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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

The range statement provides details of how this competency can be used in the workplaces of the racing industry to maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing. Workplaces include greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racecourses, training tracks, administration buildings and public areas.
Features of track construction may include:
base course layer
compressive strength
general principles of road construction
grading or profiling of subgrade
materials, including:
fine crushed rock
road base or similar material
preparation of subgrade layer
proof rolling
recycling capability of materials
surface layer type and particle size
surface layer depth
subgrade compaction
specialised surfaces, including Pro-Ride
stability of materials
thickness of base course.
Specialised track materials may include:
sands, soils and other track base and surface materials suitable for greyhound, harness or thoroughbred training and racing.
Environmental sustainability may include:
recycling capability of materials
toxicity of materials.
Economic viability may include:
cost of establishment of specialised track
ease of access to materials
estimated racing days on nominated surface
estimated training days on nominated surface
expected life span of materials
maintenance requirements.
OHS requirements will include:
adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices
national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare
considering variables that influence behaviour of horses, such as:
fences and equipment
other persons or animals
vehicles
wind and noise
eliminating hazardous substances and materials
ensuring accident and emergency equipment is available and in good working order, including:
fire safety equipment
first aid equipment for humans and animals
safety signage
ensuring equipment, machinery and vehicles are safe and in proper working order
following accident and injury procedures
following safe operating procedures
identifying hazards and applying risk control measures
reporting unsafe work practices
using correct manual handling techniques, including:
carrying
lifting
shifting
wearing personal protective equipment.
Confines of track camber, fall and surface depth may include:
animal injuries
animal gait abnormalities
centripetal force
circumference of track
greyhound and harness specific:
banking
cushion
increases in degrees of banking
minimum safe banking
transition turns
underbanked semi-circular curves
length of straight
minimum turn radius
sand and cinders depth (thoroughbred)
track drainage.
Daily, weekly and race meeting care requirements may include:
checking by visual inspection of defined surface layer
checking drainage pipes
checking running rails and pegs, including visibility and structural integrity
deep rip to remove deep-seated compaction as required
dragging daily to ensure even surface
ensuring satisfactory depth of surface layer
harrowing daily on sand tracks and as needed on cinders tracks
filling of hoof prints (harness and thoroughbred)
irrigation to bind surface material
power harrow to remove subsurface compaction as required
renovation
ripping as needed on cinders tracks
rolling daily on sand tracks
replacing materials
screening (greyhound and harness).
Considerations for when renovation is planned and budget presented will include:
identifying defects, deterioration or deficiencies and establishing effect on asset performance
determining renovation or remediation required
determining club's funding arrangements for track renovation, for example asset management plans
appropriating necessary maintenance resources, for example:
labour
monetary
selecting appropriate renovation or rectification procedures
estimating expected completion of execution of work
developing maintenance and renovation programming, for example:
annual
five year
long-term.
Engaging contractors or instructing staff in maintenance procedures will include:
arranging safe systems of work:
how work is organised
management of occupational stress and violence
pace and procedures to prevent fatigue
work arrangements
work processes and safe operating procedures
contractor-specific issues:
casual or fixed-term basis
control overwork and how services are to be performed
delegation
hours worked
legal risk
payment to contractor upon results achieved or completion of work
services and equipment provided
implementing procedures for safe use, handling, storage and transport of plant and substances
providing adequate facilities for welfare of employees and contractors:
drinking water
eating areas
shade
toilets.

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.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to the specific industry sector and workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:
knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when maintaining specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing
implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of specialised non-turf track surface maintenance requirements
working with others to undertake and complete maintenance procedures that meet required outcomes.
Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources or simulated environment approved by the relevant State Principal Racing Authority. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.
Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.
The following resources must be available:
a range of relevant training and racetracks
materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to maintain specialised non-turf track surfaces for racing
work instructions and related documentation.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.
The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
simulation exercises conducted in a State Principal Racing Authority approved simulated environment.
Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons.
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).