Application
This unit describes the outcomes required to assist with the treatment of timber by monitoring operational details including timber flow to the treatment processing area, water requirements and preservative solution strength.
The unit applies to those who treat timber in a forest products factory setting. Job roles can include timber grader as well as kiln, sawmill, production or treatment plant operator.
Copper Chrome Arsenate (CCA) chemical is a restricted chemical product, which means that CCA can only be supplied to and handled by suitably trained and authorised persons.
The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority (APVMA) advised that as of 1 July 2012, CCA products can only be supplied to, and used by, suitably trained persons authorised under a relevant state or territory law from that date.
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.
In Victoria, to comply with licence/permit requirements, organisations must ensure that employees working with CCA demonstrate competence in this unit (FWPSAW3201 Treat timber), or that persons working with CCA do so under the direct supervision (sight and sound) of a trained and authorised person.
For regulatory information and details in other states and territories refer to the state or territory licensing body.
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. Set up for treating | 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 Obtain chemicals and type and quantity of timber for treatment from storage. 1.4 Complete pre start-up equipment checks to ensure operational effectiveness. |
2. Assist with treatment process | 2.1 Monitor and maintain timber supply to the treatment process area. 2.2 Identify water requirements and check to ensure treatment process requirements are met. 2.3 Test moisture content of timber in line with organisational procedures. 2.4 Check and maintain strength of preservative solution at specified strength and volume. 2.5 Keep treating area clear of dust and debris in line with organisational safety procedures. 2.6 Safely handle treated timber and transfer to storage area. 2.7 Store chemicals in line with organisational safety procedures and report on stock levels. 2.8 Record and report processes 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.
assist with the chemical timber treatment process in line with individual work orders for timber types, to be chosen from the following list:
native timber species
imported timber species
dressed timber
in-the-rough timber
stress and non-stress graded timber
sleepers
logs
rounded poles
beams
laminated beams
across the above jobs, check and maintain the strength and volume of preservative solutions including:
water-borne solutions
oil-based solutions
solvent-based solutions
at the completion of each of the above jobs, store chemicals and report on stock levels.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental protection practices for chemically treating timber:
reducing water and energy use
cleaning plant, tools and equipment
disposing of hazardous substances
storage layout and categories for:
raw materials
storing finished boards
chemicals and preservative solutions
properties, at a basic level of understanding, of chemicals used to treat timber and their purpose:
light organic solvent chemicals
preservative solutions:
water-borne solutions
oil-based solutions
solvent-based solutions
personal safety risks associated with handling and using chemicals and methods used to minimise these
methods used to safely store chemicals
typical work flow processes for chemically treating timber
purpose, features and operation of equipment used to chemically treat timber including from the following list:
treaters
vats
ovens
resin tanks
effluent tanks
organisational procedures specific to chemically treating timber including:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out, use of personal protective equipment and handling hazardous substances
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting chemical stock levels, processes and equipment faults.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
equipment used to chemically treat timber:
treaters
vats
ovens
resin tanks
effluent tanks
personal protective equipment required for chemically treating timber
one or more of the following types of timber to be chemically treated:
native timber species
imported timber species
dressed timber
in-the-rough timber
stress and non-stress graded timber
sleepers
logs
rounded poles
beams
laminated beams
light organic solvent chemicals used to treat timber
one or more of the following preservative solutions:
water-borne solutions
oil-based solutions
solvent-based solutions
manufacturers ‘safety data sheets, or equivalent plain English information, for chemicals and preservative solutions
work order with specific instructions for chemical treatment of timber
template documents for recording chemical stock levels, processes and equipment faults
organisational procedures for chemically treating timber
a suitably licensed person to monitor and supervise handling of CCA during assessment
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 timber within work orders and count numbers for treatment calculate routine ratios for preservative solutions complete basic measurements of moisture content in timber. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders. |
Reading skills to: | interpret: workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures work orders safety data sheets, or equivalent plain English information for timber treatment chemicals. |
Writing skills to: | complete accurate basic records for chemical stock levels, processes and equipment faults. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently check operational details at regular times during the production run using work order to guide activities. |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Sawmilling and Processing