The unit applies to selecting millinery steaming and pressing equipment, performing routine maintenance and operation of this equipment as used to shape, mould, form and adjust millinery materials and finished millinery items.

Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team-related activities.

The application of this unit is according to OHS practices of the enterprise and workplace practices which may include:

requirements prescribed by legislation, awards agreements and conditions of employment

standard operating procedures

work instructions

oral, written and visual communication

quality practices including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output

housekeeping

tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control, and recycling

This unit requires the application of skills associated with planning and organising for safe and effective use millinery steaming and pressing technology and operations. This unit also requires an ability to identify and address problems relating to own work.

Prerequisites

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1 Select, check and prepare steaming and pressing equipment and workstation

1.1 Work area is prepared according to OHS practices and job requirements

1.2 Millinery steaming and pressing equipment is selected

1.3 Millinery steaming and pressing equipment is checked and inspected

1.4 Millinery steaming and pressing equipment is prepared

2 Prepare millinery materials

2.1 Materials to be steamed or pressed are identified

2.2 Performance characteristics of material to be steamed or pressed are identified

3 Perform pressing and steaming tests on millinery materials

3.1 Steaming of millinery materials is tested according to composition and construction of materials.

3.2 Pressing of millinery materials is tested according to composition and construction of materials

3.3 Settings on pressing and steaming equipment are adjusted if necessary

3.4 Operational problems of equipment are identified, reported and addressed

4 Use steaming and pressing equipment

4.1 Steaming and pressing is conducted according to manufacturer instructions

4.2 Steaming and pressing is conducted according to pressing and steaming tests on samples of the millinery materials

4.3 Steaming and pressing equipment is engaged to adjust, finish and present millinery

4.4 Steaming and pressing equipment is disengaged according to manufacturer instructions

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

Demonstrates knowledge of:

material types and their characteristics

millinery equipment

testing procedures

OHS practices including hazard identification and control measures associated with

quality practices

workplace practices

recording and reporting practices

Demonstrates skill to:

carry out maintenance

identify materials and their characteristics

operate equipment

identify operational problems

make adjustments

read, interpret and follow information on work specifications, standard operating procedures and work instructions and other reference material

maintain accurate records

communicate within the workplace

sequence operations

meet specifications

clarify and check task-related information

carry out work according to OHS practices

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Demonstrates skills and knowledge to:

select equipment

perform routine maintenance for equipment

identify material characteristics

set up equipment to suit job requirements

test equipment

use equipment safely and according to work requirements

adjust equipment if necessary

Consistently applies skills and knowledge when:

organising work

completing tasks

identifying improvements

using workplace practices

using OHS practices

recording and reporting accidents and incidents

assessing operational readiness of equipment used and work processes

recognising and adapting to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions

completing work systematically with attention to detail without damage to goods and equipment

Context and specific resources for assessment

Assessment may occur on the job or in an appropriately simulated environment and requires access to work areas, materials and equipment and to information on workplace practices and OHS practices.

Guidance information for assessment

This unit may be assessed independently or in combination with other relevant units.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Legislative/regulatory requirements

All work must comply with relevant Federal and State or Territory legislative or regulatory requirements.

Millinery steaming and pressing equipment may include

millinery steamer

hot block

hat stretcher

hairdryer

iron

industrial pressing station

ironing board

water bottle

pressing pad or roll

needle board

pressing cloth

distilled water

OHS practices

OHS practices must include hazard identification and control, risk assessment and implementation of risk reduction measures specific to the tasks described by this unit and may include:

manufacturer instructions on equipment

manual handling techniques

standard operating procedures

personal protective equipment

safe materials handling

taking of rest breaks

ergonomic arrangement of workplaces

following marked walkways

safe storage of equipment

housekeeping

reporting accidents and incidents

other OHS practices relevant to the job and enterprise

Checked and inspected may include

inspecting tags or documents to ensure certified electrical testing has been conducted on electrical equipment

checking that water reservoirs are filled to the designated levels in relevant equipment

inspecting that contact surfaces of steaming and pressing equipment are clean

checking that thermostats are in working order

checking condition of electrical cords

Prepared may include

cleaning contact surfaces of steaming and pressing equipment

filling steam equipment with distilled water

setting thermostats at appropriate temperature

equipment operational procedures

Millinery materials may include

traditional and non-traditional millinery materials

pre-formed millinery materials

flat materials

braids

foundation fabrics such as canvas

woven

knitted

non-woven

millinery trims and components

fusing

Performance characteristics may include

reaction to heat, steam, time and pressure including

stretching

shrinking

elasticity

tension

drying time

Pressing and steaming tests may include

testing on a small piece of millinery material at various heat settings to ascertain optimum settings (temperature and time) for the material

test material reaction to steam or water

Manufacturer instructions may include

standard operating procedures

trouble shooting

minor maintenance procedures

limitations of usage

conditions of warranty

suggested temperature, timing and moisture for various materials

Engaged may include

turning-on electricity source

setting temperature and timing devices

pre-heating

Adjust may include

moulding or shaping

stretching

shrinking

Finish may include

steaming or pressing trims

setting headband and labels

Present may include

steaming or pressing a finished hat after unpacking

steaming or pressing a finished hat to revitalise it

steaming or pressing a finished hat ready for visual merchandising

steaming or pressing a finished hat ready for dispatch

Disengaged may include

turning off power source

allowing equipment to cool before storage

emptying water reservoir

cleaning equipment

disassemble parts ready for storage

Sector

Millinery

This unit contains employability skills.