Range of VariablesThe 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 contexts |
What may be included under plant pests, diseases and disorders? | Plant pests and diseases may include chewing, sucking and boring invertebrates, nematode, fungi, viruses, and bacteria. Disorders include toxic soil, air and water. This unit excludes vertebrate pests, nutrient deficiencies and extreme environmental conditions. |
What type of details about the plant pest or disease might be required? | Details might include location and occurrence of plant pests, diseases and disorders, possibility of off target damage and potential threats that the plant pest or disease may present to surrounding areas. |
What treatments might be applied? | Treatments may include use of fertilisers, foliar nutrients, insecticides, fungicides, dips, release of biological agents, pheromone traps, baits, hormones, cultivation, slashing, cutting, burning and ripping. |
What equipment is appropriate for treatment application? | Equipment may include backpack sprayers, spray tanks, fertiliser spreaders, ladders, rippers, pesticide applicators and handsaws. |
What OHS hazards might apply to this standard? | OHS hazards may include use of hazardous chemicals, use of tractors and machinery, solar radiation, and working from ladders. |
What or who may be at risk from OHS hazards? | Hazard may cause risk to workers, equipment, people and animals external to the workplace (such as members of the public, wildlife, pets, bees, fish, birds), and the environment. |
What personal protective equipment (PPE) may be required to apply treatments? | Personal protective equipment may include hat, rubber boots, chemical resistant overalls, gloves, goggles, respirator or facemask, sunscreen lotion. |
What OHS requirements might apply to this standard? | OHS requirements may include identifying hazards, assessing and reporting risks, cleaning, maintaining and storing tools and equipment, appropriate use of personal protective equipment including sun protection and drinking to avoid dehydration, safe operation of tools and equipment, personal hygiene and reporting problems to supervisors, appropriate use, maintenance and storage of personal protective equipment, safety procedures in chemical handling and use, safety procedures for the protection of others. |
What regulatory requirements might apply to this standard? | Regulatory requirements may include the use and disposal of chemicals, record keeping, transport of chemicals, and access to area. |
What environmental impacts may apply to this standard? | Environmental impacts may include leaching and contamination of the water table, soil contamination, spray drift, damage to off target organisms, contaminated produce, surface run off, changes in soil structure. |
What records need to be kept when treating plant pests, diseases and disorders? | Records may include name of operator, treatments applied, rate, date, settings of equipment, plant pest's numbers, numbers of beneficial organisms. |
For more information on contexts, environment and variables for training and assessment, refer to the Sector Booklet. |
|