Assist with maintaining crops or plants

This standard covers assisting with maintaining healthy crops or plant growth. The term
‘assist with' is used to indicate that you will be working under supervision.
You will be working in accordance with instructions and specifications.
If you are working with chemicals or machinery you need to be appropriately trained or
certificated in line with current legislation.
You must carry out your work in a way which will minimise any impact on the natural
environment and enhance its nature, conservation and recreational value.

P1 prepare and use tools, materials and personal protective equipment as instructed
safely and effectively
P2 use the correct methods to maintain the health of crops or plants as instructed
P3 check the condition of the crops or plants and report any problems to the correct
person as soon as possible
P4 use the correct methods to control unwanted plants as instructed
P5 carry out all work in accordance with relevant environmental and health and
safety legislation, risk assessment requirements, codes of practice and company
policies
P6 maintain suitable levels of hygiene and biosecurity
P7 restore the site to an appropriate condition following completion of the work
P8 maintain and store tools, materials and personal protective equipment as
instructed and safely and effectively
P9 deal with waste safely and correctly in accordance with instructions
P10 store the tools, materials and personal protective equipment properly

K1 how to prepare, use, maintain and store tools, material and personal protective
equipment as instructed in a safe and effective condition
K2 the reasons for maintaining healthy crops or plant growth
K3 how maintaining healthy crops or plant growth is achieved and what the results
should look like
K4 how to identify the unwanted plants that require controlling and the non-target
plants
K5 how to identify, by common name (not necessarily botanical Latin name), plants
which are relevant to the area in which you are working
K6 the problems which may occur if unwanted plants are not controlled
K7 how to deal with accidental damage to crops or plants
K8 how to handle, transport and dispose of waste in accordance with legal and
organisational requirements
K9 deal with waste safely and correctly in accordance with instructions
K10 your responsibilities under current environmental and health and safety
legislation, codes of practice and company policies
K11 the importance of maintaining hygiene and biosecurity during the maintenance of
crops or plants

Instructions: verbal or written.
Specifications: drawings, schedules, method statements, Standard Operating
Procedures (SOPs), manufacturers' guidelines, customer requirements.
Maintenance could include the provision of water, fertiliser or mulches, controlling
unwanted plants, applying a material to prevent moisture loss, maintaining the correct
spacing and observing and reporting problems with plants.
Unwanted plants could include nettles in a play area, vegetation encroaching over a
path, overcrowded plants, plants which have outgrown their site and irritant plants such
as Giant Hogweed.
Types of problems with the plants could include pests, diseases, disorders, insufficient
or too much water, physical damage.