ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan and prepare

1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to the work activity

1.2. Obtain and confirm safety requirements from the site safety plan and organisational policies and procedures, and apply to the allotted task

1.3. Select plant, tools and equipment to carry out tasks consistent with the requirements of the job, check for serviceability and rectify or report any faults

1.4. Identify, confirm and apply environmental protection requirements from the project environmental management plan

2. Operate plant

2.1. Determine production requirements

2.2. Test aggregate and sand regularly as it arrives

2.3. Monitor cold feed bins to ensure sufficient raw material is maintained

2.4. Ensure proportion of material allocation is set to batch requirements

2.5. Select mix design to batch requirements

2.6. Heat and mix material to the correct temperature and tolerance

2.7. Store material ready for dispatch and loading

2.8. Monitor loading operations

2.9. Test mixed material regularly for bitumen content and grading

3. Carry out operator maintenance

3.1. Conduct fault finding inspections

3.2. Maintain equipment and mixing chamber to ensure good working order

3.3. Carry out routine operational servicing and lubrication tasks

3.4. Maintain equipment condition reports and records

4. Clean up

4.1. Clear work area and dispose of or recycle materials in accordance with project environmental management plan

4.2. Clean, check, maintain and store plant, tools and equipment

Required skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly for its application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be used. This includes the ability to carry out the following, as required to produce asphalt products:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures for producing asphalt products

organise work activities

select and use relevant tools and equipment safely

identify and report on hazards related to the worksite and work activity

communicate effectively to receive and clarify work instructions

Required knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly for its application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to produce asphalt products:

site and equipment safety requirements

plant operations

batching systems

mix specifications (temperatures and tolerances)

production requirements

bituminous materials and their characteristics

aggregate and sand properties and conformance

additives

processes for heating bitumen and controlling temperature

testing procedures

equipment types, characteristics, technical capabilities and limitations

operational, maintenance and basic diagnostic procedures

processes for the calculation of material requirements and application rates

materials safety data sheets and materials handling methods

project quality requirements

civil construction terminology

JSAs/safe work method statements

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

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for producing asphalt products

implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of producing asphalt products

working with others to undertake and complete the production of asphalt products that meets all of the required outcomes

consistent timely production of asphalt products that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes

completion of programming and planning of the mix specification for three separate mixes, with the temperature and mix produced within tolerance for 300 tonne of mix, without plant down time

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in a resources and infrastructure sector environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to the site circumstances.

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.

Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities. Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Method of assessment

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:

written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes

consistent achievement of required outcomes

first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

working with others to undertake and complete the production of asphalt products

Guidance information for assessment

Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.

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.

Relevant compliance documentation may include:

legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures

manufacturer's guidelines and specifications

Australian standards

Employment and workplace relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

graphical instructions, signage, work schedules/plans/specifications, work bulletins, charts and hand drawings, memos, maps, material safety data sheets (MSDS) and diagrams or sketches

safe work procedures or equivalent related to the production of asphalt products

regulatory/legislative requirements pertaining to the production of asphalt products

instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel

relevant Australian standards and Austroads

AAPA advisory notes and code of practice

quality requirements including dimensions, tolerances, standards of work and material standards as detailed in the project drawings, specifications and project documentation to meet client satisfaction

Safety requirements may include:

OHS requirements are to be in accordance with state or territory legislation and regulations, organisational safety policies and procedures, and project safety plan, including protective clothing and equipment, use of tools and equipment, workplace environment and safety, handling of materials, use of fire fighting equipment, use of First Aid equipment, hazard control and hazardous materials and substances

safe operating procedures including recognising and preventing hazards associated with moving machinery, flammable, toxic and dangerous materials, personnel, working in proximity to others, worksite visitors and the public

emergency procedures related to equipment operation including emergency shutdown and stopping, extinguishing equipment fires, organisational First Aid requirements and evacuation

Site may include:

car parks

airport runways

container yards

hard stands

footpaths

bikeways

roadways

Plant may include:

fixed

mobile plant

Tools and equipment may include:

asphalt plant and loaders

Environmental protection requirements may include:

organisational/project environmental management plan

waste management

water quality protection

noise

vibration

dust and clean-up management

Materials may include:

aggregates

sand

various grades and types of bitumen

fly ash

additives

cutters

bitumen emulsions

Mix may include:

cold mix (also known as pre-mix or SMK) is used for temporary patching of potholes, walkways, bike tracks and temporary pavements

hot mix is used for roads, car parks and other long term requirements

cold mix is usually produced at a lower temperature with cutter added to make the mix softer and extend usability

Test may include:

monitoring bitumen content, grading and may include maximum theoretical density, bulk density, voids, stability and flow