The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.
This unit of competence describes the work conducted by experienced technicians and engineering para-professionals.
Operations are performed in accordance with laboratory and/or enterprise procedures and appropriate legislative requirements. These procedures and requirements include or have been prepared from:
industry Codes of Practice
environmental legislation and regulations
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
equipment manuals
equipment start-up, operation and shutdown procedures
calibration and maintenance schedules
quality manuals
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
production and laboratory schedules
material, production and product specifications.
Tools and equipment used may include:
hand and power augers
hand tools, including shovels, crowbars, scoops, spanners, wrenches, tape measure
consumables, including sample bags, labels
documentation, including maps, plans, contract documents, worksheets
field test equipment, including sand replacement apparatus, nuclear soil moisture/density gauge, dynamic cone penetrometer
still/video camera
two-way radio, mobile telephone
levelling equipment (dumpy, automatic levels).
Site hazards may include:
solar radiation, dust and noise
manual handling of heavy materials and equipment
working in/on trenches, confined spaces, wet and uneven surfaces, heights, slopes
vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Safety procedures may include:
location of site services before investigations commence
use of material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hat, hearing protection, sunscreen, gloves, masks, goggles, coveralls, safety boots, high visibility clothing
handling, and storage of hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, enterprise procedures and regulations
regular cleaning of equipment and vehicles
machinery guards
signage, barriers, flashing lights, traffic control.
Typical skills may include:
working safely with equipment and around earthmoving plant
driving safely on- and off-road
working safely in field conditions
setting up and maintaining tools and equipment
using tools and equipment to perform sampling and in-situ testing
cleaning equipment before leaving site in compliance with environmental authority requirements
reading site plans, specifications and codes to determine sampling locations and frequencies
measuring and estimating elevations, lengths, areas and volumes
identifying of soil and rock materials
observing and recording project information
handling and storing samples appropriately
comparing test results with specifications
resolving problems without creating confrontational environments
using computer software to create/maintain databases and produce detailed reports.
Typical problems include:
uncooperative site personnel
non-conformances leading to confrontation with other personnel
delays in obtaining test results
damage to services, materials and site conditions
displaced, missing and inaccurate survey markers
misidentification of samples and sampling locations
equipment breakdown and breakage
environmental problems and issues, including site access, inclement weather, traffic, wildlife, vegetation, construction activities.
Health, safety and environment
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
All operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.