This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to load articles into machines, monitor procedures and process articles according to specifications and quality requirements.

Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities. Work is performed within defined procedures under direct supervision.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:

reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work practices and other reference material

following production schedules and work load priorities

selecting appropriate program and monitoring operations and equipment on at least two (2) occasions

determining dry cleaning machine loads by counting, weight, volume or classification on at least two (2) occasions

loading machine appropriately and selecting appropriate additives on at least two (2) occasions

using correct manual handling techniques

using and handling additives and chemicals safely

optimising environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling

hanging articles, sorting and inspecting for stains or further treatment, according to finishing requirements and quality standards, and directing garments to correct area for finishing

maintaining records

complying with relevant federal and state or territory legislative or regulatory requirements.

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

workplace or store policies and procedures

Australian Standards that govern dry cleaning and laundry operations

range of available services

care and maintenance procedures for articles

safe handling and use of additives and chemicals:

perc spirit

hydrhlorethylene

whiteocarbon

liquid silicon

detergent

chlorine bleach

oxybleach

builder

starch

fabric conditioner

laundry sour

caustic alkali

machine operation, program selection and monitoring procedures

level of operator maintenance for between load servicing

characteristics and hazards of additives and dosing systems

environmental aspects related to workplace, and machine or equipment operation

practices for recording and reporting

federal and state or territory legislative or regulatory requirements.

Assessors must:

satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator

have vocational competency in operating dry cleaning machines, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.

Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.

This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Not applicable

Dry cleaning and laundry operations