Carry out post-harvest activities
Overview
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
be aware of hazards associated with carrying out post-harvest activities
wear suitable clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE)
maintain suitable levels of hygiene and bio-security when carrying out post-harvest activities
prepare, use, maintain and store equipment to carry out post-harvest activities safely and correctly
carry out post-harvest activities, in accordance with product specifications and quality assurance requirements
check that the prepared crop meets the product specifications
identify harvested crop that does not meet product specifications and take action
follow organisational and industry environmental good practice to minimise environmental damage
where required prior to dispatch, store harvested crops in accordance with product specifications
maintain communication with colleagues and others involved in, or affected by, your work
recycle or dispose of waste or by-products from post-harvest activities safely and correctly, in accordance with the relevant legal and organisational requirements
complete post-harvest records as required by the relevant legislation and the organisation
carry out your work in accordance with the relevant environmental and health and safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and organisational policies
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
how to identify hazards and assess the risks associated with carrying out post-harvest activities
the type of clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE) suitable for the activity
why it is important to maintain suitable levels of hygiene and bio-security during post-harvest activities and the methods for achieving this
the types of equipment required to carry out post-harvest activities and how to prepare, use, maintain and store these safely and correctly, including the use of new technology
how to carry out required post-harvest activities in line with product specifications and quality assurance requirements
how to identify harvested crops that do not meet product specifications and the action to take
the relevant methods for storing harvested crops prior to dispatch
the methods for the recycling or disposal of waste and by-products created by post-harvest activities
the importance of maintaining communication with those involved in, or affected by, your work
the importance of following the relevant environmental and ecological best practice to help minimise the impact of your work on the environment
the actions that can be taken to preserve and improve habitat and biodiversity and to respond to and mitigate the effects of climate change
your responsibilities under the relevant health and safety legislation, codes of practice and organisational policies
the post-harvest records that must be completed and the importance of completing them
Scope/range
1. handling2. selection3. cleaning4. drying5. pre-storage treatments6. grading7. trimming8. quality control9. packing10. labelling
B. Deal with the following types of waste produced from post-harvest activities:1. organic2. inorganic
C. Prepare post-harvested crops for:1. transfer2. short-term storage3. long-term storage
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Skills
Glossary
• drawings/plans• schedules• method statements• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)• manufacturer’s guidelines• customer requirements• quality assurance requirements• crop requirements• verbal instructions
Post-harvest activities could include:• selection• cleaning• drying• pre-storage treatments• grading• trimming
• quality control• packing• labelling