of varying sizes. Work is completed in a forest products factory setting.
The unit applies to job roles including Kiln Worker, Timber Grader, Treatment Plant Worker, Production Worker and Sawmill Worker.
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 sorting | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Select appropriate equipment and personal protective equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 1.3 Identify type and quantity of boards for sorting and obtain from storage location. 1.4 Plan sorting process in line with work order. |
2. Sort boards | 2.1 Follow organisational safety procedures throughout all sorting and distribution processes. 2.2 Identify board cross-sections, lengths and grades and allocate to storage bins or trays. 2.3 Assess board characteristics and defects visually. 2.4 Dispose of or recycle sub-standard boards in line with environmental protection practices or mark for docking. 2.5 Direct boards to subsequent operations in line with size and grade, maintaining material flow. 2.6 Check sorting to ensure board sizes are consistent with visual assessment. 2.7 Check operation of conveyors and bins regularly to ensure supply of boards to downstream processing. 2.8 Identify routine processing and equipment faults and resolve or report to appropriate personnel. |
3. Distribute material | 3.1 Move boards to storage location or transfer in line with work order. 3.2 Reject and dispose of sub-standard material in line with environmental protection practices. 3.3 Label storage locations in line with organisational procedures. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
follow organisational policies and procedures relevant to sorting boards manually
conduct manual sorting in readiness for allocation of boards to storage or downstream operations
using transfer sorting equipment to distribute boards
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
sorting techniques and procedures
grading markings and quality standards
storage systems and labelling
environmental protection practices for forest products factory settings:
disposing of, recycling and reusing timber
safe disposal of waste material
minimising carbon emissions
cleaning of plant, tools and equipment
range of characteristics used to manually sort timber boards including:
type
finish quality
timber defects
length
width
thickness
range of industry-standard timber types and visual characteristics including:
native timber species
imported timber species
dressed timber
in-the-rough timber
stress and non-stress graded timber
preservative treated timber
typical timber defects and how they affect ability to produce a quality finished product including:
incorrect moisture content
warp
wane
cupping
shakes
insect defects
knots
resin pockets
range of industry standard lengths, cross sections, appearance grades and applicable terminology
markings used on timber boards to identify grade
typical work flow processes used to manually sort boards
typical flow of timber board supply in and out of the sorting area
typical industry and organisation specific storage layout and typical storage categories for timber boards
methods to label timber in storage locations and common terms used
purpose, features and operation of equipment used for sorting boards manually:
conveyor belt systems
track systems
different types of lifting equipment including:
fork lifts
slings
trolley jacks
gantry cranes
loaders
organisational procedures specific to sorting boards manually:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis use of personal protective and other equipment
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting processing and equipment faults.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
organisational policies and procedures for sorting boards manually
a selection of boards for sorting
conveyors and transfer equipment
lifting equipment including:
fork lifts
slings
trolley jacks
gantry cranes
loaders
storage racks and bins
personal protective equipment suitable for sorting boards manually
manufacturers’ instructions and recommendations for use of equipment
work order with specific instructions for board sorting requirements
template documents for recording processing and equipment faults and labelling storage locations
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 and count amounts. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders. |
Reading skills to: | interpret detailed workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures interpret detailed work orders. |
Writing skills to: | accurately record information on storage labels complete accurate basic records for processing and equipment faults. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently and logically sequence the stages of sorting and distribution using work order to guide activities. |
Problem-solving skills to: | identify and dispose of sub-standard materials recognise faulty equipment and resolve by reporting or rectifying. |
Technology skills to: | select and use appropriate personal protective equipment for sorting and distributing boards efficiently and safely distribute boards on conveyers and monitor their operation. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Sawmilling and Processing