Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to identify fabric handling requirements from care labelling instructions.
The unit of competency applies to interpreting care labelling instructions on fabric and garments and determining implications for cleaning and handling.
Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.
Care labelling practices and procedures followed in this unit are in accordance with current standards published by the Australian Standards, and are mandatory under the Competition and Consumer Act 2010.
No licensing, legislative 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. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Interpret care labelling | 2.1 | Interpret care labelling symbols |
2.2 | Identify care categories and Australian Standards | ||
2.3 | Interpret meaning of care instructions | ||
2.4 | Use care labelling information to identify potential fabric problems caused by improper handling | ||
2.5 | Identify consequences of improper care | ||
2.6 | Use information resources to expand own knowledge of cleaning requirements | ||
3 | Identify fabric or garment cleaning requirements | 3.1 | Identify fabrics, fabric finishes, trims and embellishments that may affect handling |
3.2 | Identify care requirements of garments | ||
3.3 | Determine measures to control fabric problems according to fabric handling requirements and WHS practices | ||
Evidence of Performance
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
identifying fabrics and fabric problems for at least five (5) different articles
identifying fibre and fabric finishes, trims and embellishments that may affect handling procedures
using correct manual handling techniques
interpreting meanings of care labelling information
identifying care requirements and control measures for a range of garments and fabrics requiring different care considerations
determining measures to control fabric problems according to fabric handling requirements and work health and safety (WHS) practices
maintaining records
complying with Australian Standards for care labelling.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
Australian Standards that govern dry cleaning and laundry operations
common and fragile fabric types
fabric care considerations
main causes of fabric problems
common fabric problems
differential shrinkage
heat shrinkage
chafing
light fading and fume fading
hardening of printed fabrics
loss of body, lustre and sheen
holes, yarn slippage and fraying
discoloration or rings
loss of embossed design
relaxation shrinkage
distortion of bias cut fabrics
yarn slippage
separation of bonded fabric
garment failures
care categories:
general instructions and warnings
washing
drying
ironing
care instructions:
machine wash
hand wash
iron
hot
warm
cold
dry clean
tumble dry
high
low
medium
bleach
steam
press
Australian Standards for care labelling
control measures for the prevention of fabric problems
consequences of improper care:
customer dissatisfaction
customer claims
articles fail to return to original appearance
information resources on cleaning requirements
natural and synthetic single yarn fabrics and blends:
knitted fabrics, including weft knits and warp knits
woven fabrics, including plain, twill, satin, dobby, jacquard and pile
non-woven fabrics, such as felts, nets, braids, bonded and composite
emerging smart fabrics
common fabrics:
cotton
wool
flax
silk
viscose
acetate
nylon
polyester
acrylic
elastomeric
special fabrics:
satin weave fabrics
taffeta fabric
rib fabrics
jacquard fabrics
velvets
sheer fabrics
specialty woollens
fibre and fabric finishes, trims and embellishments
waterproofing
dyes
preservatives
tannins
finishes used for crease resistance
fire retarders
waterproofing or water-resisting finishes
coloration for structural or applied design, such as printing or dyeing
surface finishes for aesthetics, stability or serviceability
interlacing and interloping
trimming
interfacing
lining
decorations
buttons
embossing
embroidery
other
quality standards and practices
practices for recording and reporting
AS/NZS 4146:2000 Laundry practice.
Assessment Conditions
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 identifying fabric and garment cleaning requirements, 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.
Foundation Skills
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.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs 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 |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Information on care labelling includes the following: | country of origin fibre content (e.g. 80% wool 20% polyester) care instructions for: hand washing washing drying ironing special requirements (e.g. hanging) dry cleaning prohibitions against specific actions, such as "do not bleach" |
Care considerations include one or more of the following: | fibre used fabric construction trimming, interfacing, lining, decorations and buttons design of article dyes used special treatments (e.g. waterproofing) normal care treatment |
Fabric problems include two or more of the following: | differential shrinkage heat shrinkage chafing light fading and fume fading hardening of printed fabrics loss of body, lustre and sheen holes, yarn slippage and fraying discoloration or rings loss of embossed design relaxation shrinkage distortion of bias cut fabrics yarn slippage separation of bonded fabric garment failures |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Dry cleaning and laundry operations