Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to remove odours from carpets by identifying the type of odour, and selecting and applying odour control methods according to the odour and carpet type.
The unit supports carpet cleaners who work alone or in teams. It applies in a range of commercial and residential work sites. The source of carpet odours can be due to factors such as animal or human body odour, animal waste, chemicals, decaying matter, faeces, fire damage, mould, urine, vomit and water damage.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Plan and prepare to apply odour control. | 1.1. | Carpet type and condition are assessed, cause of odour is identified, and odour treatment techniques are confirmed according to job requirements. |
1.2. | Work site hazards are assessed and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. | ||
1.3. | Equipment is | ||
1.4. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is sourced according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
1.5. | Cleaning chemicals are selected and prepared according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
1.6. | Signs and barricades are selected and installed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
1.7. | Pre-existing damage is identified and reported according to company requirements. | ||
2. | Apply treatment. | 2.1. | Furniture and fittings are removed to allow cleaning tasks to be performed. |
2.2. | Soiled carpet is cleaned using required cleaning methods, in preparation for odour control. | ||
2.3. | Odour control treatment is applied to carpet using equipment and chemicals, according to manufacturer specifications and company requirements. | ||
2.4. | Odour control chemicals are left to dwell according to manufacturer specifications. | ||
2.5. | Chemical residue is removed from treated carpet area and odour of treated area is compared with surrounding surface to determine need for further action according to work order and company requirements. | ||
2.6. | Results are reported according to company requirements. | ||
3. | Tidy work site. | 3.1. | Collected soil and waste are disposed of according to client and company specifications, and legislative, environmental, and health and safety requirements. |
3.2. | Furniture and fittings are returned to original position according to client requests, work order, and health and safety requirements. | ||
3.3. | Signs and barricades are removed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
4. | Clean and safety check equipment, and store equipment and chemicals. | 4.1. | Equipment and PPE are cleaned, safety checked and stored according to manufacturer specifications and environmental, health and safety, and company requirements. |
4.2. | Unused chemicals are stored or disposed of according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also remove three different odours from each of the following carpet types, where:
one carpet type must be a natural fibre selected from:
organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal
wool
one carpet type must be a synthetic fibre selected from:
acrylic
nylon
polyester
polypropylene.
The odour types to be removed from each of the above carpets, must include three of the following:
animal or human body odour
animal waste
chemicals
decaying matter
faeces
fire damage
mould
urine
vomit
water damage.
In doing the above work, the person must:
identify site hazards and control risks before commencing the task
correctly identify type and characteristics of carpet to be treated
correctly and safely classify the type of odour
select and prepare equipment, including personal protective equipment (PPE), and chemicals required for the task
prepare the work site
comply with company, legislative and environmental requirements relating to applying odour control to carpets.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
environmental requirements relating to applying odour control to carpets, including:
clean-up, containment and isolation procedures
environmental protection agency requirements relating to applying odour control to carpets
types and characteristics of carpets and fibres
cleaning options for carpet, including:
low environmental impact chemicals
low moisture
water-efficient methods
key requirements of legislation, regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to applying odour control to carpets, including AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting
range and application of different odour treatment techniques:
chemical treatment followed by:
extraction spot cleaning
heat application process
transfer method using hand application
sealing floor
lifting and refitting carpet
removing and replacing pad
safe handling techniques for working with hazardous chemicals, including:
emergency chemical spill control measures
routes of entry and potential symptoms of exposure to chemicals
safe methods for diluting chemicals
working according to safety data sheets (SDS).
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
as listed in the range of conditions
PPE as listed in the range of conditions
materials:
cleaning chemicals as listed in the range of conditions
specifications:
AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting
SDS
physical conditions:
work site or venue with carpets as listed in the range of conditions
relationships with team members and supervisor:
work may be conducted alone or as part of a team
relationship with client:
communications with the client to confirm and clarify job requirements.
Timeframe:
as specified by the task.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Numeracy skills to: | dilute and mix required chemicals using whole numbers and routine fractions. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify job requirements respond clearly and concisely to client questions. |
Reading skills to: | interpret simple, structured manufacturer instructions when using equipment and preparing chemicals interpret directions and safety instructions, including: product labels safety data sheets (SDS). |
Writing skills to: | report faults in equipment to manufacturer and other personnel provide written record of work undertaken and results achieved. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Carpet types must include: | natural fibre: organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal wool synthetic fibre: acrylic nylon polyester polypropylene. |
Hazards that must be assessed include: | biological and environmental contaminants chemical exposure via absorption, ingestion and inhalation chemical reactivity dust and fibre particulates electrical environmental allergens explosions fatigue fire manual handling noise poor ventilation slips, trips and falls syringes and sharps working in confined spaces. |
Health and safety requirements must include: | access to communication devices when working alone compliance with Safe Work Australia regulations and guidelines electrical equipment test and tag compliance emergency response procedures environmental controls hazard signs and barricades health and safety induction and refresher training manual handling techniques processes for safely dispensing chemicals risk assessment procedures, including: hazardous chemicals register hierarchy of control job safety analyses (JSA) for low-risk situations safe work method statements (SWMS) for high-risk situations incident reporting SDS selection and use of required PPE storage and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer specifications use of first aid according to SDS information. |
Equipment must include at least two of the following: | air scrubber carpet groomer carpet repair kit chemical hand spray unit cleaning cloths eye dropper fogger hair dryer nylon bristle brush ozone machine scraper or spatula sponge steam generator steam iron. |
Personal protective equipment must include at least two of the following: | gloves eye protection disposable respirators protective clothing safety shoes splash-proof face masks tongs. |
Cleaning chemicals must include at least one of the following: | acid cleaners alkaline cleaners antimicrobial low environmental impact chemicals neutral cleaners odour neutralising, masking and destruction agents ozone gas sealers solvent cleaner. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations