Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this standard may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment requirements may depend on the work situations available.

What analysis is required of the water supply to cooling systems?
an assessment of the year round temperatures of the supply water
water quality assessment for sediment as well as bacterial and contaminant levels
an assessment of foaming characteristics
supply pressures and volumes
available water cooling facilities and equipment

What components of farm milk cooling and storage systems that need to be considered?
Components may include cooling water storage and circulation systems, tanks, pumps, plate coolers and refrigerated vats.

What standard industry guidelines are adopted in estimating milk cooling requirements?
Industry standard guidelines that need to be considered for milk cooling and storage are provided by the dairy processors and original equipment manufacturers and may include:
the need to reduce milk to 4 0C within specified period
preferred temperature ranges for cooling water
construction standards in line with industry minimum standard recommendations.

What industry standards are used?
Standards for milking equipment installation are provided in the ISO standard 5707 and practical interpretations are provided in industry guidelines provided by the dairy factories and the Australian Milking Machine Trade Association. Milk vats need to comply with the Australian Standard AS1187.

Will design considerations include the correct siting of components?
Farm requirements for milk cooling systems design may include consideration of the siting of components to meet milk collection requirements as well as the location of components to meet industry installation standards.

What are the OHS hazards associated with storage and cooling equipment?
OHS hazards include: hazards of plant and machines, hot water, noise, electrical and ergonomic hazards. An awareness of the human health issues associated with the operation of cooling towers should also be considered.

What are the human health requirements?
All operations concerned with the human food chain need to undertake reasonable duty of care with regard to human health. State Health Legislation will provide guidance for the design and construction of cooling towers.

Does vat selection need to consider any additional factors apart from size?

Will bulk milk collections be made very day or should consideration be given to vat capacities to cater for more than a day's milking?
Vat selection may include the need to consider the requirements for daily or skip-a-day milk collections.

Is a commissioning test always required for the cooling system?
A milk cooling system commissioning test may be a mandatory requirement by the dairy factory to provide both the dairy farmer and the manufacturer of the operating efficiency of the system.

What milk supply quality standards are used?
Milk quality assurance is specified and monitored through regular audit by the dairy factories.

What sort of routine maintenance is required?
Routine maintenance programs may include service and cleaning of fans and fins on refrigeration units together with the checking and replacement of drive belts, the servicing of compressors and ensuring correct thermostat settings and operation.

What sort of operational faults will require attention during maintenance routines?
Problems with cooling units may include dirty or blocked plates, problems with restricted or incorrect water flow. Refrigeration units may suffer from problems with airflow caused through dirt, dust or oil or simply a restriction to airflow caused through incorrect siting or other causes.

What analysis is required of the water supply to cooling systems?
an assessment of the year round temperatures of the supply water
water quality assessment for sediment as well as bacterial and contaminant levels
an assessment of foaming characteristics
supply pressures and volumes
available water cooling facilities and equipment

What components of farm milk cooling and storage systems that need to be considered?
Components may include cooling water storage and circulation systems, tanks, pumps, plate coolers and refrigerated vats.

What standard industry guidelines are adopted in estimating milk cooling requirements?
Industry standard guidelines that need to be considered for milk cooling and storage are provided by the dairy processors and original equipment manufacturers and may include:
the need to reduce milk to 4 0C within specified period
preferred temperature ranges for cooling water
construction standards in line with industry minimum standard recommendations.

What industry standards are used?
Standards for milking equipment installation are provided in the ISO standard 5707 and practical interpretations are provided in industry guidelines provided by the dairy factories and the Australian Milking Machine Trade Association. Milk vats need to comply with the Australian Standard AS1187.

Will design considerations include the correct siting of components?
Farm requirements for milk cooling systems design may include consideration of the siting of components to meet milk collection requirements as well as the location of components to meet industry installation standards.

What are the OHS hazards associated with storage and cooling equipment?
OHS hazards include: hazards of plant and machines, hot water, noise, electrical and ergonomic hazards. An awareness of the human health issues associated with the operation of cooling towers should also be considered.

What are the human health requirements?
All operations concerned with the human food chain need to undertake reasonable duty of care with regard to human health. State Health Legislation will provide guidance for the design and construction of cooling towers.

Does vat selection need to consider any additional factors apart from size?

Will bulk milk collections be made very day or should consideration be given to vat capacities to cater for more than a day's milking?
Vat selection may include the need to consider the requirements for daily or skip-a-day milk collections.

Is a commissioning test always required for the cooling system?
A milk cooling system commissioning test may be a mandatory requirement by the dairy factory to provide both the dairy farmer and the manufacturer of the operating efficiency of the system.

What milk supply quality standards are used?
Milk quality assurance is specified and monitored through regular audit by the dairy factories.

What sort of routine maintenance is required?
Routine maintenance programs may include service and cleaning of fans and fins on refrigeration units together with the checking and replacement of drive belts, the servicing of compressors and ensuring correct thermostat settings and operation.

What sort of operational faults will require attention during maintenance routines?
Problems with cooling units may include dirty or blocked plates, problems with restricted or incorrect water flow. Refrigeration units may suffer from problems with airflow caused through dirt, dust or oil or simply a restriction to airflow caused through incorrect siting or other causes.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in the identification and selection of farm milk cooling and storage requires evidence that the knowledge and skills have been applied to select the optimum installation to suit the specific dairy installation.
The skills and knowledge required to identify and select farm milk cooling and storage must be transferable to differing work environments. For example they need to be applied with equal effectiveness across both large and small dairies and to suit a range of water and environmental requirements.
What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

the components of on-farm milk pre-cooling, cooling and storage systems
how milk is cooled on farm
the effect of cooling on milk quality
available milk cooling and storage equipment
the requirements of factory based milk quality assurance programs
industry recognised milking equipment minimum standards
relevant OHS issues relating to cooling and storage of milk on farm
relevant legislation relating to milk cooling and storage
applicable human health standards requirements.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include the ability to:

recognise and rectify operational faults in milk cooling and storage equipment
perform tests on cooling towers
install and commission equipment.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this competency standard are listed below:

the components of on-farm milk pre-cooling, cooling and storage systems
how milk is cooled on farm
the effect of cooling on milk quality
available milk cooling and storage equipment
the requirements of factory based milk quality assurance programs
industry recognised milking equipment minimum standards
relevant OHS issues relating to cooling and storage of milk on farm
relevant legislation relating to milk cooling and storage
applicable human health standards requirements.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include the ability to:

recognise and rectify operational faults in milk cooling and storage equipment
perform tests on cooling towers
install and commission equipment.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Through interview of relevant industry specialists and written recommendations (1)

Communicating ideas and information
Through interview of relevant industry specialists and written recommendations (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Through the accessing of relevant manufacturer's specifications, industry minimum standards recommendations and personal interview with the shed manager. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Through the accessing of relevant manufacturer's specifications, industry minimum standards recommendations and personal interview with the shed manager. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Through the organisation of meetings with relevant parties and suppliers. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Through the organisation of meetings with relevant parties and suppliers. (2)

Working with others and in teams
The assembly of information and its collation requires a team approach. (2)

Working with others and in teams
The assembly of information and its collation requires a team approach. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
The use of relevant formulae in the calculation of capacities, flows and cooling and storage requirements (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
The use of relevant formulae in the calculation of capacities, flows and cooling and storage requirements (2)

Solving problems
Through the effective identification of performance faults and the application of industry guidelines to determine the best possible installation alternatives. (2)

Solving problems
Through the effective identification of performance faults and the application of industry guidelines to determine the best possible installation alternatives. (2)

Using technology
Through the use of measuring and calculation equipment and through the use of suitable hand and power tools. (2)

Using technology
Through the use of measuring and calculation equipment and through the use of suitable hand and power tools. (2)