Elements and Performance Criteria

What kinds of park site may require visual inspection?
A range of parks catering to public recreational activities may include municipal playgrounds, picnic grounds and playing fields, and State and Federal conservation, recreational and game reserves, and crown land.

What facilities and equipment may require inspection?
Facilities and equipment may include playgrounds, playground soft fall and pathways, play equipment, parks and street furniture and structures, fences, barbeques, steps and stairs, bollards, tree and grass protection devices, bins, signs, toilets, shelter buildings and structures, and paved, turf and/or grassed recreational areas.

What services may require inspection?
These may include power, gas, water, and telecommunication lines and outlets.

What Health and safety hazards may be identified?
Health and safety hazards may include damage to services and outlets, damaged parts, broken glass, syringes, loss of soft surfacing, protruding nails, bolts and splinters, sudden changes in surface levels such as holes and trip points, and worn, rusted and weathered components, overfilled and damaged litter and recycling bins, waterlogged areas, and dysfunctional water bodies and features.

What adverse environmental impacts may be identified?
These may include environmental nuisance levels of noise associated with the movement of damaged or unserviced parts, smoke emissions from malfunctioning barbecues, odours from malfunctioning water-based amenities and features, waterlogging and run-off associated with leaking water taps, lines and attachments, weed invasion associated with overgrown areas and edges, dumped rubbish, and natural ecosystem depletion associated with the removal of fallen logs and sticks by recreational visitors to fuel wood fires and barbecues when wood is not provided.

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:

Purpose of park facilities inspections, in providing information for effective maintenance and repair work particularly in relation to end use of the facilities and equipment, and the safety of users.
The practical application of site plans, checklist descriptions and presentation standards to locate and effectively assess facilities and equipment against the required parameters.
The effect of adverse outdoor climatic conditions (e.g., rain, hail, wind, or very high ultraviolet radiation), on park facilities inspection activities.
Potential public nature of park inspection activities.
Hazards investigation and risk assessment.
Occupational Health and Safety issues, legislative requirements and Codes of Practice.
Recognition of the range of park facilities, equipment and services relevant to the enterprise (including recommended use, safety parameters, maintenance schedules and manufacturers specifications).
Terminology used to describe different components of the range of facilities, equipment and services relevant to the enterprise.
The hazards that are likely to be encountered by visitors using the park facilities and equipment.
Reporting requirements, procedures and materials for use in park inspection.
Cleaning, servicing and hygiene requirements of public conveniences.

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:

Participate in teams and contribute to team maintenance and presentation objectives.
Interpret instructions, communicate with team members and supervisor, and use the written materials necessary to effectively complete the inspection task.
Measure distance and calculate area count multiple facilities of the same type, and compare numerically determined specifications to the enterprise standards.
Assess the hazards and associated environmental implications of malfunctioning facilities, equipment and services.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

Essential Assessment Information
There is

What processes should be applied to this competency standard? 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
Ideas and information relating to the inspection activities and problems encountered should be discussed with other members of the work team and the supervisor. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Enterprise work procedures, site plans and presentation standards should be consulted, interpreted and applied to conduct visual inspection activities, with further clarification sought from the supervisor where necessary and in coordination with other work team activities at the site. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Equipment, materials and work procedures for visual inspection of facilities will need to be arranged before and between work periods, and there may be some responsibility for coordinating work with others. (1)

Working with others and in teams
The visual inspection program may involve working with other members of a team to complete the program. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Numerical comparison of actual facilities with the standards for presentation and safety will require mathematical application. (1)

Solving problems
Problems relating to inspection techniques, processes, the park area, workplace safety, and other team members may arise during the inspection of park facilities. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be applied in the preparation, use and maintenance of telecommunication and reporting equipment. (1)