Required skills

accessing interpreting and applying a range of documents for the inspection of prepackaged products including

national measurement legislation

National Test Procedures

National Measurement Institute inspection policy

accessing and interpreting Certificates of Verification for a range of reference standards

performing inspections over durations exceeding one day in nonroutine environments

using advanced communication and negotiation skills to

explain the purpose of inspection

inform traders of noncompliances and consequences of failing to rectify them

access external equipment and resources to complete the inspection

explain inspection procedures and outcomes to traders verifiers and managers

accessing transporting setting up validating using and maintaining a range of test equipment and reference standards

identifying and evaluating environmental impacts on performance of a range of measuring instruments

identifying and evaluating impacts of trader procedures on the measurement of prepackaged products

evaluating prepackaged product markings for compliance with legislative requirements

conducting tests and recording results with close attention to detail and accuracy

performing calculations involving

fractions decimals ratios proportions and percentages

scientific notation correct units and the correct number of significant figures

interpretation of statistical quantities such as mean median mode range variance and standard deviation

identifying noncompliances with national measurement legislation relating to trading practices and measuring instruments

initiating appropriate enforcement action for noncompliances including warning infringement notice undertaking injunction and prosecution

planning routine tasks

developingimplementing an efficient inspection strategy that has a limited impact on traders the public employees and suppliers

demonstrating professionalism and maintaining the rights of the trader at all times

solving routineexpected problems

working safely which may include applying basic first aid

Required knowledge

general physical principles and concepts including weight mass gravity volume length area and displacement

knowledge of the operating procedures across a range of environments including laboratories retail manufacturing industrial chemical petroleum farming abattoirs and food processsing

knowledge of metrological terms and terminology such as maximum permissible errors traceability uncertainty inspection lot deficiency and shortfall

national measurement legislation applicable to prepackaged products and measuring instruments

detailed knowledge of National Test Procedures and operating procedures for equipment and reference standards used in job role including

purpose of test

test conditions and possible environmental impacts on performance of the instrument

key preparationmeasurement steps in test method

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

maximum permissible errors for weighing instruments under inspection

procedures for completing inspection documentation

organisational policy and procedures for inspecting prepackaged products

safety principles and procedures relevant to instruments and test environment

basic first aid and site safety induction if 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

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard for a wide range of prepackaged products

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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can

identify access and apply test procedures

identify and use suitable reference standards

evaluate and adjust the impact of the operating environment on the performance of the instrument

analyse test results to determine the instruments suitability for verification trade use

inspect markings and net contents of prepackaged articles

identify and implement additional inspection strategies for prepackaged product related breaches of national measurement legislation

recognise and act on noncompliance

maintain the security and confidentiality of data in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements

report results in the required formats and expected 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

MSATMINSA A Inspect a range of trading practices

MSATMINS403A A Inspect a range of trading practices

MSATMINSA Inspect a range of simple measures

MSATMINS301A Inspect a range of simple measures

MSATMINSA Inspect a range of simple measuring instruments

MSATMINS302A Inspect a range of simple measuring instruments

MSATMINSA Inspect a range of weighing instruments

MSATMINS401A Inspect a range of weighing instruments

MSATMINSA Inspect a range of liquid measuring instruments using volume measures

MSATMINS402A Inspect a range of liquid measuring instruments using volume measures.

Resources may include

measuring instruments test equipment and reference standards

computer and relevant software andor organisation information management system

Certificates of Approval for instruments

relevant legislative and organisational procedures

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

questions to assess understanding of relevant procedures trader obligations and remedial actions

review of inspection reports prepared by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and peers regarding the candidates ability to inspect prepackaged products in accordance with legislative and organisational procedures

observation of the candidate inspecting prepackaged products

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 Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate

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

An inspector is allocated a routine inspection at a factory which packs milk When reviewing the traders inspection history the inspector notices that the trader was issued with an infringement notice months ago for packing L bottles of milk that had an average shortfallOn arrival at the premises the inspector enters the main office and explains the purpose of the visit While waiting for the site controller to arrive the inspector assesses the business registration documents on public display and notes they coincide with the preinspection documentation heshe retrieved earlier When the site controller arrives the inspector explains the purpose of the visitThe site controller provides a site induction and highlights the local workplace health and safety requirements The inspector then outlines an inspection strategy that will minimise disruption to the trader and suppliers and satisfy the factorys health and hygiene requirements

The inspector collects the necessary equipment and documentation from hisher vehicle and validates the test equipment before proceeding with the inspection Given the traders history heshe selects an inspection lot of prepackaged L bottles of milk On close examination the inspector finds that the measurement and packer identification markings on this product do not comply with legislative requirements because the L print height is too smallHeshe then measures the volume of milk in each bottle and finds an average shortfall of ml or The inspector conducts a detailed investigation of the traders milk packaging process measuring instruments measurement procedure and their methodology and frequency of measurement tests Heshe finds that the milk density used for setting volumetric fillers is incorrect and causing the shortfall

Before leaving the premises the inspector informs the site controller of the noncompliances ie packing prepackaged products with an average shortfall which exceeded the prescribed performance criteria and a measurement marking print height smaller than the prescribed criteria Heshe outlines the resulting enforcement actions and consequences for failing to correct the noncompliances

On returning to the office the inspector files hisher notes test reports and photographs as evidence of the noncompliance and reports the inspection outcomes in accordance with organisational policy and procedures

Appropriate documentation

Certificates of Approval

Enforcement action

Test equipment

Legislation

National Measurement Institute policy

National Test Procedures

OHS and environmental management requirements

Operating environmental impacts

Records