Elements and Performance Criteria

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.

containers
cutting implements, such as knives and snips
packaging equipment, such as:
grading tools
labelling devices
lifting aids
packing tools
pallets
scales
waste stalk bins
packaging materials and boxes or other containers, such as:
adhesives
crates and pre-packs
labels
pro formas
racks
storage, such as coolrooms and dedicated storage facilities
trolleys.
The required number of empty boxes is estimated according to:
orders to be filled (including types and packs)
particular characteristics of the crop to be picked (such as size, flush and species)
number of pickers working
number of rooms to be picked over a shift or a specified period of time.

enterprise standard operating procedures
hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP)
industry best practice guidelines on quality, food safety and hygiene
legislative and regulatory requirements, such as OHS procedures
manufacturer service specifications and operator manuals
post-harvest program or production schedule
product labels
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
routine maintenance schedules
supervisor's oral or written instructions
waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines
work notes.

aprons
boots and gloves
fluoro safety vests
hats or hair covering
jackets (for coolroom use)
overalls.

appropriate use of PPE
assessing and reporting risks
basic first aid
cleaning, maintaining and storing tools, equipment and machinery
correct manual handling
ensuring operational safety exits from coolrooms
identifying hazards
maintaining personal hygiene
reporting problems to supervisors
safe handling
safe operation of tools, equipment and machinery.

chemicals and hazardous substances
confined spaces
dust and substrate-borne micro-organisms
electricity
machinery and vehicles
manoeuvring trolleys in a crowded work area
manual handling
moving equipment
noise
sharp hand tools and equipment
slippery or uneven surfaces.
Risks may be minimised by:
wearing appropriate PPE
using correct manual handling and lifting techniques.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit.
The critical requirements for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

supply appropriate quantities of empty boxes to mushroom pickers in a number of picking rooms
collect filled boxes at a rate and in a manner that ensure the continued smooth flow of picking and packing work and that do not impede the movement of other traffic in the area
handle filled boxes in such a way that mushroom quality is maintained.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will most appropriately be assessed on a mushroom farm or in a situation that reproduces normal work conditions.

For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to handle and move mushroom boxes. The candidate must also have access to the following resources:

boxes to be distributed to pickers and packers
boxes of mushrooms
trolleys or racks
PPE

Guidance information for assessment
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.
The skills and knowledge required to handle and move mushroom boxes must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts, including the ability to deal with unplanned events. For example, this could include work on mushroom farms of different sizes, or farms that use different growing systems such as trays, shelves or bags.