Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to identify the nature of carpet stains and remove the stains using selected stain removal techniques, chemicals and equipment. The selection of required equipment, chemicals and methods is essential for performing the task safely and efficiently.
The unit supports carpet cleaners who work alone or in teams. It applies in a range of commercial and residential work sites. Removing stains can occur as a separate task or in conjunction with other cleaning tasks, such as daily vacuuming, extraction and general carpet cleaning.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Plan and prepare to remove stain. | 1.1. | Type of carpet fibre and construction are assessed, job requirements reviewed, and issues clarified as required. |
1.2. | Work site hazards are assessed and risks controlled according to company, legislative, and health and safety requirements. | ||
1.3. | Stain type is identified through observation or by discussing and clarifying with client, and previous treatments or removal techniques that have been applied are confirmed. | ||
1.4. | Required stain removal process is determined according to carpet type and cause of stain, client is advised of likelihood of treatment success, and client approval to proceed with stain removal process is obtained before commencing work. | ||
1.5. | Equipment is | ||
1.6. | Required cleaning chemicals are selected and prepared. | ||
1.7. | Personal protective equipment (PPE) is sourced according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. | ||
1.8. | Signs and barricades are selected and installed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
1.9. | Pre-existing damage is identified and reported according to company requirements. | ||
1.10. | Tasks are sequenced to ensure maximum efficiency for completing cleaning requirements. | ||
2. | Treat carpet stain. | 2.1. | Furniture and fittings are removed to allow cleaning tasks to be performed. |
2.2. | Physical remnants of stain are removed as much as possible using technique suited to cause of stain. | ||
2.3. | Required cleaning chemical is applied and allowed to dwell according to manufacturer specifications. | ||
2.4. | Carpet is inspected for evidence of previously used chemicals that may impede the cleaning process and all chemicals are removed using water treatment before reapplying chemical. | ||
2.5. | Treated area is agitated using required equipment and inspected to check that stain removal technique and process are working. | ||
2.6. | Cleaning process is continued until stain is completely removed or until agreed job requirements have been met. | ||
3. | Finalise stain removal. | 3.1. | Chemical residue is extracted using required extraction equipment and techniques. |
3.2. | Treated carpet is checked for pH levels and neutraliser is applied if required. | ||
3.3. | Treated area is dried or left to dry according to company and job requirements. | ||
3.4. | Soil is removed and carpet is cleaned according to manufacturer specifications, and legislative, health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
3.5. | Treated area is compared with surrounding surface area to determine need for further action according to job and company requirements. | ||
3.6. | Results are reported according to company requirements. | ||
4. | Tidy work site. | 4.1. | Collected soil and waste are disposed of according to client and company specifications, and legislative, environmental, and health and safety requirements. |
4.2. | Furniture and fittings are returned to original position according to client requirements. | ||
4.3. | Signs and barricades are removed according to health and safety, and company requirements. | ||
5. | Clean and safety check equipment, and store equipment and chemicals. | 5.1. | Equipment and PPE are cleaned, safety checked and stored according to manufacturer specifications and environmental, health and safety, and company requirements. |
5.2. | Unused chemicals are stored or disposed of according to manufacturer specifications, and health and safety and company requirements. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also remove three different stains from each of the following types of carpet:
one natural fibre carpet, selected from:
organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal
wool
one synthetic fibre carpet, selected from:
acrylic
nylon
polyester.
Stain types to be removed during above work, must include three of the following:
beverage
candle wax
chewing gum
food
grease
heavy dirt build-up
hospital waste
industrial and chemical waste
lipstick
nail polish
oil
plant stains
shoe polish
tar.
In doing the above work, the person must:
identify site hazards and control risks before commencing the task
identify type and characteristics of each carpet and its carpet fibres
identify type of stain and cleaning techniques, cleaning equipment and chemicals required for the task
correctly and safely handle waste.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
carpet characteristics, including:
carpet construction
features of fibres
characteristics of different carpet stains and process for cleaning them according to type, duration of stain, and whether previous treatments and chemicals have been applied
range and application of cleaning equipment and chemicals required to remove carpet stains
environmental requirements relating to removing stains from carpets, including:
clean-up, containment and isolation procedures
emergency chemical spill control measures
environmental protection agency requirements relating to using and disposing of carpet cleaning chemicals
hazardous materials handling
use of low-energy carpet-cleaning methods
use of low-moisture carpet-cleaning methods
use of low water-use equipment and other water-efficient cleaning methods
use of non-chemical carpet-cleaning methods
regulations, codes of practice and industry advisory standards relating to carpet cleaning, including AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting
processes for safely handling and disposing of waste, including:
chemicals past their expiry date
litter
machine exhaust emissions
obsolete equipment
used containers
used or contaminated personal protective equipment (PPE)
used or unused chemicals
safe handling techniques for working with hazardous chemicals, including:
emergency chemical spill control measures
routes of entry and potential symptoms of exposure to chemicals
safe methods for diluting chemicals
working according to safety data sheets (SDS).
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
as listed in the range of conditions
PPE as listed in the range of conditions
materials:
cleaning chemicals as listed in the range of conditions
specifications:
AS/NZS 3733 Textile floor coverings – Cleaning maintenance of residential and commercial carpeting
equipment operating manuals
product labels
SDS
physical conditions:
suitable work site or venue with carpet stains as listed in the performance evidence
relationships with team members and supervisor:
work may be conducted alone or as part of a team
relationship with client:
communication with the client is required to confirm details of the carpet stain and for approval to proceed.
Timeframe:
as specified by the task.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Numeracy skills to: | dilute and mix required chemicals using whole numbers and routine fractions. |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify job requirements respond clearly and concisely to client questions. |
Reading skills to: | interpret simple, structured manufacturer instructions when using equipment and preparing chemicals interpret directions and safety instructions, including: equipment operating manuals product labels safety data sheets (SDS). |
Writing skills to: | document and report faults in equipment to manufacturer and other personnel. |
Teamwork skills to: | work collaboratively with others when accessing and cleaning carpets. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Type of carpet fibre must include: | natural: organic (plant) fibres, such as cotton and sisal wool synthetic: acrylic nylon polyester polypropylene. |
Hazards that must be assessed include: | biological and environmental contaminants chemical exposure via absorption, ingestion and inhalation chemical reactivity dust and fibre particulates electrical environmental allergens explosions fatigue fire manual handling noise poor ventilation slips, trips and falls syringes and sharps working in confined spaces. |
Health and safety requirements must include: | access to communication devices when working alone compliance with Safe Work Australia regulations and guidelines electrical equipment test and tag compliance emergency response procedures environmental controls hazard signs and barricades health and safety induction and refresher training manual handling techniques processes for safely dispensing and handling chemicals while undertaking work tasks risk assessment procedures, including: hazardous chemicals register hierarchy of control job safety analyses (JSA) for low-risk situations safe work method statements (SWMS) for high-risk situations incident reporting SDS selection and use of required PPE storage and maintenance of equipment according to manufacturer specifications use of first aid according to SDS information. |
Stain types must include at least three of the following: | beverage candle wax chewing gum food grease heavy dirt build-up lipstick nail polish oil shoe polish tar. |
Equipment must include at least two of the following: | air mover carpet groomer cleaning cloths extraction unit measuring equipment pH stick scraper or spatula sponge spray equipment steam iron waste disposal container. |
Cleaning chemicals must include: | acid cleaners alkaline cleaners neutral cleaners solvent cleaners protein spotter. |
Personal protective equipment must include at least two of the following: | gloves disposable respirators eye protection gloves protective clothing safety shoes. |
Cleaned must include: | selecting and using required: equipment PPE chemicals cleaning techniques. |
Sectors
Cleaning operations