The unit applies to assessing incoming leather in terms of weight, substance, colour, shading, softness, stretch and thickness.

Work involves working largely independently and being accountable for own results, including carrying out assigned tasks, coordinating processes and setting and working to deadlines.

The unit also covers grading in relation to surface, finish, blemishes, substance and sorting skins in regard to size and shape, colour and types of defects. Calculation of allowance may be made manually or by computer.

Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities.

The application of this unit is according to OHS practices of the enterprise and workplace practices, which may include:

requirements prescribed by legislation, awards, agreements and conditions of employment

standard operating procedures

work instructions

oral, written and visual communication

quality practices, including responsibility for maintenance of own work quality and contribution to quality improvement of team or section output

housekeeping

tasks related to environmental protection, waste disposal, pollution control and recycling

This unit requires the application of skills associated with planning and organising of skins for effective and appropriate use in leather production. This unit also requires problem solving ability to grade skins and identify faults or discrepancies with leather quality. Self management and planning and organising skills are used to ensure work complies with workplace requirements.

Prerequisites

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1 Assess leather

1.1 Sections and quality within a hide are assessed and faults or discrepancies and variance in quality of materials supplied are identified.

1.2 Leather is assessed for use in production.

1.3 Leather is checked against specifications.

2 Grade skins

2.1 Skins are graded according to workplace grading standards.

2.2 Each hide is graded according to proportion of defects in relation to whole size.

3 Sort skins

3.1 Skins are sorted for their suitability for particular styles.

4 Calculate allowance

4.1 Allowance is calculated to workplace standards based on available materials and product.

4.2 Leather is matched against work specifications and issued to clicker.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Demonstrates knowledge of:

equipment required grading operations

international and national grading standards

workplace grading standards

leather types

quality standards and practices

OHS practices, including hazard identification and control measures

workplace practices

recording and reporting practices

Demonstrates skills to:

handle, receive and grade leather to work specifications

identify faults or discrepancies

check against specifications

grade and sort skins to workplace standards

read, interpret and follow information on work specifications, standard operating procedures and work instructions, and other reference material

maintain accurate records

communicate within the workplace

sequence operations

meet specifications

clarify and check task-related information

carry out work according to OHS practices

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Demonstrates skills and knowledge to:

plan and coordinate complicated grading operations

prepare equipment and work before commencing operations

apply techniques in over the full range of operations

check work against specifications

apply OHS practices in work operations

maintain accurate records

Consistently applies skills and knowledge when:

organising work

completing tasks according to instructions

working systematically with attention to detail

identifying improvements and avoiding damage

using workplace practices

using OHS practices

recording and reporting accidents and incidents

assessing operational readiness of equipment

recognising and adapting to cultural differences in the workplace, including modes of behaviour and interactions

Context and specific resources for assessment

Assessment may occur on the job or in an appropriately simulated environment and requires access to work areas, materials and equipment and to information on workplace practices and OHS practices.

Guidance information for assessment

This unit may be assessed independently or in combination with other relevant units.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Legislative/regulatory requirements

All work must comply with relevant Federal and State or Territory legislative or regulatory requirements.

OHS practices

OHS practices include hazard identification and control, risk assessment and implementation of risk reduction measures specific to the tasks described by this unit, and may relate to:

manual handling techniques

standard operating procedures

personal protective equipment

safe materials handling

taking of rest breaks

ergonomic arrangement of workplaces

following marked walkways

safe storage of equipment

housekeeping

reporting accidents and incidents

environmental practices

Sector

Leather Production

This unit contains employability skills.