Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to undertake agricultural crop harvesting activities.
All work must be carried out to comply with workplace procedures, work health and safety and biosecurity legislation and codes, and sustainability practices.
Operating machinery carries risk and candidates should observe all enterprise and manufacturer’s requirements.
This unit applies to individuals who work under broad direction and take responsibility for own work including limited responsibility for the work of others. They use discretion and judgement in the selection and use of available resources and complete routine activities.
No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Prepare to harvest agricultural crops | 1.1 Determine requirements for the work to be undertaken, method and order of harvesting from the harvest strategy and confirm with supervisor 1.2 Identify work health and safety hazards in crop harvesting and assess risks 1.3 Select and maintain appropriate personal protective equipment 1.4 Identify environmental impacts of harvesting the crop and take required action 1.5 Complete windrowing or swathing appropriately 1.6 Sample crop for moisture content and report to supervisor to assess timing of harvest 1.7 Identify hygiene standards for the crop and the paddock from the harvest strategy or the crop storage plan |
2. Prepare the harvesting equipment | 2.1 Clean harvesting machinery and other equipment appropriately 2.2 Assess and service all machinery and equipment, replace required parts and adjust for harvesting conditions 2.3 Dispose of all containers, leftover fluids, waste and debris from the maintenance and servicing work appropriately 2.4 Record all maintenance and servicing activities appropriately |
3. Harvest crops | 3.1 Implement work health and safety controls for crop harvesting 3.2 Follow and complete the harvest strategy for each paddock, including implementing fire prevention measures 3.3 Operate harvesting machinery and ancillary equipment appropriately and to suit crop conditions 3.4 Apply technology to ensure most efficient performance of operations 3.5 Maintain the hygiene of all surfaces that come into contact with the crop 3.6 Check regularly and adjust harvester and ancillary equipment where required |
4. Complete harvesting operations | 4.1 Clean and store equipment, attachments and other ancillary equipment appropriately 4.2 Apply any required insecticides appropriately 4.3 Dispose of all containers, leftover fluids, waste and debris according to enterprise polices and minimising the impact on the environment 4.4 Move harvesting equipment is moved between sites and on public roads appropriately 4.5 Complete all required records and documentation appropriately 4.6 Apply enterprise biosecurity policies |
Evidence of Performance
The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence that they can:
handle and manoeuvre harvesting equipment
operate crop harvesting machinery and equipment
implement correct use of technology to improve efficiency
implement procedures for seed handling and hygiene
identify hazards and implement work health and safety procedures for all harvest tasks
complete pre- and post-operational checks on tools, harvesting machinery and equipment
perform routine, service and maintenance procedures on tools, harvesting machinery and equipment
sample crops to assess moisture content and maturity/ripeness of the crop
monitor efficiency of harvesting equipment and make adjustments to height and other settings
transport, clean and store harvesting equipment
use of industry standard terminology to describe agricultural harvesting activities
follow work health and safety policies in the context of own work
follow biosecurity policies in the context of own work
follow sustainability practices in the context of own work.
Evidence of Knowledge
The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
handling and manoeuvring of harvesting equipment
operation of crop harvesting machinery and equipment
role of technology in improving efficiency
procedures for seed handling and hygiene
hazards and work health and safety procedures for all harvest tasks
pre- and post-operational checks on tools, harvesting machinery and equipment
routine, service and maintenance procedures on tools, harvesting machinery and equipment
enterprise biosecurity policies and sustainability practices.
Assessment Conditions
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Broad acre cropping (BAC)