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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare for sampling
  2. Conduct sampling
  3. Finalise sampling
  4. Maintain a safe work environment

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

Australian and international standards covering the requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, laboratory safety, quality and environmental management, and sampling of materials

national work health and safety (WHS) standards and codes of practice, national environmental protection measures, and national measurement regulations and guidelines

specific codes, guidelines and procedures, such as National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) accreditation requirements, and principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); quality and equipment manuals; calibration and maintenance schedules; material safety data sheets (MSDS); safety procedures; material, production and product specifications; production and laboratory schedules; workplace recording and reporting procedures; waste minimisation and safe disposal procedures; and maps and site plans

sampling procedures for specific samples, sites and clients (labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal)

Materials sampled

Materials sampled as part of job role include one or more of:

gas or air samples

water, wastewater, stormwater, sewage and sludge

solid samples, such as soil, sediments, rocks, concrete, quarry and mining material, and solid wastes

raw materials, start, middle, end of production run samples, and final products and materials used in production processes, including food and beverages

hazardous materials and/or dangerous goods

Maintenance of integrity of samples

Maintenance of integrity of samples includes one or more of:

use of appropriate containers and lids, sealing of sample containers

purging of sample lines and bores

decontamination of sampling tools between collection of consecutive samples

use of appropriate preservatives

temperature control, which may involve prevention of direct contact between the sample and coolant, and wrapping container in foil or wet newspaper

transfer of sterile sample into sterile container

monitoring of storage conditions

workplace/legal traceability through appropriate sample labelling and records

Services

Services include one or more of:

water supply, gas and electricity

telecommunications

irrigation, stormwater and drainage systems

production plant

Safety procedures

Safety procedures include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

use of PPE

handling, labelling and storing hazardous material and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer instructions and workplace procedures and regulations

regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment

use of machinery guards

signage, barriers, service isolation tags, traffic control and flashing lights, lock out and tag-out procedures

Minimising environmental impacts

Minimising environmental impacts includes, but is not limited to, one or more of:

replacement of soils and vegetation

driving vehicles to minimise soil erosion and damage to fauna and vegetation

appropriate disposal of surplus, spent or purged materials and hazardous waste

recycling of non-hazardous wastes

cleaning of vehicles and equipment to prevent transfer of pests and contaminants

WHS and environmental management requirements

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

· complying with WHS and environmental management requirements at all times, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation. These requirements must not be compromised at any time

· applying standard precautions relating to the potentially hazardous nature of samples

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health, where relevant

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

locating services at sites

collecting samples at field or production sites on at least three (3) occasions using specified equipment and standard/routine procedures

collecting at least three (3) different types of samples

collecting samples efficiently, safely and with minimal environmental impact in accordance with sampling procedures and plans

maintaining the integrity and security of samples following safety procedures, workplace and/or legal traceability requirements

completing sampling records using workplace procedures

recognising own limitations and seeking timely advice

liaising with others to access sites and conduct sampling efficiently.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

terminology and concepts, including sample, contamination, traceability, integrity and chain of custody, metrology and the international system of units (SI)

types of samples, including grab samples (disturbed or undisturbed materials), composite samples (such as time, flow proportioned and horizontal/vertical cross section), and quality control samples (such as controls, background, duplicate and blanks)

characteristics of product/materials sampled as part of job role

purpose for which the samples have been collected

function of key sampling equipment/materials and principles of operation

sampling procedures covering labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal

hazards, risks, environmental protection measures and work health and safety (WHS) procedures associated with routine sampling undertaken

workplace procedures dealing with waste management, clean-up and spillage, handling, transport and storage of dangerous goods.