Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What bulk materials would be stored in the bulk materials storage area?
These might be any crop harvested in the organization (e.g., cereals, legumes, pulse crops, oilseeds and pasture seeds), animal feed or fertilisers.

What OHS hazards apply to this standard?
Amongst the risks are operating and maintaining machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving parts, noise, organic and other dusts, working with, transporting and storing hazardous substances (such as pesticides), using fumigants, working at heights, and working on the bulk materials mass.
Potential emergency situations may include:
inclement weather during operations, machinery breakdowns, storm damage to equipment and site.

What actions could be taken to eliminate or minimise OHS risk?
The range of actions are both systemic and at an operational level. These are listed below.

What personal protective clothing and equipment may be relevant to this standard?
Boots, hat/hard hat, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protection, respirator or face mask, and sun protection (sun hat, sun screen).

When might bulk materials samples be taken for testing?
Bulk materials sampling occurs at receipt of bulk materials, regularly throughout the storage process, and immediately before dispatch.

What might the bulk materials storage program provide for?
The program will provide details of the bulk materials to be stored, the timeframes involved, the locations for storage, the recording and documentation requirements, the scheduling of the operation, the responsibility of the various operators to be involved, the method of pest control and the method of sampling and where samples should be sent. Details of the requirements to minimise or eliminate OHS risks, the legislative requirements in relation to all activities undertaken during bulk materials quality maintenance activities, and chemical handling procedures and guidelines would also be covered in the program.
The bulk materials storage program would also ensure that equipment and personnel arranged for operations are appropriate to the requirements of various legislation and may include equipment for detection of fumigant in atmosphere, confined spaces equipment, pressure testing equipment, fumigant/inert atmosphere pressure bottles, fumigant generation equipment, personal protection.

What equipment might be required for sampling?
Equipment such as testing apparatus, sampling, measuring and sieving equipment, operational charts, calibration and identification samples, and enterprise/ client instructions.

What might the testing and analysis cover?
The bulk materials may be tested for purity, germination, vigour, seed weight, and/or disease identification, it may also be analysed for moisture, insects (live and dead), weed and other commodity seeds, other foreign matter, cracked bulk materials, weather affected bulk materials, and bulk materials size.

Where would the analysing body be?
Testing of samples would generally take place off-site by a specialist organisation which would then prepare analysis results that would be used as a basis for decision-making within the organisation - at a higher level than this standard.

What might the contamination in the bulk materials be?
These may include moulds, moisture, mites, weeds, foreign seeds, insects, fungal diseases, soil and other foreign material.

What storage and handling equipment may be used?
Handling equipment used includes silo conveyors, elevators, chutes, and augers. Other equipment used may include tractors, front-end loaders, computing equipment used by enterprise, two-way radio/ telephone, wall charts and other visual recording methods, warning devices, and ventilation/aeration equipment.

Why might the bulk materials be subject to movement?
Bulk materials movements may be for the purposes of receipt, dispatch, aeration, treatment and/or blending of bulk materials grades.

What vehicles might be used to move the bulk materials?
Vehicles may be trucks, articulated road vehicles, trailers and appropriate unloading methods applied to each type of vehicle.

What type of records might be kept?
Records kept may include those relating to quantities and grade(s) of materials stored, bulk materials movements and cartage documentation, weigh tally sheets, equipment and operations log sheets, and stock checks.

What might the storage facility include?
The storage facility covers all types of temporary and permanent storage.

What equipment might require checking and maintenance?
Equipment which includes mechanical units integral to bulk materials handling equipment, e.g., gear boxes, bearings and oil levels.

What environmental implications may be associated with maintenance procedures?
Negative environmental impacts may result from excessive noise and exhaust emissions, the incorrect use and disposal of maintenance debris (oils containers, chemical residues), dust, and hazardous substances (e.g., fuel). Impacts may also include run-off flows of water and cleaning agents from servicing, maintenance and cleaning activities.

What other appropriate information might need to be recorded?
Tools, spares and equipment usage, and maintenance and servicing details.

How might information be documented?
Record keeping systems used may be either paper-based or digital, and information will be recorded into logbooks or other records.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in handling bulk materials in the storage area requires evidence that the results of contaminants and pests are minimised and that bulk materials are moved efficiently.
The skills and knowledge required to handle bulk materials in a storage area must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, across a range of pest and contaminant types that may occur in differing geographic locations or with different bulk materials.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

the client's sampling and classification requirements
bulk materials types and characteristics
common bulk materials pests sand problems
appropriate legislative requirements, manufacturers instructions and enterprise procedures/instructions
appropriate action in contingency situations
silo operations and configuration, machinery and operating practices
organisation requirements for protective equipment and safe practices in relation to OHS
organisation and industry guidelines for segregation of bulk materials quality assurance principles
pre-operational and safety checks, servicing and maintenance procedures for tools and equipment
potential hazards associated with the operation of basic tools and equipment
general machine maintenance procedures
machinery operating principles and operating methods
machinery storage and protection methods
relevant State/Territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice with regard to workplace OHS, and the use and control of machinery and equipment
environmental impacts associated with the operation of machinery and equipment
personal protective clothing and equipment and when and how it should be used
cleaning and storage of machinery, equipment and materials
enterprise recording and reporting procedures.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

record bulk materials stocks and movements
conduct silo readings
identify bulk materials pests and damage
use communication systems
sample and conduct a simple analysis of bulk materials
check equipment and storage facilities and identify current or impending faults
handle and manoeuvre equipment
test bulk materials for moisture, contamination and quality
complete pre-operational checks on basic tools and equipment
perform routine safety, service and maintenance procedures on tools, equipment and machinery
operate hand and independently powered tools and cleaning equipment to industry standards
clean, secure and store machinery and equipment
perform basic trouble shooting
recognise and rectify minor operational faults
handle hazardous substances (fuels) safely
read and interpret manufacturers specifications, work and maintenance plans, and Material Safety Data Sheets
interpret and apply task instructions, communicate with work team and supervisor, and record and report faults, workplace hazards and accidents
measure and calculate volumes, consumption and lubrication requirements.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
In dealing with other operators at storage site, truck drivers, silo operators, weighbridge operators and associated office personnel. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
In regard to the storage and handling of bulk materials on properties. (1)

Planning and organising activities
For bulk materials handling, loading and unloading. (1)

Working with others and in teams
In completing specified activities and operations. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In calculating results of test samples and storage weights and volume. (1)

Solving problems
By accessing information from supervisors and on site. (1)

Using technology
In testing samples, and communicating, calculating and recording information. (1)