AHCBEK304 — Remove a honey crop from a hive

Elements & performance criteria

Performance evidence

• selected and ensured serviceability of tools and equipment for harvesting a honey crop
• identified work safety hazards and risks and implemented control measures when working around bees
• selected and used appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE)
• performed honey harvest activities according to food safety, quarantine and biosecurity procedures
• determined the ripeness and volume of honey comb and its readiness for harvest
• checked treatment records and ensured honey is harvested according to treatment withholding periods
• determined the factors affecting quality and quantity of honey and planned the time and location to harvest
• handled comb filled with honey to prevent contamination and maintain quality
• selected and used appropriate method to remove ripe honey comb from hives and loaded and secured for transport
• used safe handling and loading techniques
• transported and stored ripe honey comb in a pest and bee secure environment protected from damage and contamination
• updated and maintained apiary records according to workplace procedures

Knowledge evidence

• principles and practices of removing honey filled frames from hives
• impact on colony, type of honey and apiary site on the quality of honey, planning and timing of removal
• methods of removing bees from ripe honey comb and supers, including: fume boards, brushing, blowers, escape boards
• food safety and handling requirements of honey comb
• indicators of ripe honey and adequately filled comb
• honey quality and factors that impact on quality
• calculations for estimating volume of harvest
• hive medications and treatments and their effect on honey harvesting and withholding periods
• tools and equipment required for honey harvest operations, including: maintenance, safe operation, hygiene and biosecurity
• potential contaminants of ripe honey and the effect on honey quality
• loading, securing, protecting, transporting and storing ripe honey comb to minimise contamination, and comply with biosecurity requirements
• biosecurity standards and practices, barrier system and traceability of hive components when harvesting ripe honey
• hazards and risks when harvesting honey and control measures to apply including PPE
• planning a harvest and factors and conditions that impact on timing and location
• records and record keeping systems when harvesting honey crop

Foundation skills

• Reading: Interpret food safety and biosecurity codes of practice
• Writing: Complete workplace documentation using appropriate terminology and in required format
• Navigate the world of work: Takes responsibility for following explicit and implicit policies, procedures and regulatory requirements for harvesting and maintaining food safety
• Get the work done: Takes responsibility for planning, sequencing and prioritising tasks for efficient honey harvest process Makes operational decisions when considering and implementing honey removal activities

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Questions about assessing AHCBEK304