The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

plan efficient work sequences

prepare a range of laboratory samples and/or test pieces and conduct associated laboratory-based acceptance tests safely and accurately and within the required timeframe.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

This unit of competency may be assessed with other relevant units of competency such as:

MSL922001A Record and present data

MSL943002A Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety

MSL953001A Receive and prepare samples for testing.

Resources may include:

data sets and records

test methods and description of test setup

computer and relevant software or laboratory information system

relevant enterprise procedures.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of test data, results and records generated by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and clients regarding the candidate's ability to conduct a range of laboratory-based acceptance tests reliably, safely and efficiently

questions to assess understanding of enterprise procedures and test methods relevant to their job role.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment.

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Construction materials testing (1)

A technician working at a consulting laboratory receives a job sheet that requires a particle size distribution (PSD) test to be performed on a soil sample. The sample weighs 20kg and is contained in a large bucket. All the required documentation is present and complete. The technician locates the documented method for the PSD test (AS 1289.3.6.1) and assembles the necessary equipment. He/she uses a riffle box to obtain the recommended minimum size of sample and places it in a 50°C oven overnight. He/she performs the sieving process in three stages - coarse (26.5, 19 mm), intermediate (9.5, 4.74, 2.36 mm) and fine (1.18 mm, 600, 300, 150 and 75 micron). The technician uses a stiff brush to carefully clean all the 'fines' off the larger particles and sieves and remembers to continue washing the sample until the wash water is clear. He/she determines the moisture content and mass of the dry fractions according to the test method, taking particular care to check that the sum of the masses on each sieve and in the pan equals the original mass of the sample. The technician then reports the percentage of material retained on each sieve to the nearest 1%.

Construction materials testing (2)

A technician carefully reads through a job sheet for a compactive test on an asphalt core sample. The specified test method is Q306C and the maximum density has already been determined as 2.505. The technician prepares the necessary test equipment and materials and then inspects the core closely. He/she looks for cracks, pits and voids and evidence of over compaction in the form of crushed particles - as these features will affect the reliability of the test result. The technician records the core's general appearance and notes that it meets the test specifications. After checking the accompanying paperwork, he/she logs the job into the laboratory information management system. He/she trims the core sample to obtain a suitable test piece (50-60 mm) and performs the test. The technician makes sure that the test piece is fully encapsulated in wax before weighing the suspended test piece in water. He/she watches for bubbles and any increase in mass that would indicate a leak. After he/she is satisfied that the recorded masses are reliable, the technician calculates the core density as 2.405 indicating a compaction of 96%. After rechecking the data entries and calculations, the technician completes the test report.

Required skills include:

planning work sequences involving multiple/parallel tasks

applying safety information, such as material safety data sheets (MSDS) and working safely

applying enterprise procedures and test methods accurately

checking and using test equipment in accordance with enterprise procedures

estimating/calculating simple scientific quantities (e.g. density and moisture content)

recording and presenting results accurately and legibly

maintaining security, integrity and traceability of all samples and data/results

cleaning and maintaining equipment

demonstrating a professional approach and positive company/organisation image

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

construction materials and test methods routinely used in job role including:

purpose and principles of test

properties of materials under test

key preparation/measurement steps in test method

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

expected values for sample type

pre-use checks and operating procedures for test equipment routinely used in job role

expected values and sources of uncertainty (and methods for control) in construction materials tests routinely used in job role

procedures for recording and reporting test results, calculations, test observations and unexpected or atypical results and equipment problems

procedures for ensuring traceability of samples, test pieces, test data and results

health, site safety and environmental management requirements relevant to job role

confidentiality requirements relevant to job role

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice and Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS 1012 Methods of testing concrete

AS 1141 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates

AS 1289 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes

AS 2891 Methods of sampling and testing asphalt

AS ISO 1000-1998 The international system of units (SI) and its application

AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set

AustRoads test methods

calibration and maintenance schedules

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

enterprise sampling procedures for specific samples, sites and clients

environmental legislation and regulations

equipment manuals and warranties, supplier catalogues and handbooks

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

industry codes of practice

maps, site plans

MSDS

material, production and product specifications

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) documents regarding construction materials testing(Field application document)

national measurement regulations and guidelines

occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice

quality manuals

sampling and test procedures, enterprise or standard operating procedures (SOPs)

site safety plans

Hazards may

Hazards may include:

electric shock

light, dust, noise and heat

biohazards, such as microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil

chemicals such as acids, alkalis and hydrocarbons

flammable liquids and gases

burns from hot bitumen, hot plates, hot moulds or ovens

inhalation or burns from sulphur during preparation of concrete samples

fluids under pressure

hand tools

occupational overuse syndrome, slips, trips and falls

manual/handling of heavy equipment or materials

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery

Enterprise safe work procedures

Enterprise safe work procedures may include:

use of MSDS

recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs/barriers

labelling of samples, reagents and hazardous materials

cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using recommended procedures

handling and storing hazardous material and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, and enterprise procedures and regulations

following established safe handling procedures for tasks involving manual handling

use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, coveralls, respirators and safety boots

Laboratory-based acceptance tests

Laboratory-based acceptance tests may include:

testing of concrete:

compressive and tensile tests

flexural tests

testing of soils:

laboratory density and moisture content

classification - consistency, particle distribution, dispersion and particle density

unconfined compressive strength

pH and conductivity

colour

testing of asphalt and bitumen seals:

density and compacted density

particle size distribution

stability/flow

stripping (core samples)

testing of aggregates:

particle size distribution and grading

particle shape

particle density, durability and absorption

contamination (silt and organics)

Samples and test pieces

Samples and test pieces may include:

samples of aggregates, soil, rock, concrete and road pavement

beams and cylinders for laboratory testing such as Brazil test

pats for Marshall stability/flow test

Test and sample preparation equipment/materials

Test and sample preparation equipment/materials may include:

crushers, mulchers, grinders, mills, riffles and sieves

moulds, bags and containers

ovens, microwaves and water baths

mass balances

microscopes

dimension apparatus (e.g. calipers and micrometers)

rammers, compression rigs and load cells

chemical reagents and volumetric glassware

temperature measuring devices such as thermometers and thermocouples

pH and conductivity meters

analogue and digital meters, charts/recorders, data loggers and computers

Appropriate corrective actions

Appropriate corrective actions may include:

accuracy check of data entry and transcription

logical check of equipment setup

check of calibration, zero error and drift for basic instruments

careful re-reading of procedures

repeat test measurements

seek advice

Technical/administrative records

Technical/administrative records may include:

test and calibration results

equipment use, maintenance and servicing history

faulty, unsafe or quarantined equipment

Minimising environmental impacts

Minimising environmental impacts may include:

collection of surplus or spent samples and test pieces for disposal

correct storage and handling of hazardous chemicals and samples

recycling of non-hazardous waste, such as chemicals, batteries, plastic, metals and glass

appropriate disposal of all waste

compliance with quarantine requirements to prevent transfer of pests (e.g. fire ants and seeds)

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health