Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
This unit of competency includes all types of storage.

For your plant this may include (select relevant items):
bins and binning systems
racks and racking systems
marked floor spaces
pallets, collapsible bins, portable tanks
specialised storage areas (bunds, secure, weather protected, heated, cooled).

Information in support of storage and handling processes may be from many sources. For your plant this may include (select relevant items):
goods identification number and codes
manifests
picking slips, transfer documents, stock requisitions, batch specifications
manufacturer's specifications, supplier or customer instructions
materials safety data sheets (MSDS's)
verbal or written communications
codes of practice, standards, regulations and legislation (including dangerous goods, airfreight, export, import, quarantine, bond or licence requirements)
quality documentation, procedures.

Typical problems for your plant may include:
labelling problems (missing, damaged, illegible)
congestion and lack of appropriate storage area.

HSE
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

Assessment context and methods
Assessment for this unit of competency will be on an operating plant. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations, which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this unit of competency (e.g. element 3). Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include walk throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge, which will be assessed through questioning and the use of what if scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

Critical aspects
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action. The emphasis should be on the ability to stay out of trouble rather than on recovery from a disaster.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
early warning signs of materials, storages or information needing attention or with potential problems are recognised
the range of possible causes can be identified and analysed and the most likely cause determined
appropriate action is taken to ensure a timely return to full performance
obvious problems in related plant areas and systems are recognised and an appropriate contribution made to their solution.

These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what ifs as the stimulus with a walk through forming part of the response. These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations, which may have been generated from the past incident history of the plant, incidents on similar plants around the world, hazard analysis activities and similar sources.

Resource implications
Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions, which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Other assessment advice
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units. It may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with TDTD1097B - Operate a forklift.

Essential knowledge
Competence includes an understanding of the logistics system, procedures and requirements to the level needed to use the system and recognise and resolve problems. In particular it includes the ability to:
locate, interpret and apply relevant information
provide customer service (both internal and external) and work effectively with others
apply knowledge of regulations and legislation to the storage and handling of materials
determine material type, location, handling and transport requirements using information sources and systems
safely move materials to the appropriate areas.

Competence also includes the ability to isolate the causes of problems to a component of logistics system and to distinguish between causes of problems such as:
missing or damaged labels
new materials requiring information about storage and handling to be found from additional information sources
special location requirements for materials.