Elements and Performance Criteria

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

General context
Work may be undertaken either individually or in a team environment and may require independence, discretion, judgement and acceptance of responsibility for overall work outcomes
Work may involve planning and coordination of tasks and processes
Work may involve interaction with other people in the workplace including supervisors and production personnel as well as interaction with manufacturers' representatives and external personnel
Work is assessed in accordance with statutory requirements, enterprise insurance requirements, OH&S legislation, manual handling procedures and relevant health regulations
Work is generally performed under minimal supervision

Worksite environment and practices may include
Work conducted in a variety of environments, such as:
operational indoor workplaces
operational outdoor workplaces
hazardous or exposed conditions
Work undertaken in accordance with established procedures on a range of products and equipment including:
welding of PVC, vinyls and clear plastics
welding and repair of complex shapes such as pockets and curved hems and the use of dies in welding
use of a wide range of welding equipment which may be complex and require multiple settings and fine adjustments, including foot controlled welder, hand welder, high frequency welder, hot air welder, edge welder, moving machine welder
use of relevant hand and power tools including hammers, rasps, files and portable sanders
Normal operator maintenance of tools and equipment
Exposure to chemicals and hazardous substances
Completion of job and product records and other relevant documentation
Interaction with other workplace personnel

Sources of information and documents may include
Manufacturers' specifications and instructions regarding use of materials and equipment
Enterprise work orders and instructions
Industry codes and symbols
Australian and enterprise quality standards and procedures
Product change policies and procedures
Enterprise or external personnel
Work scheduling documentation
Job procedures

Workplace context may include
Work organisation procedures and practices relating to the welding of plastic
Standard work practices including the safe use of plastic welding equipment and relevant hand and power tools and the storage, safe handling and disposal of materials associated with plastic welding
Reporting actions which include verbal and written communication in accordance with enterprise policies and procedures
Oral, written or visual communication including completion of standard forms, interpretation of information and instructions associated with workplace activities, and recording and reporting of work outcomes
Quality requirements determined by customer, enterprise, and application of Australian and international standards
Being responsible for the maintenance of own work quality and being required to contribute to the quality improvement of team or section output, where necessary
Procedures for safety, environmental protection, housekeeping and quality as specified by equipment and materials manufacturers, regulatory authorities and the enterprise
Conditions of service, legislation and industrial agreements including:
workplace agreements and awards
Federal or State/Territory legislation

Applicable regulations and legislation may include
Occupational health and safety legislation relevant to workplace activities
Workers' compensation legislation
Environment protection legislation

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects of evidence to be considered

Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:

comply with all relevant safety requirements including safe use of plastic welding equipment, hand and power tools and electrical equipment
interpret work orders
interpret complex equipment and materials specifications and instructions needed for the plastic welding process
prepare material to be welded and set up welding equipment
perform a variety of complex welds
achieve a high degree of consistency in weld quality
inspect completed work and specify any rectification necessary
perform normal operator maintenance of work area to enable work to be conducted safely and efficiently
document and communicate work related information including reporting of faults and other problems

Interdependent assessment of units
Competence in this unit is not dependent on possession of competence in any other units. The unit may therefore be assessed independently

Required knowledge and skills

Underpinning knowledge of:

precautions and safe working practices based on relevant OH&S legislation, codes of practice, policies and procedures
specific OH&S requirements associated with high frequency welding equipment
hazards associated with heated plastics
plastic welding principles and techniques
operating principles of plastic welding equipment
a wide range of general and specialised plastic welding equipment, hand tools and power tools used in the plastic welding process and their appropriateness for particular applications
power sources such as single phase, three phase and weather protected outlets
a wide range of general and specialised materials and equipment specifications
relevant quality standards for plastic welds
safety and environmental requirements of relevant industry and enterprise procedures
general housekeeping policies and procedures
recording and reporting procedures

Underpinning skills to:

interpret and apply work instructions and established procedures
locate and interpret technical information about a wide range of plastic welding processes, materials and equipment
use relevant hand and power tools
use relevant chemicals and cleaning agents and dispose of waste products
maintain work area
apply all relevant safety practices
communicate effectively within the workplace
document and transfer information

Resource implications
Access is required to real or appropriately simulated situations involving the welding of plastic
Access is required to information on specifications of materials to be used in welding, settings for welding equipment, relevant safety procedures and regulations, quality standards, and enterprise procedures
Access is required to all necessary facilities, tools, materials and associated equipment, including hand tools, power tools and plastic welding equipment

Consistency in performance

Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:

establishing plans
describing procedures and consequences
completing tasks
identifying problems and faults
applying safety precautions relevant to the task

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:

hazard policies and procedures including codes of practice
job procedures and work instructions
quality procedures
security procedures
waste, pollution and recycling management procedures
Actions are implemented promptly and accidents and incidents reported in accordance with statutory requirements and enterprise procedures
Recognises and adapts appropriately to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions among staff and others
Work is completed systematically with attention to detail without damage to products, equipment or personnel
Competence is assessed on sufficient number of occasions or over sufficient period of time to ensure consistent performance across a typical range of plastic welding equipment and welding requirements

Context for assessment
Assessment may occur on the job or in an industry approved simulated environment
Competence should be demonstrated with a range of typical industry products and equipment
Competency in this unit should be assessed in a holistic manner

Communicating ideas and information
(2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(2)

Working with others and in teams
(1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)