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SNOWSPORT AREA OPERATIONS
Make snow for a snowsport area
level:
3
credit:
20
planned review date:
June 2009
sub-field:
Snowsport
purpose:
People credited with this unit standard are able to: describe
the main features of the snowsport area and the services it
provides; demonstrate personal safety practices for
snowmaking at a snowsport area; describe accident and
emergency procedures during night operations; demonstrate
knowledge of snowmaking and snowmaking equipment for a
specific snowsport area; operate snowmaking equipment;
and optimise snow production.
entry information:
Prerequisites: Unit 4573, Communicate in the outdoors using
two-way radio; Unit 20161, Analyse weather information and
predict weather conditions for the outdoors; and Unit 18100,
Demonstrate knowledge of safety, accident and emergency
procedures for a snowsport area; or demonstrate equivalent
knowledge and skills.
accreditation option:
Evaluation of documentation and visit by NZQA and industry.
moderation option:
A centrally established and directed national moderation
system has been set up by Sport, Fitness and Recreation
Industry Training Organisation.
special notes:
1
All activities must comply with the policies, procedures,
and requirements of the enterprises involved and any
relevant environmental, legislative and/or regulatory
requirements which include but are not limited to the
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992 (HSE),
Injury Prevention, Rehabilitation, and Compensation
Act 2001, and their subsequent amendments and
associated regulations.
2
Company or snowsport area policy and procedures are
instructions to staff that may be documented and
available for reference at each snowsport area in the
form of an operations manual.
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SNOWSPORT AREA OPERATIONS
Make snow for a snowsport area
Elements and Performance Criteria
element 1
Describe the main features of the snowsport area and the services it provides.
performance criteria
1.1
Services provided by the company or snowsport area are explained in terms of
how the snowmaking operation impacts on other operations within the company
or snowsport area.
Range:
1.2
Major natural and artificial features of the snowsport area, including
identification of access routes to each feature, are described.
Range:
1.3
other operations may include – lift operation, patrol, racing,
maintenance, snowgrooming department.
natural features may include but are not limited to – peaks,
valleys, gullies, bluffs, streams, tarns;
artificial features may include but are not limited to – runs,
boundaries, lift lines, buildings, snowmaking hydrants, water
reservoir.
Hazardous areas and/or conditions, and operating procedures in or near such
areas within the snowsport area, are described and comply with snowsport area
or company policy.
Range:
hazards may include but are not limited to – potential avalanche
start zones and paths, waterlogged snow, icy snow, soft snow,
steep slopes, machinery, restricted areas.
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SNOWSPORT AREA OPERATIONS
Make snow for a snowsport area
element 2
Demonstrate personal safety practices for snowmaking at a snowsport area.
performance criteria
2.1
Safe work practices are followed during snowmaking operation, and comply
with company or snowsport area policy and procedures.
Range:
2.2
During snowmaking operations communications are maintained with relevant
staff, using two-way radio, and practice complies with company procedures.
Range:
2.3
during operation of snowmaking – working near snowgroomers,
lifts, other slope users, in the workshop, while working with
vehicles or machinery, while working at night, while working with
pressurised air and water, and electricity;
practices may include but are not limited to – use of mountain
clothing, footwear, buddy system.
may include but is not limited to – supervisor, base personnel,
other workers.
Steps are created, and provide secure footing for climbing, descending, or
traversing a snow-slope.
Range:
may include – crampons, ice axe.
element 3
Describe accident and emergency procedures during night operations.
performance criteria
3.1
Actions of snowmaking personnel in the event of an accident or injury are
described according to company or snowsport area procedures.
Range:
may include but is not limited to – personal injury, fire, power or
equipment failure, avalanche event, electrical cable failure.
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SNOWSPORT AREA OPERATIONS
Make snow for a snowsport area
3.2
Actions of snowmaking personnel are described in the event of an emergency
according to company or snowsport area procedures.
Range:
emergencies may include but is not limited to – slide, avalanche,
lahar.
3.3
Key company or snowsport area personnel, to whom a report would be made in
the event of an accident or injury, are identified.
3.4
Key points and details for inclusion in an accident report are identified according
to company or snowsport area requirements.
element 4
Demonstrate knowledge of snowmaking and snowmaking equipment for a specific
snowsport area.
performance criteria
4.1
An overview of the snowmaking process is outlined with reference to how
machine snow is made.
4.2
The components and capacity of the snowsport area's snowmaking system are
described using technical terms, with reference to the function of each
component.
Range:
water supply, pump system, snowguns, air compressors.
4.3
The location of snowmaking hydrants, and their use, are described using
recognised terminology.
4.4
Main factors that affect the type and quality of snow are identified, with options
identified for snowmaking in a range of situations.
Range:
wet bulb temperature, ambient air temperature, wind speed, wind
direction, humidity and evaporation, water temperature, air
temperature and pressure, water volume and droplet size, hang
time;
may also include – compressed air temperature, additives.
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SNOWSPORT AREA OPERATIONS
Make snow for a snowsport area
element 5
Operate snowmaking equipment.
performance criteria
5.1
Snowmaking equipment is transported, set-up, and secured according to
company procedures, with safety fencing and/or signs erected to advise
customers, workers, and groomers, in accordance with company policy and
procedures.
5.2
A routine maintenance check of the snowmaking components is completed prior
to operation, in accordance with manufacturer's recommendations and
company or snowsport area policy and procedures.
Range:
routine maintenance check may include – oil levels, electrical
connections, air compressor and/or fan, water hoses and nozzles,
valves, hydrants, meters, gauges, brakes, tow-bar, wheels and
tyres, frame, nucleator.
5.3
Snowmaking equipment is cleared of ice where required, and started up in
sequence, according to manufacturer's operating instructions and company
procedures.
5.4
Snowmaking equipment is shutdown in sequence, according to manufacturer's
operating instructions and company procedures.
5.5
Operational and maintenance logs are completed according to company or
snowsport area requirements.
5.6
Snowmaking equipment is operated to ensure personal safety in a variety of
conditions and according to snowsport area policy and procedures and
manufacturer’s operating instructions.
Range:
conditions may include but are not limited to – steep slopes; icy,
windy, slippery conditions; electrical hazards.
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SNOWSPORT AREA OPERATIONS
Make snow for a snowsport area
element 6
Optimise snow production.
performance criteria
6.1
Weather data is collected locally before and during snowmaking, and the
information is analysed for snowmaking.
Range:
6.2
Adjustments made to the snowgun match the analysis of weather information
and snow quality.
Range:
6.3
humidity, temperatures, wind strength, wind direction, local
climatic conditions.
temperature, wind strength, wind direction, humidity.
Snow quality is controlled using operating adjustments, to the standard required
by the company or snowsport area.
Range:
adjustments may include but are not limited to – size of nozzles,
water pressure, nucleator adjustment, gun direction, gun position.
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the Sport, Fitness and Recreation Industry Training Organisation
info@sfrito.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
Please Note
Providers must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority or a delegated interinstitutional body before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards
or deliver courses of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be accredited by the Qualifications Authority before
they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Accredited providers and Industry Training Organisations assessing against unit standards
must engage with the moderation system that applies to those standards.
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Accreditation requirements and an outline of the moderation system that applies to this
standard are outlined in the Accreditation and Moderation Action Plan (AMAP). The
AMAP also includes useful information about special requirements for providers wishing to
develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors and
assessors, and special resource requirements.
This unit standard is covered by AMAP 0050 which can be accessed at
http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/site/framework/search.html.
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016