Assessor Resource

MSS027001A
Coordinate environmental management activities

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


This unit of competency is applicable to environmental site coordinators, environmental managers and senior environmental officers working in a range of industry sectors, such as:

environmental monitoring, sampling and field testing (e.g. air, water, soil and noise)

geotechnical services

natural resource management

occupational hygiene monitoring (e.g. air, noise and radiation)

water supply and treatment, storm and wastewater management

solid and hazardous waste management

site remediation or rehabilitation

resource efficiency (e.g. energy, water and waste auditing).

Note that the term ‘manager’ is used to refer to management of a function, project and/or program and does not necessarily imply line management.

This unit of competency covers the ability to coordinate environmental management activities at a site, or within a project, to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, permits and/or licences. Personnel are required to interpret and explain environmental management policies, plans and procedures to other personnel and apply them to a wide range of activities. This includes recognising potential/actual environmental impacts of current and planned work/recreational activities, implementing and monitoring appropriate preventative and corrective actions to minimise harm to the environment, coordinating response to incidents, liaising with the site personnel and stakeholders, and providing site/project reports. Personnel work under the supervision of an environmental scientist or engineer, site manager or enterprise environmental manager.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

Not applicable.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

gathering and interpreting environmental management information relevant to site/project

explaining environmental management information clearly to site personnel

collecting, analysing and reporting environmental data

monitoring effective implementation of site/project environmental management plans

assessing environmental risks and impacts arising from site/project activities

recognising, investigating and rectifying environmental management issues within scope of responsibility

keeping management fully informed about site/project environmental performance and issues

maintaining site/project environmental records in accordance with legislative/licensing/enterprise requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS027002A Apply environmental legislation, codes and standards

other MSS027000 series units dealing with specific environmental management activities.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

site/project history

relevant legislation, codes, standards, enterprise environmental management policies, plans, actions, procedures and checklists

physical resources required for coordination activities, such as maps, laptop computer, digital camera, and monitoring and sampling equipment.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of environmental monitoring results, records, and reports generated by the candidate

review of environmental information developed by the candidate

feedback from peers, managers and/or stakeholder representatives that the candidate is able to safely coordinate environmental management activities for site/project

oral/written tests involving environmental management terms, principles and quantities; set-up, calibration and basic maintenance of monitoring equipment; selection and use of safety equipment and personal protective equipment

analysis of case studies/reports of relevant environmental management issues and incidents

observation of the candidate representing the enterprise at stakeholder meetings or providing environmental management information and instruction to other personnel.

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.

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.

Guidance information for assessment

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Required skills include:

accessing, interpreting and applying relevant legislative/regulatory requirements, standards, codes, guidelines and manuals

regularly (re)assessing site/project environmental risks and impacts

monitoring the implementation of environmental management plans, policy and procedures, and specified work methods

analysing site/project environmental data, and verifying and reporting results

developing and maintaining a range of useful contacts and networks

consulting and communicating with a wide range of people about environmental issues

clearly explaining environmental management concepts, principles and procedures to others

responding effectively to complaints and requests for information

resolving issues/conflicts constructively with site personnel and stakeholders

solving complex technical problems

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

providing accurate, complete and timely reports, briefings and handovers

maintaining records

working safely and monitoring the safety of others

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

environmental protection/management terminology, concepts and principles

site/project characteristics, nature of activities conducted at site, environmental management values, environmental issues, and risks and impacts

environmental legislative/regulatory requirements and responsibilities relevant to site/project

enterprise environmental management plans, procedures, control measures and management actions for site/project

enterprise procedures for identifying assessing environmental risks and impacts, managing stakeholder relations, responding to complaints, cultural/heritage finds and other environmental incidents, and record management and reporting

interpersonal communication, negotiation and conflict resolution techniques

problem-solving techniques

relevant health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures

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

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

cultural/heritage protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water and water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

fisheries, forestry and mining operations

Australian and international standards, such as:

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

environmental management plan, site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements

information about site processes, work schedules

information about emergency preparedness and response

monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks

sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soils)

job hazard analyses

safe work procedures and work method statements

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

Environmental information and training

Environmental information and/or training may include:

enterprise environmental management policy

content and purpose site/project environmental management plan

legislative responsibilities

licensing/permit/compliance requirements

due diligence and duty to notify

lines of communication

introduction to site/project and environmental considerations, and sources of environmental information

environmental management actions and checklists, methods/procedures for specific activities

incident management and reporting

Provision of environmental information and training

Provision of environmental information and training may include:

site induction (environmental component)

task specific training (e.g. spill management)

toolbox talks (regular, ‘as required’ and topic specific)

daily, pre-start meetings with supervisors/team leaders about specific issues (e.g. hazards and working in close proximity to known fauna habitats)

posters and reading materials displayed in common areas and noticeboards

supervisor notices and daily bulletins about specific environmental issues

response to community complaints

Site personnel and stakeholders

Site personnel and stakeholders may include:

enterprise employees

contractors and subcontractors

consultants, such as environmental scientists, planners, engineers and external auditors

suppliers and service providers

community representatives and landowners

visitors or members of the public

government/regulator representatives and inspectors

Reports

Reports may include:

non-conformance report form

hazard near miss report form

site/project incident investigation report

weekly environmental report

monthly environmental report

regulatory agency reports (where required by permit, approval or licence conditions)

Site/project records

Site/project records may include:

digital photographs

environmental monitoring data

internal quality/environmental audit reports

records required by permit, approval or licence conditions

records of training

records of monitoring equipment purchase, calibration, inspection, maintenance and service

records of complaints and government requests

records of environmental non-conformances, incidents or significant impacts

contractor and supplier information

electronic/hard copy correspondence

records of approved expenditure and orders

Environmental issues and incidents

Environmental issues and incidents may include:

finding or disturbing an actual/potential cultural heritage item or site

community or stakeholder complaint

failure of erosion or sediment controls

spill or release of chemical, hydrocarbon or other hazardous material

decline in water quality due to site/project activities

decline in air quality due to dust, SOX and NOX

unacceptable noise levels

environmental harm to protected habitat or species

transport of prohibited materials to/from site (e.g. pests, weeds and contamination)

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

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Interpret legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements and approvals that apply to site/project 
Clarify own scope of responsibility/authority for achieving specific environmental outcomes for site/project and the roles of other key personnel 
Identify resources available to implement environmental management policies and plans for site/project 
Identify significant stakeholders, their relationship to the enterprise and position or perceived attitudes about the site/project 
Participate in meetings and networks to obtain/maintain knowledge about stakeholders, their representatives and their issues 
Use appropriate strategies to foster the trust and confidence of site personnel and stakeholder representatives 
Communicate enterprise positions/requirements in a way that acknowledges concerns of personnel/stakeholders and promotes understanding 
Respond to requests for information or participation in stakeholder activities in accordance with enterprise procedures 
Provide timely, authorised information using language, styles and formats that are readily understood 
Identify difficult situations and negotiate solutions by using a collaborative approach and harnessing cooperation (within scope of responsibility) 
Obtain regular feedback and use it to maintain and enhance positive relations 
Use environmental management plans and recent incident reports to identify/review information and training needs of site personnel 
Access, or develop, information and training programs to meet the identified needs 
Provide accessible information and training programs to ensure that all site personnel understand their environmental obligations/responsibilities 
Confirm site personnel’s understanding of environmental management actions specified for specific work areas and activities 
Monitor the effectiveness of information and training and adjust content, format and delivery strategies as appropriate 
Review scheduled activities well in advance to identify implications for environmental management 
Identify potential/actual events, risks and activities that may cause/have caused harm to the environment 
Conduct inspections and in-situ measurements to quantify risks and impacts 
Report assessment of risks and impacts in accordance with enterprise/legislative requirements 
Conduct specified environmental monitoring and site inspections to check performance against environmental management requirements 
Ensure that enterprise environmental monitoring instruments are fully functioning and maintained appropriately 
Conduct additional monitoring/inspections after atypical events, legitimate complaints or government requests to assess whether environmental management plan is operating effectively 
Examine results of in-situ measurements, laboratory analyses, inspections and audits to identify significant trends, non-conformance and/or incidents 
Recognise unusual situations, unexpected risks/hazards and potential/actual environmental incidents 
Implement enterprise procedures for responding to environmental non-conformance and incidents to ensure prompt control and remediation 
Investigate the causes of non conformances and incidents within scope of responsibility and in accordance with enterprise/legislative requirements 
Analyse findings to identify opportunities to re-design activities, work practices, environmental controls, information/training programs and/or management procedures 
Implement authorised corrective/preventative actions to prevent recurrence of non-conformance/incident and to reduce risks 
Record all recommendations, actions and outcomes in accordance with the enterprise/legislative requirements 
Provide regular reports about environmental performance, instances of potential/actual non-conformance and incidents and the actions taken in each case 
Report opportunities and recommendations for improvements in accordance with enterprise procedures 
Seek manager’s advice when challenges are beyond own scope of responsibility/technical competence or when input from environmental specialists may be required 
Ensure all required records are legible, accurate and satisfy enterprise/legislative requirements 
Store environmental records to enable easy access and review by authorised personnel according to enterprise procedures 
Regularly review and assess environmental records to identify significant trends and impacts 
Identify any problems with the maintenance and security of records and resolve them promptly 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS027001A - Coordinate environmental management activities
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

MSS027001A - Coordinate environmental management activities

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: