This unit of competency applies to operators in a concrete plant who are responsible for finishing manufactured concrete products after they have been cured.

This unit includes, but is not restricted to:

all finishes applied to concrete after curing such as:

blasting

honing

polishing

etching

sealing

painting

grit and sand blasting

graffiti treatments

sprayed finishes on cured concrete

acid etching

routine housekeeping and maintenance of equipment and area

the operation of all ancillary equipment.

This competency is typically performed by operators working either independently or as part of a work team.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Check product prior to finishing

1.1. Check product identity and finish required

1.2. Check product has been cured and is ready for finishing

1.3. Check type and size of aggregate and any special characteristics of concrete mix

1.4. Check for handling and other damage and report if necessary

1.5. Set up finishing process as required

2. Undertake initial finishing as required

2.1. Perform initial finishing over product surface

2.2. Check for consistency, flatness and that other requirements have been met

2.3. Report products which are outside specification or which may not be able to be correctly finished

3. Finish surface as required

3.1. Adjust finishing process as required

3.2. Monitor progress of finishing and readjust as required

3.3. Continue finishing until surface meets specification

4. Clean and seal coat as required

4.1. Clean finished surface as required

4.2. Apply sealer coat as required

4.3. Monitor and adjust sealer coating thickness against relevant specification

4.4. Lift unit into store in accordance with occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and support on protective pads

5. Rectify routine problems

5.1. Identify the range of faults that can occur during the operation

5.2. Determine and rectify fault causes in accordance with procedures/work instructions

5.3. Identify and rectify equipment failure causes in accordance with procedures/work instructions

5.4. Ensure appropriate records and log books of equipment operations are maintained to meet procedures/work instructions

5.5. Identify non-routine problems and report to designated person

6. Control hazards

6.1. Identify hazards from the job to be done

6.2. Identify other hazards in the work area

6.3. Assess the risks arising from those hazards

6.4. Implement measures to control those risks in line with procedures

Required skills

Required skills include:

recognising conditions which will lead to variations to the finishing process and taking appropriate action

implementing the enterprise's procedures within time constraints and in a manner relevant to the operation of the equipment used

conveying information relevant to the operation clearly and effectively

reading and numeracy to interpret workplace documents and technical information

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

principles of concrete product formation

principles of concrete finishing

distinguish between causes of faults such as:

material inconsistencies

product variation

finishing difficulties

handling difficulties

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency.

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

It is essential that the process be understood and that the importance of critical material properties and surface finishing techniques is known. Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:

surface finish matches specification and is consistent

progress is continuously monitored and final finish is approached smoothly and confidently

finished surface is cleaned and sealed as required.

Competence must be demonstrated in the operation of all ancillary equipment to the level required for this unit of competency.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations.

Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation or case studies/scenarios may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this unit of competency. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include 'walk-throughs' of the relevant competency components. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs and questions will be required to probe the reasoning behind observable actions.

Method of assessment

Individual enterprises may choose to add prerequisites and co-requisites relevant to their processes.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

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. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Procedures

All operations are performed in accordance with standard procedures and work instructions

OHS

The identification and control of hazards and the application of OHS to be in accordance with current, applicable legislation and regulations, and company procedures. All work is carried out at all times in accordance with these requirements

Unit sector

Operational/technical

This unit contains employability skills.