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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan and prepare for the inspection.
  2. Undertake an asbestos inspection and assessment.
  3. Clean up the job site.
  4. Prepare samples for testing and finalise report.

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills for this unit are

communication skills to

communicate with clients

enable clear and direct communication using questioning to identify and confirm requirements share information listen and understand

read and interpret

building plans and records

codes of practice

graphical instructions

legislative requirements

material safety data sheets MSDS

memos

signage

standards

work bulletins

work schedules plans and specifications

use and interpret nonverbal communication

use language and concepts appropriate to cultural differences

written skills to complete reports and other relevant workplace documentation

Required knowledge

Required knowledge for this unit is

asbestos containing materials and other hazardous substances

asbestos hazard management

asbestos identification procedures

control methods

general construction terminology

handling requirements of differing types of asbestos materials

hazards associated with asbestos inspection and removal processes

health hazards and effects

health surveillance requirements

knowledge of current asbestos legislation and codes of practice

materials storage and environmentally friendly hazardous waste management

personal protective equipment

plans drawings and specifications

quality requirements

risk assessment processes and contingency planning

techniques associated with MSDS inspection assessment and removal of asbestos sample

types characteristics uses and limitations of tools plant and equipment involved in the inspection assessment and removal of asbestos samples

workplace and equipment safety requirements

Evidence Required

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

This unit of competency could be assessed by undertaking an asbestos inspection and assessment for a construction project

This unit of competency can be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment provided that simulated or projectbased assessment techniques fully replicate construction workplace conditions materials activities responsibilities and procedures

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

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to

locate interpret and apply relevant information standards and specifications

comply with site safety plan and OHS legislation regulations and codes of practice applicable to workplace operations

comply with organisational policies and procedures including quality requirements

safely and effectively use tools plant and equipment for the inspection and sample removal of asbestos

correctly identify requirements and apply process

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This competency is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an offsite context

Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards requirements

Resource implications for assessment include

workplace location or simulated workplace

appropriate plant tools and equipment for the inspection assessment and removal of asbestos samples

appropriate materials for the inspection assessment and removal of asbestos samples

realistic activities covering the mandatory task requirements

specifications and work instructions

Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources and the provision of appropriate assessment support

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must

satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction Plumbing and Services Training Package

include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application

reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles

confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the persons demonstrated ability and applied knowledge

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct indirect and supplementary evidence

Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed

Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties such as existing supervisors team leaders or specialist training staff


Range Statement

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.

Locations of asbestos include:

bathroom

ceiling lining

dog kennels

electrical meter boards

hot water heater (millboard sheet)

hot water piping chased into walls

house roofing

house walls

insulation in heaters and stoves

lining above windows and doors

roof eave linings

shed roofing (corrugated asbestos)

shed walls

sub floor packing

textured wall panelling

tile lining

under floor tiles

wall lining

wood heaters.

Asbestos materials:

may be located in friable materials or non-friable products

may be sprayed, bonded or embedded

may take the form of:

asbestos boards

asbestos coatings

asbestos-based floor tiles

asbestos-based lagging materials

bonded asbestos.

Legislative requirements, standards and codes of practice include:

advice on current legislation and codes for a specific location should be sought from the relevant statutory and local authorities before commencing to plan for work

federal and state or territory legislation, regulations and codes of practice relating to materials containing asbestos, for example:

Code of Practice for Safe Treatment, Removal, and Disposal of Asbestos Cement Sheeting and Asbestos Coated Metal Sheeting, 1992 (QLD)

Code of Practice for the Safe Removal of Asbestos 1986 (SA)

Dangerous Substances (Asbestos) Act 2005 (ACT)

Health (Asbestos) Regulation (WA)

Occupational Health And Safety (Asbestos Removal Work) Regulation 1996 (NSW)

Occupational Health and Safety (Asbestos) Regulations 1992 (VIC)

Occupational Health and Safety Act 1989 (TAS)

Work Health (Occupational Health And Safety) Regulations 1996 (NT).

Job specification includes:

confirming the information supplied by client, as listed in the code of practice, for example:

details of asbestos materials to be left in place

dimensions and details of material usage

nature of the location of materials to be removed, for example indoors, outdoors and exposed to weather

technical description of materials to be removed

specifying removal methods, including:

contamination control

equipment and temporary building requirements

isolation of locations

waste disposal program.

Human and physical resources include:

access equipment, such as scaffolding or ladders

accommodation, decontamination and canteen facilities

appropriately trained staff

isolating materials:

barriers

plastic screens

ropes

warning signs

waste containers

personal protective equipment (PPE):

disposable coveralls

disposable filters

disposable gloves

double strap disposable masks

gumboots or workboots with no laces

water, power, heat, light and drainage.

Plant, tools and equipment include:

approved vacuum cleaner with high efficiency particulate air cleaner (HEPA) filter

bars (crow and pinch)

brooms

brushes

decontamination units and chambers

drills

dustpans and brushes

fall protection devices

hammers

hoses and spray fittings

ladders

pliers

scaffolds

scrapers

shovels and spades

signs and barricades

sledgehammers

stepladders

wrenches.

Safety (OHS) is to be in accordance with state and territory legislation and regulations and project safety plan and may include:

emergency procedures, including extinguishing fires, organisational first aid requirements and evacuation

emergency procedures related to equipment operation, including emergency shutdown and stopping

handling activities that may require the assistance of others or the use of manual or mechanical lifting devices where size, weight or other issues, such as disability are a factor

hazard control

hazardous materials and substances

organisational first aid

PPE prescribed under legislation, regulations and workplace policies and practices

safe operating procedures, including the conduct of operational risk assessment and treatments associated with:

air monitoring equipment

falling objects

plant movement

restricted access barriers

surrounding structures

traffic control

underground or overhead services

work site visitors and the public

working at heights

working in confined spaces

working in proximity to others

use of firefighting equipment

use of tools and equipment

workplace environmental requirements and safety.