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 facilities might be tested for hygiene standards?
The storage facility covers all types of temporary and permanent storage, complete with installed aeration, and controlled atmosphere or refrigeration.

What is subject to hygiene standards?
The storage area, grain storages, machinery, buildings, vehicles, grain handling equipment, produce and vegetation, might all be subject to inspection and treatment, including for insect and other pest refuges.

The storage of what kinds of grain is described in this standard?
Grains being stored could include cereals, legumes, pulses, oilseeds, or pasture seeds.

How would the use of treatments be recorded?
Recording the application of treatments might require the use of either digital or paper based systems, or a range of data capture technologies.

How do each of the processes relate to each other?
Receival,

What might the grain storage program provide for?
The program will provide details of the grain to be stored, the timeframes involved, the resources to be used, the locations for storage, the recording and documentation requirements, the scheduling of the operation, the responsibility of the various operators to be involved, the method of pest control, and the method of sampling and where samples should be sent. Details of the requirements to minimise or eliminate OHS risks, the legislative requirements in relation to all activities undertaken during grain quality maintenance activities, and chemical handling procedures and guidelines would also be covered in the program.
The grain storage program would also ensure that equipment and personnel arranged for operations are appropriate to the requirements of various legislation, and may include equipment for detection of fumigant in the atmosphere, confined spaces equipment, pressure testing equipment, fumigant/inert atmosphere pressure bottles, fumigant generation equipment, and personal protection.

What equipment might be used to take and record samples of grain quality?
This equipment might include testing apparatus, sampling, measuring and sieving equipment, operational charts, calibration and identification samples, and organisational/client instructions.

How might the samples be taken?
Inspection/sampling techniques may include turning, visual inspection, hand sampling, grain sieves, probes and spears, or trapping.

Where would the analysing body be?
Testing of samples would generally take place off-site by a specialist organisation, which would then prepare analysis results that would be used as a basis for decision-making within the organisation.

What are the OHS hazards that apply to this standard?
Amongst the risks are operating and maintaining machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and guarding of exposed moving parts, noise, organic and other dusts, working with, transporting and storing hazardous substances (such as pesticides), using fumigants, working at heights, and working on the grain mass.

What actions could be taken to eliminate or minimise OHS risk?
The range of actions are both systemic and at an operational level. These are listed below.

What might be the contaminants, or factors which might cause deterioration of stored grain?
These may include moulds, moisture, mites, insects, or fungal diseases.

What do the records contain?
Records provide details required by legislation and are kept for the required period of time. They might contain information relating to the grain itself (types, varieties, quality segregation), expenditure in relation to storage and handling, OHS considerations (those relating to chemical handling and application), and operational functions (dates, times, quantities, personnel). The format of any reporting might be electronic or paper based.

What kind of problems might be revealed in an inspection of storage facility condition?
Problems encountered could include the presence of water or water damage, presence and activity of pests (including insects, moulds, birds and rodents), dead vertebrate pests in storage, breakdown of storage security and integrity (e.g. holes, cracks, poor sealing, etc.), grain moisture migration, excessive dust levels, high pesticide and fumigant residues, and legal withholding periods.

What corrective action might be taken?
Corrective action could include maintenance activities such as inspection for structural problems, repair of physical damage, sealing of inlets and outlets to maintain gas tightness, pressure testing of sealed storages to recommended levels, location and repair of leaks in sealed storages, maintenance of pressure relief valves, and painting and upkeep of heat reflecting coating.
Corrective action might also include the operation of installed equipment where it exists. For example, refrigeration may be used on storage facilities holding malt quality barley or sorghum, or where high moisture content is jeopardising grain quality. Matching the cooling load with equipment selection may involve site-specific data and calculations, combined with the use of manufacturers data.
Additionally, aeration might assist to reduce grain temperature and grain moisture levels to client and organisations requirements.

Where would pest control activities be targeted?
This would be in silos, grain storages, surrounding area, grain handling equipment, machinery, buildings, and hay and other produce that can harbour insect pests.

What pest control activities might be included in integrated pest management?
Activities such as application of insecticides, herbicides and growth regulators, baiting (using registered controlled and generally available substances), desiccant dusts, or fumigation and/or inert atmosphere operations could be employed either separately or in partnership.
Sampling and testing is a part of the integrated pest management activities and may provide evidence of the development of resistance to pesticides in pests.

Why might the grain or storage facility be fumigated?
Fumigation or inert gas may be for the purposes of treating identified pests, or for meeting grain quality requirements.

Where would the stated goals of the organisation be found?
They would be documented in the production/management plans, the business/marketing plans, and would be available verbally from management representatives and colleagues.

What kind of options for maintaining or improving grain quality might be considered?
They may involve new technology, new systems, or altered practices such as drying, aeration, sealing, controlled atmospheres, or the use of desiccant dusts.

What kind of reduced quality might the checks and analysis reveal?
Some of the undesirable aspects might be moisture, protein, oil content, insects (live and dead), weed and other commodity seeds, other foreign matter, cracked grain, weather affected grain, pesticide and chemical residues/contamination, or undesirable grain size, hectolitre weight, or varietal purity.

What kind of problems might be revealed in an inspection of storage facility condition?
Problems encountered could include the presence of water or water damage, presence and activity of pests (including insects, moulds, birds and rodents), dead vertebrate pests in storage, breakdown of storage security and integrity (e.g. holes, cracks, poor sealing, etc.), grain moisture migration, excessive dust levels, high pesticide and fumigant residues, and legal withholding periods.

What facilities might be tested for hygiene standards?
The storage facility covers all types of temporary and permanent storage, complete with installed aeration, and controlled atmosphere or refrigeration.

What is subject to hygiene standards?
The storage area, grain storages, machinery, buildings, vehicles, grain handling equipment, produce and vegetation, might all be subject to inspection and treatment, including for insect and other pest refuges.

The storage of what kinds of grain is described in this standard?
Grains being stored could include cereals, legumes, pulses, oilseeds, or pasture seeds.

How would the use of treatments be recorded?
Recording the application of treatments might require the use of either digital or paper based systems, or a range of data capture technologies.

How do each of the processes relate to each other?
Receival,

What might the grain storage program provide for?
The program will provide details of the grain to be stored, the timeframes involved, the resources to be used, the locations for storage, the recording and documentation requirements, the scheduling of the operation, the responsibility of the various operators to be involved, the method of pest control, and the method of sampling and where samples should be sent. Details of the requirements to minimise or eliminate OHS risks, the legislative requirements in relation to all activities undertaken during grain quality maintenance activities, and chemical handling procedures and guidelines would also be covered in the program.
The grain storage program would also ensure that equipment and personnel arranged for operations are appropriate to the requirements of various legislation, and may include equipment for detection of fumigant in the atmosphere, confined spaces equipment, pressure testing equipment, fumigant/inert atmosphere pressure bottles, fumigant generation equipment, and personal protection.

What equipment might be used to take and record samples of grain quality?
This equipment might include testing apparatus, sampling, measuring and sieving equipment, operational charts, calibration and identification samples, and organisational/client instructions.

How might the samples be taken?
Inspection/sampling techniques may include turning, visual inspection, hand sampling, grain sieves, probes and spears, or trapping.

Where would the analysing body be?
Testing of samples would generally take place off-site by a specialist organisation, which would then prepare analysis results that would be used as a basis for decision-making within the organisation.

What are the OHS hazards that apply to this standard?
Amongst the risks are operating and maintaining machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and guarding of exposed moving parts, noise, organic and other dusts, working with, transporting and storing hazardous substances (such as pesticides), using fumigants, working at heights, and working on the grain mass.

What actions could be taken to eliminate or minimise OHS risk?
The range of actions are both systemic and at an operational level. These are listed below.

What might be the contaminants, or factors which might cause deterioration of stored grain?
These may include moulds, moisture, mites, insects, or fungal diseases.

What do the records contain?
Records provide details required by legislation and are kept for the required period of time. They might contain information relating to the grain itself (types, varieties, quality segregation), expenditure in relation to storage and handling, OHS considerations (those relating to chemical handling and application), and operational functions (dates, times, quantities, personnel). The format of any reporting might be electronic or paper based.

What kind of problems might be revealed in an inspection of storage facility condition?
Problems encountered could include the presence of water or water damage, presence and activity of pests (including insects, moulds, birds and rodents), dead vertebrate pests in storage, breakdown of storage security and integrity (e.g. holes, cracks, poor sealing, etc.), grain moisture migration, excessive dust levels, high pesticide and fumigant residues, and legal withholding periods.

What corrective action might be taken?
Corrective action could include maintenance activities such as inspection for structural problems, repair of physical damage, sealing of inlets and outlets to maintain gas tightness, pressure testing of sealed storages to recommended levels, location and repair of leaks in sealed storages, maintenance of pressure relief valves, and painting and upkeep of heat reflecting coating.
Corrective action might also include the operation of installed equipment where it exists. For example, refrigeration may be used on storage facilities holding malt quality barley or sorghum, or where high moisture content is jeopardising grain quality. Matching the cooling load with equipment selection may involve site-specific data and calculations, combined with the use of manufacturers data.
Additionally, aeration might assist to reduce grain temperature and grain moisture levels to client and organisations requirements.

Where would pest control activities be targeted?
This would be in silos, grain storages, surrounding area, grain handling equipment, machinery, buildings, and hay and other produce that can harbour insect pests.

What pest control activities might be included in integrated pest management?
Activities such as application of insecticides, herbicides and growth regulators, baiting (using registered controlled and generally available substances), desiccant dusts, or fumigation and/or inert atmosphere operations could be employed either separately or in partnership.
Sampling and testing is a part of the integrated pest management activities and may provide evidence of the development of resistance to pesticides in pests.

Why might the grain or storage facility be fumigated?
Fumigation or inert gas may be for the purposes of treating identified pests, or for meeting grain quality requirements.

Where would the stated goals of the organisation be found?
They would be documented in the production/management plans, the business/marketing plans, and would be available verbally from management representatives and colleagues.

What kind of options for maintaining or improving grain quality might be considered?
They may involve new technology, new systems, or altered practices such as drying, aeration, sealing, controlled atmospheres, or the use of desiccant dusts.

What kind of reduced quality might the checks and analysis reveal?
Some of the undesirable aspects might be moisture, protein, oil content, insects (live and dead), weed and other commodity seeds, other foreign matter, cracked grain, weather affected grain, pesticide and chemical residues/contamination, or undesirable grain size, hectolitre weight, or varietal purity.

What kind of problems might be revealed in an inspection of storage facility condition?
Problems encountered could include the presence of water or water damage, presence and activity of pests (including insects, moulds, birds and rodents), dead vertebrate pests in storage, breakdown of storage security and integrity (e.g. holes, cracks, poor sealing, etc.), grain moisture migration, excessive dust levels, high pesticide and fumigant residues, and legal withholding periods.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in maintaining grain quality in storage requires evidence that hygiene is monitored and maintained, that pests and contaminants are monitored and controlled, and that grain quality ensures the greatest possible return for the organisation by meeting the requirements of the client and of the organisations marketing requirements.
The skills and knowledge required to maintain grain quality in storage must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, across a range of pest and contaminant types that may occur in differing geographic locations or with different grain crops.
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:

silo and temporary storage configuration and operation
chemical handing and dangerous goods requirements
the range of applicable pesticides, their uses, application methods and handling requirements
commodity types, varieties and grades
handling requirements for gas cylinders
insect life cycles and optimum conditions for development
Integrated Pest Management principles and the procedures used within the organisation
legislative requirements, and procedures relating to the purchase, transport, storage, use and disposal of pesticides and fumigants
client's sampling and classification requirements
common grain pests and their general control methods
appropriate action to be taken in contingency situations
marketing requirements and options for grain growers
equipment available and its uses, limitations and OHS requirements
site hazards and sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from grain storage operations
chemical handing and dangerous goods requirements
developments and options available for maintaining or improving the quality of grain during storage.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

setup and operate fumigation and pesticide application equipment
sample loads and grain in storage, and conduct a simple analysis
create, maintain, use and keep clear and trackable records
use a range of communication equipment, including in emergency situations
inspect and test silos
identify insects, pests and other factors that affect grain quality
set up and operate inert atmosphere equipment
handle and mix chemicals for baiting, fumigation, spraying, and other forms of application
interpret monitored information on pests
plan and schedule weed, pest and/or disease control including amending plans during the operations
calculate mass and volumes of grain and grain storages
observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and OHS hazards.

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:

silo and temporary storage configuration and operation
chemical handing and dangerous goods requirements
the range of applicable pesticides, their uses, application methods and handling requirements
commodity types, varieties and grades
handling requirements for gas cylinders
insect life cycles and optimum conditions for development
Integrated Pest Management principles and the procedures used within the organisation
legislative requirements, and procedures relating to the purchase, transport, storage, use and disposal of pesticides and fumigants
client's sampling and classification requirements
common grain pests and their general control methods
appropriate action to be taken in contingency situations
marketing requirements and options for grain growers
equipment available and its uses, limitations and OHS requirements
site hazards and sound management practices and processes to minimise noise, odours, and debris from grain storage operations
chemical handing and dangerous goods requirements
developments and options available for maintaining or improving the quality of grain during storage.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

setup and operate fumigation and pesticide application equipment
sample loads and grain in storage, and conduct a simple analysis
create, maintain, use and keep clear and trackable records
use a range of communication equipment, including in emergency situations
inspect and test silos
identify insects, pests and other factors that affect grain quality
set up and operate inert atmosphere equipment
handle and mix chemicals for baiting, fumigation, spraying, and other forms of application
interpret monitored information on pests
plan and schedule weed, pest and/or disease control including amending plans during the operations
calculate mass and volumes of grain and grain storages
observe, identify and react appropriately to environmental implications and OHS hazards.

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
By communicating with management, operators and contractors throughout the storage operations. (2)

Communicating ideas and information
By communicating with management, operators and contractors throughout the storage operations. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By observing and measuring the impact on the grain of pests and contaminants. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By observing and measuring the impact on the grain of pests and contaminants. (2)

Planning and organising activities
In arranging for samples to be taken of the grain, and in getting those samples laboratory tested. (2)

Planning and organising activities
In arranging for samples to be taken of the grain, and in getting those samples laboratory tested. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In working safely to store and monitor grain in silos and other storage facilities. (2)

Working with others and in teams
In working safely to store and monitor grain in silos and other storage facilities. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In calculating sampling results, loadings, and volumes of storages. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
In calculating sampling results, loadings, and volumes of storages. (2)

Solving problems
Through identifying deterioration in the grain quality and selecting an appropriate response. (2)

Solving problems
Through identifying deterioration in the grain quality and selecting an appropriate response. (2)

Using technology
In operating any necessary equipment prior to, and during the storage operations - communication technology, calculating equipment, measuring and sampling equipment, and word processing/spread sheeting software. (2)

Using technology
In operating any necessary equipment prior to, and during the storage operations - communication technology, calculating equipment, measuring and sampling equipment, and word processing/spread sheeting software. (2)