Required skills

Required skills include

planning and prioritising jobs for a shift

recognising assessing and controlling hazards associated with samples and system

working safely at all times

interpreting applying and improving enterprise procedures for operating robotic system

explaining system operation and safe work procedures to operators

recognising and rectifying problems caused by prior sample handling and preparation

interpreting system error codes and taking appropriate corrective actions

troubleshooting and solving common system problems within scope of responsibility

communicating clearly with clients operators maintenanceIT technicians and production managers

maintaining system records

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

procedures for sorting receiving and analysing samples

geological and chemical characteristics of mineral ores

sample preparation processes for a wide range of mineral ore samples

purpose and key steps in routine downstream analytical tests

procedures for preventing contamination

procedures for ensuring security integrity and traceability of samples

procedures for ensuring confidentiality of results

function of key components and operating procedures for robotic sample preparation system

function of key components of laboratory information management system LIMS system software and layout of screens

error codes for system errors recommended preventativecorrective actions and breakdown procedures

system hazards control measures and operation of system safety equipment

troubleshooting and problem solving skills relevant to job role

importance of good customer relations throughput costs and minimising rework

health safety and environment requirements relevant to job role

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

plan monitor and adjust work flow to manage competing clientproduction priorities

ensure that the robotic sample preparation system operates efficiently and safely to produce outputs that meet the enterpriseclient quality requirements

promptly identifyrectify common system problems

work closely with operators to improve safety efficiency and quality

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 Maintain laboratoryfield workplace safety

MSL944001A Maintain laboratory/field workplace safety

MSLA Troubleshoot equipment andor production processes

MSL977002A Troubleshoot equipment and/or production processes.

Resources may include

access to a robotic sample preparation system

a variety of mineral ore samples sample preparation methods equipment and reagents

safety equipment

relevant enterprise procedures

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of production logs quality control performance and analytical results traceable to samples prepared on shifts supervised by the candidate

review of system records prepared by the candidate

feedback from operators servicemaintenance technicians clients and laboratoryproduction managers

writtenoral questioning about robotic sample preparation procedures common problems and their specified corrective actions

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 study below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and show its relevance in a workplace setting

Mineral processing

An operator observes that the robotic sample preparation system is displaying an incorrect weight error code and informs the shift supervisor The supervisor notes that although the input weight for the sample being processed was g the indicated output weight is zero Heshe immediately suspects that the sample is stuck in the bowl Heshe switches off the mill and tags it out so that the operator can continue unloading the completed samples The supervisor checks the mill for a faulty hose but they are all functioning correctly Heshe decides that the problem could be in the grinding vessel and tries to manually discharge the sample with a pendant without success After opening up the grinding vessel heshe finds that a plastic sample is stuck in the bowl Heshe replaces the grinding vessel with a new one As heshe extracts the sample from the bowl heshe notices a very strong smell of diesel Heshesubsequently finds that the clients other samples are also contaminated and removes them from the input magazine Heshe deletes the clients worksheets from the robot control program checks and synchronises the system and then restarts the robot Heshe reports the problem to the laboratory manager and asks himher to notify the client of the diesel contamination and the laboratorys inability to prepare their batch of samples

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Samples

Client requests/documentation

Sample preparation methods

Sample preparation equipment

Hazards

Safety equipment and procedures

Common system errors and corrective actions

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements