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 particular training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What tasks may be undertaken in the crop regulation program?
The program may include manual thinning, chemical thinning, selective harvesting, training, summer and winter pruning, hedging, skirting, topping and trimming.

What enterprise work procedures may apply to this standard?
Work procedures will be based on sound horticultural principles and practices and may include supervisors oral or written instructions, crop regulation program, enterprise standard operating procedures (SOPs), specifications, routine maintenance schedules, work notes, product labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), manufacturers service specifications and operators manuals, waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines, and OHS procedures.

What crop regulation materials may be selected for the program?
Materials may include thinning agents, growth hormones and retardants, and trellising and training materials.

What services may need to be located?
Services may include water supply, gas, power (electricity), telecommunications, irrigation, stormwater and drainage.

What OHS hazards may be associated with the crop regulation program?
Hazards may include disturbance or interruption of services, solar radiation, dust, noise, soil and air-borne micro-organisms, chemicals and hazardous substances, sharp hand tools and equipment, manual handling, moving vehicles, machinery and machinery parts, uneven surfaces and flying objects.

What safety equipment may be required?
Safety equipment may include signage and barriers.

What PPE may be required when regulating crops?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, spray clothing, goggles, respirator or face mask, face guard, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hardhat.

What tools, equipment and machinery may be required for the crop regulation program?
Application equipment and machinery may include backpack spray equipment; tractors and trailed or 3-point linkage spray equipment, pumps and pump fittings.
Pruning tools, equipment and machinery may include knives, handsaws, hand and battery-powered secateurs, pneumatic snips and compressor, hedge trimmers both manual and powered, small chainsaws, specialised mechanical pruning machinery, chippers, ladders, picking platforms, powered ladders and scissor lifts.
Plant training equipment may include trellising and specialised training systems.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
OHS requirements may include identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls, cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery, appropriate use of PPE including sun protection, safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery, safe handling, use and storage of chemicals and hazardous substances, correct manual handling, basic first aid, personal hygiene and reporting problems to supervisors.

What environmental implications may be associated with the regulation of crops?
Detrimental environmental impacts may arise where crop regulation activities produce excess noise, dust or water run-off, or off-site ground water or soils are contaminated from solids, debris, nutrients, chemicals and water run-off.

How may a clean and safe work area be maintained?
Tasks may include disabling unused tools, equipment and machinery and storing neatly out of the way of crop regulation activities, safely storing materials on site, using signage and safety barriers during and removing after crop regulation activities are completed, and swiftly and efficiently removing and processing debris and waste from the work area.

What waste material may be relevant to this standard?
Waste material may include plant debris, litter and broken components.
Plant-based material may be mulched or composted, plastic, metal, paper-based materials may be recycled, re-used, returned to the manufacturer or disposed of according to enterprise work procedures.

What tasks may be undertaken in the crop regulation program?
The program may include manual thinning, chemical thinning, selective harvesting, training, summer and winter pruning, hedging, skirting, topping and trimming.

What enterprise work procedures may apply to this standard?
Work procedures will be based on sound horticultural principles and practices and may include supervisors oral or written instructions, crop regulation program, enterprise standard operating procedures (SOPs), specifications, routine maintenance schedules, work notes, product labels and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS), manufacturers service specifications and operators manuals, waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines, and OHS procedures.

What crop regulation materials may be selected for the program?
Materials may include thinning agents, growth hormones and retardants, and trellising and training materials.

What services may need to be located?
Services may include water supply, gas, power (electricity), telecommunications, irrigation, stormwater and drainage.

What OHS hazards may be associated with the crop regulation program?
Hazards may include disturbance or interruption of services, solar radiation, dust, noise, soil and air-borne micro-organisms, chemicals and hazardous substances, sharp hand tools and equipment, manual handling, moving vehicles, machinery and machinery parts, uneven surfaces and flying objects.

What safety equipment may be required?
Safety equipment may include signage and barriers.

What PPE may be required when regulating crops?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, spray clothing, goggles, respirator or face mask, face guard, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hardhat.

What tools, equipment and machinery may be required for the crop regulation program?
Application equipment and machinery may include backpack spray equipment; tractors and trailed or 3-point linkage spray equipment, pumps and pump fittings.
Pruning tools, equipment and machinery may include knives, handsaws, hand and battery-powered secateurs, pneumatic snips and compressor, hedge trimmers both manual and powered, small chainsaws, specialised mechanical pruning machinery, chippers, ladders, picking platforms, powered ladders and scissor lifts.
Plant training equipment may include trellising and specialised training systems.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
OHS requirements may include identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing controls, cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery, appropriate use of PPE including sun protection, safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery, safe handling, use and storage of chemicals and hazardous substances, correct manual handling, basic first aid, personal hygiene and reporting problems to supervisors.

What environmental implications may be associated with the regulation of crops?
Detrimental environmental impacts may arise where crop regulation activities produce excess noise, dust or water run-off, or off-site ground water or soils are contaminated from solids, debris, nutrients, chemicals and water run-off.

How may a clean and safe work area be maintained?
Tasks may include disabling unused tools, equipment and machinery and storing neatly out of the way of crop regulation activities, safely storing materials on site, using signage and safety barriers during and removing after crop regulation activities are completed, and swiftly and efficiently removing and processing debris and waste from the work area.

What waste material may be relevant to this standard?
Waste material may include plant debris, litter and broken components.
Plant-based material may be mulched or composted, plastic, metal, paper-based materials may be recycled, re-used, returned to the manufacturer or disposed of according to enterprise work procedures.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in co-ordinating a crop regulation program requires evidence that a person is able to prepare for crop regulation activities, co-ordinate work groups and implement crop regulation activities to achieve enterprise crop production targets in terms of yield and quality.
The skills and knowledge required to co-ordinate a crop regulation program must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, this could include different crops, canopy management requirements and workplaces.
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:

principles of thinning and pruning and the methods used to achieve crop regulation goals
effects on plant growth, habit and production levels of thinning and pruning operations in relation to the market goals of the enterprise
enterprise quality procedures and characteristics of a crop relative to varying market requirements.

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:

communicate orally and in writing with work team members, supervisors and contractors
utilise proforma recording, reporting and work procedure documents
interpret site plans and crop regulation specifications
measure quantities, calculate material requirements, area, volume, ratios and application rates, and calibrate machinery
co-ordinate work group, contractors and own activities
monitor enterprise plants for quality
minimise noise, dust, high activity vehicle traffic and water run-off to prevent nuisance-level environmental disturbance.

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

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

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:

principles of thinning and pruning and the methods used to achieve crop regulation goals
effects on plant growth, habit and production levels of thinning and pruning operations in relation to the market goals of the enterprise
enterprise quality procedures and characteristics of a crop relative to varying market requirements.

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:

communicate orally and in writing with work team members, supervisors and contractors
utilise proforma recording, reporting and work procedure documents
interpret site plans and crop regulation specifications
measure quantities, calculate material requirements, area, volume, ratios and application rates, and calibrate machinery
co-ordinate work group, contractors and own activities
monitor enterprise plants for quality
minimise noise, dust, high activity vehicle traffic and water run-off to prevent nuisance-level environmental disturbance.

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
Written, oral and telecommunication of ideas and information relating to crop regulation activities and problems encountered will be required with the work group, supervisor and contractors. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Written, oral and telecommunication of ideas and information relating to crop regulation activities and problems encountered will be required with the work group, supervisor and contractors. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Enterprise work procedures and site plan should be consulted, interpreted and applied to co-ordinate crop regulation activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor when necessary. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Enterprise work procedures and site plan should be consulted, interpreted and applied to co-ordinate crop regulation activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor when necessary. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Work activities for the work group, contractors and self will be planned prior to and adjusted during the crop regulation program. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Work activities for the work group, contractors and self will be planned prior to and adjusted during the crop regulation program. (1)

Working with others and in teams
The crop regulation program will involve facilitating and leading members of a team to complete the program on time and budget. (2)

Working with others and in teams
The crop regulation program will involve facilitating and leading members of a team to complete the program on time and budget. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical application will be required to calculate the spatial and logistical requirements of the crop regulation program. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical application will be required to calculate the spatial and logistical requirements of the crop regulation program. (1)

Solving problems
Site contingencies, personnel difficulties and timeline failures may require problem-solving techniques. (1)

Solving problems
Site contingencies, personnel difficulties and timeline failures may require problem-solving techniques. (1)

Using technology
Technological understanding will be required to use crop regulation tools, equipment and machinery, undertake crop regulation activities, communicate and keep records. (1)

Using technology
Technological understanding will be required to use crop regulation tools, equipment and machinery, undertake crop regulation activities, communicate and keep records. (1)