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 types of crop may be harvested?
Crops may include fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers, foliage, bulbs, tubers, nuts, mushrooms, wild harvest plants and oils.

How may the crop be harvested?
The crop may be harvested manually or mechanically.

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, the harvest plan, program and schedule, quality assurance policy and plan, 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.

How is crop maturity determined?
Work procedures will be based on sound horticultural principles and practices and may include supervisors oral or written instructions, the harvest plan, program and schedule, quality assurance policy and plan, 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 clients may be relevant to this standard?
Clients may include the enterprise, packers, wholesalers, retailers, processors and exporters.

What weather conditions may affect the harvesting of the crop?
Clients may include the enterprise, packers, wholesalers, retailers, processors and exporters.

What tools, equipment and machinery may be used to carry out crop harvesting activities?
Tools, equipment and machinery may include secateurs, knives, maturity testing equipment, specification charts, gloves, bags, ladders, tractors, trailers, forklifts, powered ladders, mechanical harvesters, pallets, containers, cartons, trays, net bags, buckets, dip tins, bulk bins, gondolas, trucks and trailers for transport of bulk produce, grading machinery, cutting machines, coolrooms, gassing chambers and labelling devices.

What OHS hazards may be associated with co-ordinating harvest activities?
Hazards may include solar radiation, dust, noise, soil and air-borne micro-organisms, chemicals and hazardous substances, sharp hand tools and equipment, manual handling, ladders, moving vehicles, machinery and machinery parts, slippery or uneven surfaces, potholes and flying objects.

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

What PPE may be required when harvesting horticultural crops?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, goggles, respirator or face mask, face guard, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hard hat.

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 personal protective equipment 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 co-ordinating horticultural crop harvesting activities?
Detrimental environmental impacts may arise where harvesting activities produce excess noise, dust or water run-off.

What harvest records may be required by the enterprise?
Harvest records may include harvest workers tallies or working hours, written harvest instructions, dates of harvest, withholding periods (time since last chemical spray), crop yield from each section, weather conditions during harvest, percentage crop deterioration, maturity measurements taken, storage conditions, machinery settings or adjustments, machinery repairs and maintenance, dispatch details and delivery dockets.

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 harvest activities, safely storing harvest materials on site, using signage and safety barriers during and removing after mechanical harvesting activities are completed, and swiftly and efficiently removing and processing debris and waste from the work area.

How may damage to the crop be incurred if it is incorrectly handled?
Damage may occur during mechanical harvesting by rods, beaters, shakers, blades, belts, chains, wheels and other moving machinery parts, during manual harvesting by long fingernails, tearing or cutting the crop when picking, bruising or squashing the crop when dropping or tipping it into containers, and overfilling containers. Protruding nails, splinters or rotting, unemptied crop in containers may damage the crop, as may driving too fast or roughly, leaving filled containers in the sun too long, frost damage when full containers are left out overnight and not separating varieties.

What sorting and grading requirements may be monitored?
Sorting and grading may include removing out of type plants, or physically damaged, unhealthy, rotten or immature produce. The crop may be graded according to variety, size, length, colour, maturity, blemishes, bud count and quality, which are subject to seasonal and market forces. Crop in doubt is checked with supervisors. Any out-of-standard produce should be disposed of according to enterprise policy.

What storage conditions may be relevant from the time of harvest until delivery to the client?
Storage requirements may include high humidity, cold temperature and controlled atmosphere storage, supplying produce with water after harvest e.g., asparagus and roses, controlling gases and temperature in storage to speed up maturity e.g., ethylene gas to ripen bananas and improve the colour of citrus, and coating with wax or wrapping in plastic.

How may the crop be transported?
The crop may be transported by trailer, forklift, truck or other specialised methods of transport.

What destinations may be relevant to this standard?
The crop may be transported by trailer, forklift, truck or other specialised methods of transport.

What types of crop may be harvested?
Crops may include fruit, vegetables, herbs, flowers, foliage, bulbs, tubers, nuts, mushrooms, wild harvest plants and oils.

How may the crop be harvested?
The crop may be harvested manually or mechanically.

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, the harvest plan, program and schedule, quality assurance policy and plan, 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.

How is crop maturity determined?
Work procedures will be based on sound horticultural principles and practices and may include supervisors oral or written instructions, the harvest plan, program and schedule, quality assurance policy and plan, 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 clients may be relevant to this standard?
Clients may include the enterprise, packers, wholesalers, retailers, processors and exporters.

What weather conditions may affect the harvesting of the crop?
Clients may include the enterprise, packers, wholesalers, retailers, processors and exporters.

What tools, equipment and machinery may be used to carry out crop harvesting activities?
Tools, equipment and machinery may include secateurs, knives, maturity testing equipment, specification charts, gloves, bags, ladders, tractors, trailers, forklifts, powered ladders, mechanical harvesters, pallets, containers, cartons, trays, net bags, buckets, dip tins, bulk bins, gondolas, trucks and trailers for transport of bulk produce, grading machinery, cutting machines, coolrooms, gassing chambers and labelling devices.

What OHS hazards may be associated with co-ordinating harvest activities?
Hazards may include solar radiation, dust, noise, soil and air-borne micro-organisms, chemicals and hazardous substances, sharp hand tools and equipment, manual handling, ladders, moving vehicles, machinery and machinery parts, slippery or uneven surfaces, potholes and flying objects.

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

What PPE may be required when harvesting horticultural crops?
PPE may include hat, boots, overalls, gloves, goggles, respirator or face mask, face guard, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion and hard hat.

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 personal protective equipment 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 co-ordinating horticultural crop harvesting activities?
Detrimental environmental impacts may arise where harvesting activities produce excess noise, dust or water run-off.

What harvest records may be required by the enterprise?
Harvest records may include harvest workers tallies or working hours, written harvest instructions, dates of harvest, withholding periods (time since last chemical spray), crop yield from each section, weather conditions during harvest, percentage crop deterioration, maturity measurements taken, storage conditions, machinery settings or adjustments, machinery repairs and maintenance, dispatch details and delivery dockets.

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 harvest activities, safely storing harvest materials on site, using signage and safety barriers during and removing after mechanical harvesting activities are completed, and swiftly and efficiently removing and processing debris and waste from the work area.

How may damage to the crop be incurred if it is incorrectly handled?
Damage may occur during mechanical harvesting by rods, beaters, shakers, blades, belts, chains, wheels and other moving machinery parts, during manual harvesting by long fingernails, tearing or cutting the crop when picking, bruising or squashing the crop when dropping or tipping it into containers, and overfilling containers. Protruding nails, splinters or rotting, unemptied crop in containers may damage the crop, as may driving too fast or roughly, leaving filled containers in the sun too long, frost damage when full containers are left out overnight and not separating varieties.

What sorting and grading requirements may be monitored?
Sorting and grading may include removing out of type plants, or physically damaged, unhealthy, rotten or immature produce. The crop may be graded according to variety, size, length, colour, maturity, blemishes, bud count and quality, which are subject to seasonal and market forces. Crop in doubt is checked with supervisors. Any out-of-standard produce should be disposed of according to enterprise policy.

What storage conditions may be relevant from the time of harvest until delivery to the client?
Storage requirements may include high humidity, cold temperature and controlled atmosphere storage, supplying produce with water after harvest e.g., asparagus and roses, controlling gases and temperature in storage to speed up maturity e.g., ethylene gas to ripen bananas and improve the colour of citrus, and coating with wax or wrapping in plastic.

How may the crop be transported?
The crop may be transported by trailer, forklift, truck or other specialised methods of transport.

What destinations may be relevant to this standard?
The crop may be transported by trailer, forklift, truck or other specialised methods of transport.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in co-ordinating crop harvesting requires evidence that a person can prepare for crop harvesting activities, maintain harvest requirements, monitor crop quality throughout harvest and deliver the crop according to quality specifications.
The skills and knowledge required to co-ordinate crop harvesting must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, a person who can co-ordinate crop harvesting on a property producing citrus should be able to transfer that knowledge and skill to another workplace although different crops, such as winegrapes, may be present.
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:

recognition of the maturity parameters of a range of crops
enterprise quality procedures and characteristics of a crop relative to varying market requirements
grading characteristics of each crop
the importance of maintaining quality of produce including cooling requirements and quick transport from field to processing areas
industry wage rates and conditions, contractors services, conditions and rates
licensing requirements for use of forklifts, trucks and machinery
the effect of adverse climatic conditions (e.g., rain, hail, extreme wind, or very high ultraviolet radiation), which may prevent or impede crop harvesting operations, or severely influence the time taken to complete the tasks necessary to fulfil the operation.

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 ideas and information to work team members, supervisors, contractors and clients
utilise proforma reporting, analysis and work procedure documents, and interpret quality specifications
measure materials, interpret harvest specifications and schedules, interpret and apply test results, calculate tallies, working hours, yields and quality results
co-ordinate work group, contractors and own activities to sequentially and effectively complete harvest in a timely and cost effective manner.

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:

recognition of the maturity parameters of a range of crops
enterprise quality procedures and characteristics of a crop relative to varying market requirements
grading characteristics of each crop
the importance of maintaining quality of produce including cooling requirements and quick transport from field to processing areas
industry wage rates and conditions, contractors services, conditions and rates
licensing requirements for use of forklifts, trucks and machinery
the effect of adverse climatic conditions (e.g., rain, hail, extreme wind, or very high ultraviolet radiation), which may prevent or impede crop harvesting operations, or severely influence the time taken to complete the tasks necessary to fulfil the operation.

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 ideas and information to work team members, supervisors, contractors and clients
utilise proforma reporting, analysis and work procedure documents, and interpret quality specifications
measure materials, interpret harvest specifications and schedules, interpret and apply test results, calculate tallies, working hours, yields and quality results
co-ordinate work group, contractors and own activities to sequentially and effectively complete harvest in a timely and cost effective manner.

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

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

Communicating ideas and information
Written, oral and telecommunication of ideas and information relating to harvesting activities and problems encountered will be required with the work group, supervisor, contractors and clients. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
Written, oral and telecommunication of ideas and information relating to harvesting activities and problems encountered will be required with the work group, supervisor, contractors and clients. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Enterprise work procedures and quality specifications should be consulted, interpreted and applied to co-ordinate harvesting activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor when necessary. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Enterprise work procedures and quality specifications should be consulted, interpreted and applied to co-ordinate harvesting activities with further clarification sought from the supervisor when necessary. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Daily work activities for the work group, contractors and self will be planned prior to and adjusted during the harvest program. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Daily work activities for the work group, contractors and self will be planned prior to and adjusted during the harvest program. (2)

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

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

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical application will be required to calculate the logistical requirements of the harvest program, yields, percentage deterioration of crops, tallies and working hours. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical application will be required to calculate the logistical requirements of the harvest program, yields, percentage deterioration of crops, tallies and working hours. (2)

Solving problems
Site contingencies, adverse weather, machinery breakdown, contractual and personnel difficulties, and timeline failures may require problem-solving techniques. (2)

Solving problems
Site contingencies, adverse weather, machinery breakdown, contractual and personnel difficulties, and timeline failures may require problem-solving techniques. (2)

Using technology
Technological understanding will be required to access and apply harvest specifications, undertake harvesting activities, communicate, report and keep records. (2)

Using technology
Technological understanding will be required to access and apply harvest specifications, undertake harvesting activities, communicate, report and keep records. (2)