Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to determine the suitability of hides, skins and leathers for the production of leather goods. It includes the impact of slaughter and dressing techniques, preservation methods and industry classification systems.
Work may be conducted in small to large scale enterprises and may involve individual and team activities. Work is performed within industry codes, standards and defined procedures, under direct supervision.
No licensing, legislative 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. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Inspect hide, skin or leather | 2.1 | Identify type and different uses and characteristics of species |
2.2 | Identify performance characteristics | ||
2.3 | Identify grading and classification system | ||
2.4 | Identify faults on the hide, skin or leather | ||
2.5 | Conduct inspection to determine quality of hide, skin or leather in accordance with procedures | ||
3 | Identify techniques that impact on suitability for use | 3.1 | Identify slaughter and dressing techniques |
3.2 | Identify impact of slaughter and dressing techniques on hide, skin and leather quality | ||
3.3 | Identify effects of slaughter and dressing techniques on suitability for use in leather manufacturing | ||
4 | Identify preservation and storage methods | 4.1 | Identify preservation methods for hide, skin and leathers |
4.2 | Identify and describe storage requirements | ||
4.3 | Interpret effects of incorrect preservation and storage | ||
5 | Determine suitability for production | 5.1 | Confirm quality requirements for production |
5.2 | Determine suitability of hide, skin and leather for production requirements | ||
5.3 | Complete documentation and maintain accurate records | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include:
reading and following work instructions, standard operating procedures (SOPs) safe work practices, industry codes and standards
applying relevant standards
identifying at least three (3) species types, uses and performance characteristics
identifying common faults found on hides, skins and leather
identifying impact of slaughter and dressing techniques and preservation methods on quality of product
determining suitability of identified product for production
identifying preservation and storage methods for hide, skin and leathers, and identifying effects of incorrect preservation and storage
confirming quality requirements and suitability of hide, skin and leather for production
completing documentation and maintaining accurate records.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
safe work practices and procedures and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)
relevant Australian Standards
leather industry processes and equipment
slaughter and dressing techniques
faults:
marks
scars
cuts
preservation methods
performance characteristics:
stretch
abrasion
wearability
absorbency
durability
elasticity
heat sensitivity
shrink resistance
strength
industry grading and classification systems
impact on slaughter and dressing techniques on suitability of hides, skin and leather
impact on preservation and industry classification systems on suitability of hides, skin and leather
characteristics of species hides and skin:
stretch
size
grain
nap
substance
hair follicle
faults commonly found in hides, skins and leather
relevant federal and state or territory legislative or regulatory requirements
quality practices and procedures
recording and reporting procedures.
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment, as set by the VET regulator
have vocational competency in determining suitability of hide, skin and leather for leather goods, at least to the level being assessed, with relevant industry knowledge and experience.
Assessment should occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible, or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment reflecting realistic operational workplace conditions. This must cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different 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. | |
Workplace procedures include one or more of the following: | requirements prescribed by legislation, industry codes and standards, awards, agreements and conditions of employment SOPs 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 WHS practices |
Australian Standards include: | the relevant industry or Australian Standards that are current at the time this unit is being undertaken |
Species include one or more of the following: | calf cow hide kid goat buffalo kangaroo reptile sheep ostrich emu pig deer |
Characteristics include the following: | stretch size grain nap substance hair follicle |
WHS practices | WHS practices must include hazard identification and control, risk assessment and implementation of risk reduction measures specific to the tasks described by this unit, and include one or more of the following: manual handling techniques PPE safe materials handling ergonomic arrangement of workplaces following marked walkways safe storage of equipment housekeeping reporting accidents and incidents other WHS practices relevant to the job and enterprise |
Sectors
Not applicable
Competency Field
Leather production