Required skills

Required skills include

receipt and logging in of samples

checking of samples for history and acceptable transport conditions

preparing and subsampling of samples

labelling samples accurately and completely

using standard precautions when dealing with potentially hazardous materials

applying knowledge of the relationship between specific sample preparation and associated tests

clarifying specific client requirements with appropriate personnel promptly

labelling and storing samples in a way which maintains sample integrity and traceability

disposing of samples following required procedures

maintaining equipment and the workspace

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

enterprise procedures for the receipt documentation distribution and storage of samples

potentially hazardous and unstable nature of samples

requirement of specified sample types for specific tests

importance of maintaining effective customer relations

sample storage and transport requirements

relevant health safety and environment requirements

Specific industry

Additional knowledge requirements may apply for different industry sectors For exampleBiomedical laboratories

potentially infective nature of all biological materials

nature of unstable solutions such as anticoagulated whole blood

nonconformance of clotted samples for procedures such as routine haematological tests

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

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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can

safely receive and log samples in accordance with enterprise procedures

apply knowledge of the relationship between sample preparation requirements and associated tests

deal with customers politely and efficiently

recognise and deal with problems according to enterprise procedures

maintain sample integrity and traceability

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

MSLA Communicate with other people

MSL913001A Communicate with other people

MSLA Participate in laboratoryfield workplace safety

MSL943002A Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety.

Resources may include

a selection of sample containers tubes request forms and sample documentation

simulated samples when an authentic sample is unavailable or inappropriate

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of sample receipt and preparation records prepared by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and peers

direct observation of sample receipt and preparation

questioning to assess knowledge of procedures where direct observation is difficult such as sample receipt and preparation in the field

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

Access must be provided to appropriate learning andor assessment support when required

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

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and show its relevance in a workplace setting

Environmental

A laboratory assistant at a hazardous liquid waste recycling plant is required to log in all samples match all samples with the inhouse profile of the source of the waste label them and activate the tracking procedure Heshe then prepares a sample for a series of standard tests which are determined by the profile of the waste material acid or alkali organic or heavy metal etc Given the hazardous nature of the waste the laboratory assistant must use appropriate safety equipment at all times and ensure the safe disposal of all hazardous material The assistant must work efficiently as these procedures are activated upon arrival of a road tanker and when the hazardous waste has been verified and judged acceptable for treatment at the plant by the laboratory supervisor The laboratory assistant also liaises with the truck driver or the referring client should the samples andor subsequent tests not comply with enterprise conditions for receiving the hazardous waste

Construction materials testing and mineral assay

A laboratory assistant has received a consignment of disturbed soil samples from a client for classification testing A test request and field logs have been sent by mail Each sample is bagged and labelled with the label showing the name of the client project date and sampling location and a field description of the material The laboratory policy is that samples weighing more than kg must be bagged so that the individual bags do not exceed this limit and labelled as bag of bag of etc The assistant checks to ensure all component bags of such samples are present Heshe is careful to handle the samples using safe manual handling techniques The assistant arranges the samples in order of location and reconciles them with the test request and logs Two samples have been shown on the request but have not been received The assistant emails the technician who despatched them and subsequently is advised that they were overlooked during despatch and will be forwarded as soon as possible

The assistant compares the samples with the field descriptions and finds that they match Samples that are not designated for testing immediately are set aside in the laboratory store The remainder are placed in trays for drying in the C oven The tray numbers are carefully written on the respective worksheets When the samples have dried and cooled they are split out sufficiently for sieve analysis and plasticity testing making allowance for the maximum particle size of each sample The assistant is careful to avoid raising dust during the process

Biomedical

A laboratory assistant has just started a shift in specimen reception and puts on a coat and gloves before touching any samples There is a pile of samples and forms in the sample box In some cases the samples and forms are enclosed in a plastic bag In other cases they are seemingly unconnected The assistant notices that one of the samples has a bloodstained label Shehe quickly examines the samples isolates the leaking sample in a lockable plastic bag and places the related request form in the bags separate compartment The assistant then disposes of herhis dirty gloves The assistant now logs all samples into the computer placing to one side a sample and request form that is inadequately labelled Shehe makes a note to call the referring doctor as soon as possible The assistant places the haematology samples in the colourcoded tray and calls the laboratory for their pickup Shehe then calls the doctor of the patient whose sample is inadequately labelled Shehe records the missing date of birth on the request form and then barcodelabels tubes for the samples testing Within minutes shehe has cleared the first rush of samples Shehe takes the time to carefully empty the bin of wastes

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Samples received

Hazards

Safe work practices

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements