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Title / Operate timber treatment plant
Level / 3 / Credits / 15
Purpose / People credited with this unit standard are able to: manage hazards associated with operating and maintaining timber treatment plant and activities; complete manufacturers’ condition monitoring requirements for timber treatment plant components; maintain timber treatment plant components; and carry out basic operation of timber treatment plant and equipment.
Classification / Solid Wood Manufacturing > Timber Drying and Treatment
Available grade / Achieved
Explanatory notes
1Reference
Competence in this unit standard requires knowledge of the following:
NZS 3640 Chemical Preservation of Round and Sawn Timber, this is available from Bennett’s Government Bookshops or online at
2Definitions
Charge refers to a piece, single packet or multiple packets of timber.
Worksite policies and procedures refer to documented policies and to documented or other directions provided to staff. These include, but are not limited to, ways of managing health and safety, environmental considerations, quality, and production, and must conform to legislation. Examples include standard operating procedures, company health and safety plans, on-site briefings, and supervisor’s instructions.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Manage hazards associated with operating and maintaining timber treatment plant and activities.
Evidence requirements
1.1Hazards associated with operating and maintaining timber treatment plant and equipment are identified, and actions to be taken to isolate, minimise or eliminate the hazards are described in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Rangehazards may include but are not limited to – timber preservatives, testing chemicals, mobile plant, confined spaces, slip hazards, ventilation, moving parts.
1.2Safe work practices associated with operating and maintaining timber treatment plant and equipment are used in accordance with worksite policies and procedures and legislative requirements.
Rangepractices may include but are not limited to – isolation procedures, lock-outs, plant access procedures, permit systems, emergency stops, machine guarding, wearing appropriate safety equipment.
1.3Plant and equipment are isolated or locked out for safe entry in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Rangeplant and equipment may include but are not limited to – treatment vessels, storage tanks, pumps and valves.
Outcome 2
Complete manufacturers’ condition monitoring requirements for timber treatment plant components.
Evidence requirements
2.1Visual inspection of timber treatment plant components and reports are completed in accordance with manufacturers’ condition monitoring requirements, and worksite policies and procedures.
Rangevisual inspection may include but is not limited to – pipe work, fittings, valves, actuators, door seals, pumps, treatment vessel, working and storage tanks, treatment solution, bunded areas, trolleys, drip pad, rails, air compressor, electrical systems, alarm systems.
2.2Certification and calibration of timber treatment plant components are performed in accordance with manufacturers’ condition monitoring requirements, and worksite policies and procedures.
Rangechecks and calibration may include but are not limited to – moisture meters, vacuum and pressure gauges, fluid levels, marine inspection, test location certification (storing flammable preservatives), working tank certification, pressure relief valves.
Outcome 3
Maintain timber treatment plant components.
Evidence requirements
3.1Maintenance of timber treatment plant components is undertaken in accordance with manufacturers’ condition monitoring requirements, and worksite policies and procedures.
Rangemaintenance may include but is not limited to – door seals, filters, trolleys, motors or pumps, nuts and bolts, hydraulic rams.
Outcome 4
Carry out basic operation of timber treatment plant and equipment.
Evidence requirements
4.1Timber is inspected to ensure timber meets the requirements of treatment in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Rangemoisture content, fungal degrade, grade, species, packet build, package information matches charge information.
4.2Timber is loaded into treatment plant in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Rangemay include but is not limited to – length, alignment, movement restriction, treatment vessel secured.
4.3Charge process is started and completed in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
4.4Charge process and schedule requirements are explained in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Rangerequirements may include but are not limited to – pressure, vacuum, time, alarms.
4.5Charge is removed and treatment is verified in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
4.6Post treatment handling is carried out in accordance with worksite policies and procedures.
Replacement information / This unit standard replaced unit standard 154 and unit standard 21762.Planned review date / 31 December 2018
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process / Version / Date / Last Date for AssessmentRegistration / 1 / 18 April 2013 / N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference / 0173
This CMR can be accessed at
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA, before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and assessors, and special resource requirements.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Competenz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
CompetenzSSB Code 101571 / New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2018