Required skills

Required skills include

determining types of contaminants present onin apparatus

cleaning techniques for contamination carried out before repair operations are undertaken

using appropriate treatment processes with particular attention to risks associated with blowing used and possibly contaminated glass

reading and following blueprints drawings sketches and designs relevant to repair work

selecting appropriate grades of glass and preparing for use

preparing apparatus for repair

optimising and using glassblowing equipment

identifying atypical or out of normal repair problems

reporting problems to either supervisor or outside service technician according to enterprise procedures

recording and communicating work results

following correct occupational health and safety OHS and principles of good laboratory practice GLP

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

relevant glassblowing techniques

the risks associated with blowing used and contaminated glass

contamination cleaning techniques to be carried out before repair operations are undertaken

use and function of the broken apparatus

repair materials and reason for their choice

use of appropriate tools and equipment

basic chemical and physical concepts related to behaviour of glass under heat and stress

basic knowledge of how apparatus to be repaired is used

critical material properties and appropriate glassworking parameters

prerepair apparatus preparation procedures

annealing procedures

methods of minimising potential quality problems

relevant health safety and environment requirements

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 repair glass apparatus following enterprise procedures

assess the economics of salvage

follow a procedure of disassemblyassembly of apparatus in accordance with specifications

apply contamination cleaning techniques before repair operations are undertaken

report problems to appropriate personnel

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 Operate basic handblowing equipment

MSL963001A Operate basic handblowing equipment.

Resources may include

access to a scientific glassblowing facility appropriate equipment materials and procedures

a bank of case studies where these form part of the assessment method

Method of assessment

It is strongly recommended that assessment is conducted through observation over time The timeframe must allow for adequate assessment of operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions Where this is not practical additional assessment techniques must be used

The following assessment methods are suggested

inspection of glasswork and workplace documentation completed by the candidate

analysis of work completed over a period of time to ensure accurate and consistent work is obtained within required timelines

feedback from peers and supervisors

use of suitable simulation andor a range of case studiesscenarios

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

Education

A trainee glassblower has been asked by hisher supervisor to repair several pieces of used and broken laboratory glassware as part of a cost saving exercise Firstly heshe determines whether the glassware will be used for general tasks or for qualitative analysis and how urgently the job is required Heshe then clarifies whether any hazardous material has been used in the equipment and applies the correct cleaning procedures After determining the nature of the glass and the appropriate glassworking parameters heshe repairs the equipment using safe apparatus Finally the glassblower subjects the equipment to the appropriate annealingconditioning process and checks the final outcome with hisher supervisor Any contaminated or used glass waste is disposed of appropriately

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Tools, materials and equipment

Hazards

Safe work practices

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements