Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Information includes:
diagrams or sketches
instructions issued by authorised organisational or external personnel
manufacturer specifications and instructions where specified
maps
memos
MSDS
organisation work specifications and requirements
plans and specifications
regulatory and legislative requirements pertaining to carrying out excavations
relevant Australian standards
safe work procedures related to carrying out excavations
signage
verbal or written and graphical instructions
work bulletins
work schedules.
Planning and preparation include:
work site inspection
equipment defect identification
assessment of conditions and hazards
determination of work requirements.
Safety (OHS) is to be in accordance with legislation, regulations, codes of practice, organisational safety policies and procedures, and project safety plan and may include:
emergency procedures, including extinguishing fires, organisational first aid requirements and evacuation
handling of materials
hazard control
hazardous materials and substances
safe operating procedures, including the conduct of operational risk assessment and treatments associated with:
earth leakage boxes
lighting
power cables, including overhead service trays, cables and conduits
restricted access barriers
surrounding structures
traffic control
trip hazards
work site visitors and the public
working at heights
working in confined spaces
working in proximity to others
working with dangerous materials
organisational first aid
personal protective clothing and equipment prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices
use of firefighting equipment
use of tools and equipment
workplace environment and safety.
Tools and equipment include:
automatic levels
brooms
buckets
crow bars
hammers
hoses
laser levels
levels
measuring tapes and rules
picks
profiles
saws
set out pegs
shovels
staff
straight edges
string lines
wheelbarrows.
Materials include:
nails
pegs
sheet material shoring (timber and metal)
timber.
Quality requirements include relevant regulations, including:
Australian standards
internal company quality policy and standards
manufacturer specifications, where specified
workplace operations and procedures.
Environmental requirements include:
clean-up management
noise and dust
vibration
waste management.
Statutory and regulatory authorities include:
federal, state and local authorities administering applicable Acts, regulations and codes of practice.
Set out includes:
identification of services that can be damaged or impede excavation
marking out of the project.
Excavations include:
extension of existing structures, to provide provisions for new services and to modify or repair existing services
provisions for footings/slabs to new structures
shoring (timber, metal or piling)
those being undertaken on sloping ground, flat ground, wet ground, dry ground, loose ground or any type of foundation material, with mechanical assistance possibly required for rock
trench/excavation support using sheet material.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, provided that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to:
locate, interpret and apply relevant information, standards and specifications
comply with site safety plan and OHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice applicable to workplace operations
comply with organisational policies and procedures, including quality requirements
safely and effectively use tools, plant and equipment
communicate and work effectively and safely with others
determine from an existing set out, a mark out and then excavate site as part of an overall project to job specifications without damaging services.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.
Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards' requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
an induction procedure and requirement
realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the mandatory task requirements
relevant specifications and work instructions
tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
support materials appropriate to activity
workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
material safety data sheets
research resources, including industry related systems information.
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.
Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.
Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.