Workplace literacy requirements for the forest, wood, paper and timber products industries.
Below are examples of workplace changes and the workplace literacy requirements. These examples highlight the need for workplace literacy to be addressed at all levels of an organisation. Workplace literacy does not only relate to people with poor reading and writing skills.
Forest growing and management
Level of change
Workplace literacy requirements
Increased specialist knowledge of timber species, regions where species are grown and the varying purposes for which the timber is grown.
Ability to:
Read and follow information on timber species
Gather and review information from a variety of sources
Actively participate in group discussion of new technology and subsequent changes to work.
Harvesting and haulage
Level of change
Workplace literacy requirements
Increased skills to operate high volume mechanical harvesters
Ability to:
use technical instrumentation
read and follow complex diagrams and text to identify components and procedures
explain required skills to others
actively participates in group discussion of new technology and subsequent changes to work
OH&S requirements of high risk activities e.g. manual felling techniques (chainsaw)
Ability to:
read and follow chainsaw operator manual
interpret site job safety analysis
communicate using variety of methods including radio, hand signals
problem solve e.g. judge timber tension
read wind instruments and calculate wind speed
calculate ratios and mix fuel.
Logging team leaders requiring knowledge of OH&S regulations, fire salvage and fire and forest management.
Ability to:
read and follow legislative requirements and technical texts
use technology to locate documents and to report and record OH&S and other requirements
provide team members with OH&S and other job requirement information
write clear and detailed instructions such as Standard Operating Procedures incorporating OH&S requirements.
Pulp and paper manufacturing
Level of change
Workplace literacy requirements
Faster equipment and the dramatically increasing level of sophisticated technology
Ability to:
use technical instrumentation
read and follow operator manual
explain required skills to others
track source of non-compliance using a workplace process.
Increased integration of multi-process operations
Ability to:
use technical instrumentation
track source of non-compliance using a workplace process
read a complex diagram and text to identify components and procedures for dealing with a technical fault or breakdown
use information systems, technology and tools.
Sawmilling and processing
Level of change
Workplace literacy requirements
New timber processing technologies
Ability to:
read and follow operator manual
read a complex diagram and text to identify components and procedures for dealing with a technical fault or breakdown
explain operation to others
actively participate in group discussion of new technologies and subsequent changes to work.
New timber drying techniques, particularly the use of kiln and microwave technology to improve timber structure and properties.
Ability to:
understand, calculate, set and manage drying temperatures
read and follow kiln and/or microwave operator manuals
communicate drying requirements to others in oral or in written form
solve timber drying problems
track source of non-compliance using a workplace process.
Timber product manufacturing
Level of change
Workplace literacy requirements
Higher levels of computerisation to be able to identify useful characteristics specific to timber products so as to increase its attractiveness as a building or furniture material.
Ability to:
gather information for research from a variety of sources and critically analyse and review
understand text describing complex interrelationships
provide team members with timber product information.
Truss fabricators working for manufacturers requiring height legislation and OH&S knowledge so they can deliver to roof level and provide some assistance in the erection of the trusses.
Ability to:
estimate and calculate heights, costs and overheads
interpret ratio and scale to read and discuss design and dimensions of a plan
measure according to installation requirements
read and follow legislative requirements
provide OH&S information and requirements to others.
Timber merchandising
Level of change
Workplace literacy requirements
Knowledge of new types of engineered timber products and energy ratings for homes and consumers
Ability to:
locate, read and follow a variety of industry product information and technical texts
communicate product knowledge to customers
participate in an oral exchange with customers requiring some negotiation
follow and calculate energy ratings
interpret ratio and scale to read and discuss design and dimensions of a plan.
Wood panel and board production
Level of change
Workplace literacy requirements
Machine operators require ability to use highly mechanised new technologies and to monitor and control processes with the aid of computerised equipment to produce veneer, laminating boards, machining panels and heat treatment of boards.
Ability to:
use appropriate technological devices to measure and record data and report and act on results
identify and explain uses and application of shape in 2D and 3D shapes.
