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:

select analytical instruments that will satisfy enterprise needs and specifications

confirm that an analytical instrument is performing to specification

develop operating procedures, usage logs and maintenance schedules for analytical instruments

keep accurate and complete records relevant to job role

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

Resources may include:

laboratory with specialised analytical instruments

laboratory reagents and equipment

SOPs and test methods.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

oral/written tests and calculations involving analytical quantities, setup, calibration, operation and basic maintenance of analytical instruments

review of records of instrument selection, use and maintenance generated by the candidate

review of instrument training materials/records generated by the candidate

observation of the candidate checking, using and maintaining analytical instruments.

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.

Laboratory operations

A technician has been requested by the laboratory manager to help develop the laboratory's capability to conduct testing for trace metals in water samples. He/she searches for relevant Australian standards, technical publications and supplier's brochures on the Internet and identifies two techniques that appear to suit the laboratory's testing requirements and constraints. The two techniques involve inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV). The technician carefully assesses of the performance of each type of instrument, the services and operating environment required, the purchase price and operating costs and the level of support that each supplier is prepared to provide. The technician decides that the ASV instrument is probably the most appropriate choice. He/she then provides a boiler water sample to several suppliers for analysis by ASV and discusses the results obtained in each case with his/her manager. The manager agrees with the technician's recommendation and notes that the ASV instrument will provide a much more favourable return on investment that the ICP-MS. The technician then contacts the supplier to confirm the purchase and arranges for the utilities, services and accommodation arrangements to be completed prior to instrument delivery.

Required skills

Required skills include:

establishing enterprise requirements for a specific analytical instrument from a consideration of client test requests, routine and non-routine samples, applicable test methods and cost/benefits

locating, interpreting and comparing information about analytical instruments used by the enterprise

recommending suitable instruments by analysing factors such as:

scope of intended use (fixed/portable and laboratory/field) and robustness

range of appropriate analytes and test methods, and limitations

detection method, detection limit, accuracy, precision/reproducibility, sensitivity, linearity and response time

software applications

ease of use

purchase price, operating costs and level of supplier support

facility to upgrade and add accessories

generation of waste

conducting pre-use and calibration checks, troubleshooting common faults, conducting basic repairs and maintaining analytical instruments used in job role

safely operating analytical instruments used in job role to obtain reliable data

processing and analysing measurement data, quantifying analytes and applying established corrections

interpreting manuals and writing operating instructions for analytical instruments used in enterprise

seeking advice and further directions when faced with unforeseen circumstances or situations that may require decisions or response actions beyond technical competence

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

concepts and principles such as:

absorption, reflection, emission, fluorescence, reflectance, scattering, refraction, polarisation, diffraction, dispersion and spectra

ionisation, re-combination, photoelectric effect, and interaction of ions with electric and magnetic fields

electromagnetic induction, and generation of electromagnetic radiation and plasmas

common instrument layout (sample introduction, energy source, single/multi-beam, dispersive/analyte separation components and path, detection, signal conditioning, computer control, data processing and display, power supply, vacuum and pump systems)

terms and concepts, such as operating voltage, accuracy, response time, sensitivity, detection limit, linearity, resolution and spectral bandwidth

characteristics, capabilities, advantages/limitations, function of key components and operating principles for analytical instruments used in enterprise such as:

gas chromatographs (GC, GC-MS)

liquid chromatographs (LC, LC-MS)

instruments using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) linked to atomic (AES) or optical (OES) emission spectrometers or mass spectrometers (MS)

fourier transform infra red spectrophotometers (IR/FTIR) and attachments (e.g. microscope and reflectance)

ultraviolet/visible/near infra red spectrophotometers (UV/VIS/NIR) and attachments (e.g. microscope and reflectance)

atomic absorption spectrometers (AAS) including vapour generation and electrothermal atomisation accessories

role and importance of regular calibration and pre-use checks and maintenance

common instrument faults, troubleshooting, recommended remedial actions and repairs

common instrument operator errors

guidelines and safety procedures for working with (non) ionising radiation, high voltages, radio frequency (RF) fields, hazardous samples, chemicals and waste

health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures 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/or 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 ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set

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

AS 2830.1 Good laboratory practice - Chemical analysis

ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008 Uncertainty of measurement - Part 3 Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM)

Eurachem/CITAC Guide CG4 Quantifying uncertainty in analytical measurement

Australian code of good manufacturing practice (GMP)

principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

national measurement regulations and guidelines

enterprise procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and operating manuals

quality manuals, equipment and procedure manuals

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

calibration and maintenance schedules

cleaning, hygiene and personal hygiene requirements

data quality procedures

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

material, production and product specifications

production and laboratory schedules

quality system and continued improvement processes

safety requirements for equipment, materials or products

sampling procedures (labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal)

schematics, work flows and laboratory layouts

statutory and enterprise occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements

stock records and inventory

test procedures (validated and authorised)

waste minimisation, containment, processing and disposal procedures

Analytical instruments

Analytical instruments may include:

gas chromatographs, specialised sampling devices and detectors

liquid chromatographs, specialised sampling devices and detectors

inductively coupled plasma spectrometers ICP-AES/OES or ICP-MS

UV-VIS spectrophotometers and accessories

IR/FTIR spectrophotometers and accessories

fluorimeters

Raman spectrometers

atomic absorption spectrometers, specialised sampling devices (graphite furnace) and detectors

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and diffraction (XRD)

electrometric instruments (e.g. anodic stripping voltammetry)

Specifications and features of instruments

Specifications and features of instruments may include:

suitability for analytes of interest and sample requirements

suitability for specific test methods

working/dynamic range, sensitivity and detection limits

response time

linearity and estimated uncertainty for each range

single or multi-species analysis

interfacing with data loggers and computers

power and battery requirements

size and weight

use under environmental conditions (thermal/ mechanical stress and magnetic/electrostatic fields)

use of consumables

generation of wastes

hazards

ease of use

run time and throughput of samples

purchase price and operating costs

Hazards

Hazards may include:

electric shock

biohazards, such as microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, and human or animal tissue and fluids

corrosive chemicals

sharps and broken glassware

flammable liquids and gases

fluids under pressure and sources of ignition

disturbance or interruption of services

toxic fumes

ionising (X-ray, neutron) non-ionising radiation (UV, radio frequency (RF) and laser)

Addressing hazards

Addressing hazards may include:

use of MSDS

accurate labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials

personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses and coveralls

use of fumehoods, direct extraction of vapours and gases

use of appropriate equipment such as biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, Class I, II and III biohazard cabinets

handling and storage of all hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, MSDS and manufacturer's instructions

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