Application
This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to re-saw material to width and on the cant with sawing machinery to optimise timber conversion and usability. Work is completed in a forest products factory and includes operator maintenance.
The unit applies to Sawmilling Operator, Sawyer, or Benchman.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
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. Prepare for conversion | 1.1 Review work order and where required check with appropriate personnel. 1.2 Select appropriate personal protective and other equipment and check for operational effectiveness. 1.3 Plan timber conversion and saw set-up in line with work order. 1.4 Acquire the type and quantity of material to be cut from the storage location. |
2. Produce green boards | 2.1 Use equipment in line with organisational safety procedures, manufacturer’s instructions and environmental protection practices. 2.2 Set saw, carriage and feed; check and adjust regularly to suit conversion plan, ordered sizes and tolerances. 2.3 Monitor timber quantity to ensure constant supply to the saw. 2.4 Maintain feed rate to optimise production without damaging boards or saw blade. 2.5 Dispose of incorrect cuts, off-cuts and sub-standard boards in line with environmental protection practices. 2.6 Stack material safely in line with work order. 2.7 Identify routine processing problems and resolve or report to appropriate personnel. |
3. Complete operator maintenance | 3.1 Follow organisational safety procedures to lock out equipment. 3.2 Check saw blades for bluntness or damage. 3.3 Remove and replace saw blades in line with manufacturer's recommendations. 3.4 Dispose of used blades in line with and environmental protection practices. 3.5 Complete basic non-specialist maintenance for equipment. 3.6 Keep machine clear of dust and debris in line with organisational safety procedures. 3.7 Record and report equipment faults and maintenance requirements to appropriate personnel. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit.
produce sawn green boards for one or more of these types of timber in line with an individual work order prescribing different lengths and tolerances and number of boards for each job:
hardwood
softwood
native timber species
imported timber species
using one or more of the following saw types:
power operated, automatic feed controlled ripping saws
saws with adjustable cant (sloping table)
saws with one blade
rip saws
table saws
bench saws
for each of the above jobs, stack batches of cut material in storage location according to common size, length width and cant
complete these types of basic non-specialist maintenance:
cleaning the machine of wood chips and sawdust
replacing blunt saw blades
inspecting machine parts for wear or damage, including guards
greasing and lubricating moving parts
checking the operation of emergency stop buttons and lock out systems.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person competent in this unit must be able to demonstrate knowledge of:
typical timber defects and how they affect ability to produce quality sawn boards:
warp
wane
cupping
shakes
insect defects
knots
resin pockets
typical work flow processes for sawing green boards
typical flow of flitch and cant supply into the sawing area
range of cutting patterns used on green flitches and cants to achieve maximum output of green boards
range of industry standard lengths, cross sections and tolerances and applicable terminology
range of feed rates and how they affect production output and finished quality of green boards
storage layout and categories for stacking finished materials
purpose, features and operation of equipment used to produce sawn green boards:
measuring equipment
saws:
power operated, automatic feed controlled ripping saws
saws with adjustable cant (sloping table)
saws with one blade
rip saws
table saws
bench saws
maintenance tools and equipment for saws
methods for assessing saw blade condition
environmental protection practices for forest products factory settings:
cleaning plant, tools and equipment
disposing of, recycling and reusing timber
organisational procedures specific to producing sawn green boards:
workplace health and safety with particular emphasis on equipment lock out and use of personal protective equipment
communication reporting lines
recording and reporting processing problems and equipment faults.
Assessment Conditions
The following resources must be made available:
tools and equipment used to produce sawn green boards:
measuring equipment
one or more saws, which must be one or more of the following:
power operated, automatic feed controlled ripping saws
saws with adjustable cant (sloping table)
saws with one blade
rip saws
table saws
bench saws
maintenance tools and equipment for saws
consumable saw blades
personal protective equipment suitable for producing sawn green boards
a diverse, comprehensive and commercial range of green flitches and cants
manufacturers’:
instructions for equipment use
recommendations for repairing and maintaining equipment
work order with specific instructions for cutting green timber boards
template documents for recording equipment faults and maintenance requirements
relevant personnel for the purposes of communicating information
organisational procedures for producing sawn green boards.
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated environment that accurately reflects performance in a real workplace setting.
Assessor requirements
Assessors must:
hold the appropriate assessor competency standards as outlined in regulations; and
be able to demonstrate vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed; and
be able to demonstrate how they are continuing to develop their VET knowledge and skills as well as maintaining their industry currency and assessor competence.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those core and employment skills that are essential to performance and are not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Numeracy skills to: | identify quantities of required material within work orders and count numbers of flitchs or cants to be sawn interpret order sizes and set up saws to achieve correct depth, width and thickness of cut calculate the feed rate to optimise quality and quantity of production output. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask open and closed probe questions and actively listen to clarify contents of work orders. |
Reading skills to: | interpret detailed familiar and unfamiliar: workplace health and safety and other organisational procedures work orders manufacturers’ instructions and maintenance recommendations. |
Writing skills to: | complete accurate basic records for equipment faults and maintenance requirements. |
Planning and organising skills to: | efficiently and logically sequence the stages of preparation and production using work order to guide activities. |
Problem-solving skills to: | identify and dispose of incorrect cuts and sub-standard boards identify processing problems and faulty equipment and resolve by reporting or rectifying |
Range Statement
Not Applicable
Sectors
Sawmilling and Processing