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 irrigation systems might be relevant to this standard?
These may be pressurised irrigation systems such as micro-irrigation systems, spray irrigation systems or gravity fed irrigation systems.
Micro-irrigation systems include mains pressure, low pressure, below or above ground, sprays systems, drip emitter trickle, t-tape, mini-sprinklers and capillary.
Spray irrigation systems include travelling irrigators (soft hose, hard hose boom type) centre pivot, linear move, powered side roll hand shift permanent (installed), and bike shift/easy shift.
Gravity fed irrigation systems include border check, contour irrigation, furrow irrigation, hillside flooding and basin irrigation. Border check systems may be either permanent or temporary earth, plastic or concrete devices for insertion in a drain for reticulating water, contour banks used to collect and distribute water along the perimeter of an irrigation plot, contour banks within a plot to collect/distribute water, or larger scale systems to stop water exiting one area to another.
Irrigation systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

Risk management procedures are established to protect the environment from which irrigation practices?
Irrigation practices may include implementation of irrigation schedules and shifts, and routine and seasonal maintenance activities.

Risk management procedures are established to protect the environment from which irrigation related activities?
These may include installation and construction of irrigation systems and components.

Procedures are developed to control risk for which environmental pollution events?
Pollution events may include backflow from the irrigation system into potable water supply, contamination of waterways by tailwater drainage, breakout of contaminated water from drainage system overload, system overload from storm water, contamination of stormwater run off with waste water, and aerial drift of chemical sprays.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
OHS requirements may include safe systems and procedures for handling, transporting and storing hazardous substances; selection, use and maintenance of personal protective clothing and equipment; protection against chemical residues, including that in/on foliage, water, soil and other items; and safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, dust and noise.

What irrigation systems might be relevant to this standard?
These may be pressurised irrigation systems such as micro-irrigation systems, spray irrigation systems or gravity fed irrigation systems.
Micro-irrigation systems include mains pressure, low pressure, below or above ground, sprays systems, drip emitter trickle, t-tape, mini-sprinklers and capillary.
Spray irrigation systems include travelling irrigators (soft hose, hard hose boom type) centre pivot, linear move, powered side roll hand shift permanent (installed), and bike shift/easy shift.
Gravity fed irrigation systems include border check, contour irrigation, furrow irrigation, hillside flooding and basin irrigation. Border check systems may be either permanent or temporary earth, plastic or concrete devices for insertion in a drain for reticulating water, contour banks used to collect and distribute water along the perimeter of an irrigation plot, contour banks within a plot to collect/distribute water, or larger scale systems to stop water exiting one area to another.
Irrigation systems may range from manual operation and monitoring to fully automated with computer control and monitoring.

Risk management procedures are established to protect the environment from which irrigation practices?
Irrigation practices may include implementation of irrigation schedules and shifts, and routine and seasonal maintenance activities.

Risk management procedures are established to protect the environment from which irrigation related activities?
These may include installation and construction of irrigation systems and components.

Procedures are developed to control risk for which environmental pollution events?
Pollution events may include backflow from the irrigation system into potable water supply, contamination of waterways by tailwater drainage, breakout of contaminated water from drainage system overload, system overload from storm water, contamination of stormwater run off with waste water, and aerial drift of chemical sprays.

What OHS requirements may be relevant to this standard?
OHS requirements may include safe systems and procedures for handling, transporting and storing hazardous substances; selection, use and maintenance of personal protective clothing and equipment; protection against chemical residues, including that in/on foliage, water, soil and other items; and safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, dust and noise.

What evidence is required to demonstrate competence for this standard as a whole?
Competence in establishing and maintaining an irrigation-related environmental protection program requires evidence that a person can establish risk management procedures to protect the environment from irrigation practices and related activities, and procedures for responding to environmental pollution events. Evidence is also required that the person can establish and maintain an environmental protection induction and training program and procedures to ensure the involvement of all personnel in the environmental program.
The skills and knowledge required to establish and maintain an irrigation-related environmental protection program must be transferable to a different work environment. For example, this could include different irrigation systems, locations, environmental risks, and enterprise policies and procedures.
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:

environmental legislation, regulations and guidelines
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
external factors that may effect the system
relevant enterprise OHS procedures
enterprise policies and procedures.

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:

develop policies and procedures
apply and comply with environmental requirements
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
use technology to draft documents, develop environmental information, and audit data bases
develop and implement relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures.

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:

environmental legislation, regulations and guidelines
environmental impacts of irrigation, using water from any ground or underground source
external factors that may effect the system
relevant enterprise OHS procedures
enterprise policies and procedures.

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:

develop policies and procedures
apply and comply with environmental requirements
identify adverse environmental impacts of irrigation activities and appropriate remedial action
use technology to draft documents, develop environmental information, and audit data bases
develop and implement relevant enterprise OHS and environmental procedures.

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
Developing policies and procedures and ensuring personnel access. (3)

Communicating ideas and information
Developing policies and procedures and ensuring personnel access. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Interpreting and referencing environmental information and guiding personnel in the use of that information. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Interpreting and referencing environmental information and guiding personnel in the use of that information. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Designing co-ordinated responses to potential and actual pollution events. (3)

Planning and organising activities
Designing co-ordinated responses to potential and actual pollution events. (3)

Working with others and in teams
Consulting with relevant internal and external parties in developing policies and procedures. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Consulting with relevant internal and external parties in developing policies and procedures. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Assessing and quantifying environmental risks. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Assessing and quantifying environmental risks. (2)

Solving problems
Identifying and assessing environmental risks. (2)

Solving problems
Identifying and assessing environmental risks. (2)

Using technology
Drafting documents, developing environmental information, and auditing databases. (2)

Using technology
Drafting documents, developing environmental information, and auditing databases. (2)