Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work situations available.

How might livestock water supplies be provided?
Provision may be through external reticulated water supply, dams or storage tanks, troughs, channel supply, rivers, and pumped or flowing bores.

What might be determined in the testing of water quality?
Water quality testing may include salinity levels and pH levels.

What relevant information may be assessed from inspections of livestock and water supplies?
This may include the observation of water availability, quantity, flow rate, and the presence of algal bloom. It may also include the number of livestock using the water point, bogging around water supply points and the location of where livestock are grazing and under utilised feed.

What range of components of water supply systems may be checked?
This may include pumps, windmills and bores, pipes, troughs, timber dividing structures, air bleeders in long lines, line junctions or connections, and stone flagged areas around troughs.

How might malfunctions or deterioration of piped water supplies be checked?
This may include the need to examine the condition of bore, equipment and fencing, locate leaks and exposure of leaks, repair leak or breakage and reassemble and test for operation.

What information may be included in a maintenance plan?
This may include details of scheduled maintenance and servicing requirements and procedures, tools and supplies required to undertake maintenance tasks, power sources, pre-start and safety checks for tools and machinery, mechanical diagnostic procedures, common mechanical faults and adjustment or repair procedures, current operational details, supervisors instructions and reporting requirements.

What tools, equipment and materials may be used for maintenance activities?
This may include hand tools, hand-held power tools, grease guns, spare machinery and equipment parts, cleaning and maintenance supplies including grease, fuel, oil, chemicals, water, steam, air and power supplies. Other equipment may include spare joiners, connectors, valves and taps. Power sources may include electricity, diesel or petrol engines and wind.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable?
Standard operating procedures (SOPs), industry standards, production schedules, MSDS, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and supervisors oral or written instructions.

What hazards may be encountered?
Hazards may include exposure to loud noise and fumes, solar radiation, dust, and hazardous substances. It may also include oil and grease spills; electricity associated with powered tools and equipment, mechanical malfunctions and exposed moving mechanical parts.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the operation and maintenance of vehicles, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and guarding of exposed moving parts
hazard and risk control
use of hand and power tools
safe lifting, carrying and handling
handling, application and storage of hazardous substances
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation, dust and noise
the appropriate use and maintenance of personal protective equipment.
The servicing of windmills requires the need to ensure that sails are locked off before personnel are allowed onto the tower, and particular attention should be paid to the avoidance of hand injuries when using pipe handling equipment and tools.

What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard?
Boots, hat/hard hat, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protection, respirator or face mask, and sun protection (sun hat, sunscreen).

What maintenance procedures may be carried out?
This may include changing oils, lubricants and fluids and cleaning and lubricating components and performing adjustments. It may also include checking systems and serviceable components for wear or damage, and remove or replace accordingly. Servicing of windmills may include greasing, checking oil baths and topping up as required. Servicing bore pumps (including windmills) may include pulling of the bore suction.

What environmental implications may be associated with maintenance activities?
Negative environmental impacts may result from excessive noise and exhaust emissions, the unsafe use and disposal of maintenance debris (oils containers, chemical residues) and hazardous substances. Unsafe cleaning and servicing activities may negatively impact in soil disturbance, dust problems and increased run-off flows.

How might livestock water supplies be provided?
Provision may be through external reticulated water supply, dams or storage tanks, troughs, channel supply, rivers, and pumped or flowing bores.

What might be determined in the testing of water quality?
Water quality testing may include salinity levels and pH levels.

What relevant information may be assessed from inspections of livestock and water supplies?
This may include the observation of water availability, quantity, flow rate, and the presence of algal bloom. It may also include the number of livestock using the water point, bogging around water supply points and the location of where livestock are grazing and under utilised feed.

What range of components of water supply systems may be checked?
This may include pumps, windmills and bores, pipes, troughs, timber dividing structures, air bleeders in long lines, line junctions or connections, and stone flagged areas around troughs.

How might malfunctions or deterioration of piped water supplies be checked?
This may include the need to examine the condition of bore, equipment and fencing, locate leaks and exposure of leaks, repair leak or breakage and reassemble and test for operation.

What information may be included in a maintenance plan?
This may include details of scheduled maintenance and servicing requirements and procedures, tools and supplies required to undertake maintenance tasks, power sources, pre-start and safety checks for tools and machinery, mechanical diagnostic procedures, common mechanical faults and adjustment or repair procedures, current operational details, supervisors instructions and reporting requirements.

What tools, equipment and materials may be used for maintenance activities?
This may include hand tools, hand-held power tools, grease guns, spare machinery and equipment parts, cleaning and maintenance supplies including grease, fuel, oil, chemicals, water, steam, air and power supplies. Other equipment may include spare joiners, connectors, valves and taps. Power sources may include electricity, diesel or petrol engines and wind.

What enterprise requirements may be applicable?
Standard operating procedures (SOPs), industry standards, production schedules, MSDS, work notes and plans, product labels, manufacturers specifications, operators manuals, enterprise policies and procedures (including waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines), and supervisors oral or written instructions.

What hazards may be encountered?
Hazards may include exposure to loud noise and fumes, solar radiation, dust, and hazardous substances. It may also include oil and grease spills; electricity associated with powered tools and equipment, mechanical malfunctions and exposed moving mechanical parts.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
Safe systems and procedures for:
the operation and maintenance of vehicles, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and guarding of exposed moving parts
hazard and risk control
use of hand and power tools
safe lifting, carrying and handling
handling, application and storage of hazardous substances
outdoor work including protection from solar radiation, dust and noise
the appropriate use and maintenance of personal protective equipment.
The servicing of windmills requires the need to ensure that sails are locked off before personnel are allowed onto the tower, and particular attention should be paid to the avoidance of hand injuries when using pipe handling equipment and tools.

What personal protective equipment may be relevant to this standard?
Boots, hat/hard hat, overalls, gloves, protective eyewear, hearing protection, respirator or face mask, and sun protection (sun hat, sunscreen).

What maintenance procedures may be carried out?
This may include changing oils, lubricants and fluids and cleaning and lubricating components and performing adjustments. It may also include checking systems and serviceable components for wear or damage, and remove or replace accordingly. Servicing of windmills may include greasing, checking oil baths and topping up as required. Servicing bore pumps (including windmills) may include pulling of the bore suction.

What environmental implications may be associated with maintenance activities?
Negative environmental impacts may result from excessive noise and exhaust emissions, the unsafe use and disposal of maintenance debris (oils containers, chemical residues) and hazardous substances. Unsafe cleaning and servicing activities may negatively impact in soil disturbance, dust problems and increased run-off flows.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in this standard requires evidence of the ability to select the correct tools and equipment and apply appropriate methods to carry out routine servicing and minor repairs on a range of water supply systems and equipment. It also requires the ability to recognise minor and major faults, refer complex repairs for specialist advice, carry out water quality testing and analysis and test and monitor machinery and equipment for correct operation. Evidence must also be demonstrated in the application of safe workplace and environmentally responsible practices.
The skills and knowledge required must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, if competence is evident in maintaining water supplies for a dairy enterprise, it must also be evident in the maintenance of water supplies in a sheep and wool production enterprise.
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:

livestock requirements and average and peak demand for water
operational principles of various pumps and pumping systems
functions and components of a range of water supply systems
operation and maintenance of diesel and petrol engines
factors which affect water quality, various water contaminants and remedial action
advantages and disadvantages of different types of water supply systems
OHS legislative requirements
relevant legislative requirements with regard to property water supply systems
Environmental Code of Practice associated with maintenance activities.

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:

operate vehicles safely and efficiently
use hand and power tools safely
arrange water supply system components and materials
work as part of a contract team as required
demonstrate safe and positive environmental working practices
identify the components of a range of water supply systems
test water quality as directed
read and interpret a water supply plan
communicate verbally with work team and supervisor
measure and calculate lubrication requirements.

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:

livestock requirements and average and peak demand for water
operational principles of various pumps and pumping systems
functions and components of a range of water supply systems
operation and maintenance of diesel and petrol engines
factors which affect water quality, various water contaminants and remedial action
advantages and disadvantages of different types of water supply systems
OHS legislative requirements
relevant legislative requirements with regard to property water supply systems
Environmental Code of Practice associated with maintenance activities.

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:

operate vehicles safely and efficiently
use hand and power tools safely
arrange water supply system components and materials
work as part of a contract team as required
demonstrate safe and positive environmental working practices
identify the components of a range of water supply systems
test water quality as directed
read and interpret a water supply plan
communicate verbally with work team and supervisor
measure and calculate lubrication requirements.

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
Procedures for carrying out maintenance on water supply systems may be discussed and confirmed with the supervisor. (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Procedures for carrying out maintenance on water supply systems may be discussed and confirmed with the supervisor. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information with regard to testing and analysing water quality may be detailed and organised by records and reports. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Information with regard to testing and analysing water quality may be detailed and organised by records and reports. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Maintenance activities may be planned and co-ordinated around livestock watering routines or sequenced as required. (1)

Planning and organising activities
Maintenance activities may be planned and co-ordinated around livestock watering routines or sequenced as required. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Team work may be applied in the communication and co-ordination of tasks to achieve specified work requirements to facilitate the continual supply of water to livestock. (1)

Working with others and in teams
Team work may be applied in the communication and co-ordination of tasks to achieve specified work requirements to facilitate the continual supply of water to livestock. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematics may be applied in the calculation of depth, flow rates and water requirements for livestock. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematics may be applied in the calculation of depth, flow rates and water requirements for livestock. (1)

Solving problems
Faults diagnosis and identification of best remedies for faults and malfunctions will require the application of problem-solving skills. (1)

Solving problems
Faults diagnosis and identification of best remedies for faults and malfunctions will require the application of problem-solving skills. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be used to communicate, and calculate volumes and capacities. (1)

Using technology
Technology may be used to communicate, and calculate volumes and capacities. (1)