Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.


Timetable and work plan will include:
Allocating sufficient time for the worker to provide information and support to householders and community members as part of on the job role
Determining work tasks in order of priority


To ensure that approval is obtained may refer to:
Entry onto premises (private households) to perform work
Approval to perform work in specific buildings, e.g. men's and women's places, or other buildings/areas of cultural significance


Work is coordinated effectively may refer to:
Organising suitable times with householders, community members to gain access onto premises
Coordinating work around the activities of people within premises, or other workers who may be doing work in the same area, house or building at the same time


Materials will depend upon the level of work, task and context (area) of environmental health within the worker's responsibility. This may include, but is not limited to the following:
Solvent glue for PVC
Primer solution for PVC pipe
Assorted tap handles and plumbing fittings to suit the community
Teflon tape
Grease and/or Vaseline®
Tap jumper washes in sizes to suit the community
Thread sealing type
Assorted "O" rings
Replacement parts for cisterns in flush toilets
DT traps
Inspection caps
Rubber washers
Y's and joiners


Tools and equipment will depend upon the level of work, task and context (area) of environmental health within the worker's responsibility. This may include, but is not limited to the following:
Tap spanners ½, ¾ and 1 sizes
Adjustable spanner
Plumbing rods (steel type) with plunger and screw end fittings for medium (50mm) and large (100mm) pipe
Internal pipe expander
Tap reseating kit with ½, ¾ and 1 cutter blades
Sink plunger (100mm)
Pointy nose pliers
Multi grip pliers
Stilson® wrench x 2
Self protective equipment including PVC gloves
Safety glasses, rubber, steel capped boots and overalls
Cleaning equipment


Under the supervision of key people refers to:
People with experience and/or qualifications, skills in basic repairs and maintenance to household plumbing fixtures and health hardware items, e.g. plumbers, essential services officers, environmental health officers, other more experienced workers in the community, etc.


Repairs and maintenance will depend upon the level of work, task and context (area) of environmental health within the worker's responsibility. This may include, but is not limited to:
Maintain functioning toilet system, e.g. identify and replace a faulty float, remove and replace washer, clear blocked "S" bend, clear sewer pipe, replace rubber cone, replace pan collar, replace inlet valve, replace toilet seat/lid, lubricate points in the cistern, etc.
Maintaining septic tanks, e.g. unblock septic system, unblock drain, clean and replace floor grids, replace DT traps, replace inspection caps, replace rubber washers, replace pipes, replace Y's and joiners
Fixing leaking taps either from the spout, middle of the tap, handle or where the tap joins the pipe, e.g. changing washers, reseating tap, replacing "O" ring or top of the tap, removing tap and winding Teflon tape on the thread, etc.
Unblocking drains, pipes, sewer pipes and household plumbing and fixtures
Maintaining and repairing other health hardware items that are within area of responsibility and/or expertise, e.g. tightening or replacing shower rose, fixing broken toilet role holders, fixing loose or broken shelving used to store shampoos, soaps, and detergents, etc.


Unplanned events or conditions may include:
Inability to gain access onto premises, e.g. aggressive dogs, nobody home
Sick people in the household that don't want to be disturbed
Sorrow business
Broken tools or equipment
Missing parts or materials
A problem that is worse than originally anticipated
Other more urgent problems noticed during the job


Reporting may be:
Verbally in either first language or English
Written in either first language or English, e.g. notes, checklists, etc.


Relevant others may include:
Elders
House holders
Community members
Supervisor
Key people
Community council
Other employer agencies/bodies


Quality of work undertaken is checked may be:
Repairs check list
Physical checks and tests to see if problem has been rectified, e.g. switching mains back on and observing to see if taps still leak, checking to see if sinks or drains are unblocked by observing fast running water flowing down the drain, etc.


Organisation may be:
Community council
Community clinic
Other employer bodies/agencies


Final inspections may be:
Showing work to supervisor when satisfied with the quality of work
Asking householders or community members if there have been any further difficulties with the repair work
Inspecting jobs as part of daily activities before notifying the employer of work completion


Work completion notified may be:
Verbally in either first language or English
Written check lists against work plans

EVIDENCE GUIDE

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 this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Assessment of this unit of competency needs to occur more than once and over a period of time until the worker is able to perform basic repairs and maintenance without direct supervision


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities


Context of and specific resources for assessment:
Competency is best demonstrated in the work place as part of on the job activities
Competency can also be assessed in constructed simulation
Access required to:
tools materials and equipment needed to perform tasks
simulation of realistic workplace setting for assessment


Note:
It is advisable that the Indigenous Environmental Health Worker receives immunisation against the risk of Hepatitis A (and B) before dealing with sewage and sewerage systems


Related unit:
This unit is best assessed in conjunction with:
HLTPOP213C Support community processes for the provision of ongoing repairs and maintenance to health hardware