Required skills

Required skills include

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

applying knowledge of chemical and physical science to glassblowing situations and making appropriate conclusions

selecting appropriate grades of glass coating materials abrasives and finishing agents for the job

cleaning and preparing glass surfaces

metal coating glass surfaces and applying opaque treatments to industry standards

grinding and hand lapping glass to be used in fabrication and for precision fit

applying finishing techniques

optimising and using materials and equipment

identifying atypical situations and taking appropriate action

communicating with customersresearch team to meet timeline commitments

recording and reporting work results

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

use of glassblowing materials equipment tools and techniques

chemistry of coating materials and coating process

theoretical and practical principles of materials and processes for glass coating glass grinding and glass finishing

theory of equipment operation and use

common faults in coating grinding and finishing operations and methods for control

safety procedures relevant to coating grinding and finishing operations

waste disposal procedures

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

apply appropriate techniques to clean and prepare glass surfaces

apply knowledge of chemical and physical science to glassblowing situations and make appropriate conclusions

metal coat glass surfaces or apply opaque treatments to industry standards

grind and hand lap glass to be used in fabrication and for precision fit

apply finishing techniques to complete job

identify atypical situations and take appropriate action

select appropriate grades of glass coating materials abrasives and finishing agents for job

optimise and use materials and equipment

communicate with customersresearch team to meet timeline commitments

record and report work results

follow correct OHS and principles of GLP

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 Design and manufacture glass apparatus and glass systems

MSL965001A Design and manufacture glass apparatus and glass systems

MSLA Construct modify and maintain vacuum systems

MSL965003A Construct, modify and maintain vacuum systems.

Resources may include

access to scientific glassblowing facility appropriate equipment materials and procedures which will allow for appropriate and realistic simulation

access to more than one workplace or simulated learning environment if the primary workplace or learning environment is unable to provide a suitable range of equipment

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 examples of glasswork and workplace documentation completed by the candidate

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

feedback from peers and supervisors

oralwritten questioning

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 to show its relevance in a workplace setting

Education

A request has been made for a nonstandard mm diameter optical cell with a mm path length that has a silvered evacuated jacket for insulation properties and stopcock for filling The scientific glassblower completes a full scale drawing from the schematic sketch provided with the request and determines the type of glass to be used from the transmittance wavelength properties of the light source used The two optical discs are then ground and polished and tested for flatness The custom dimension stopcock is manufactured and stopcock barrel and key are ground on specialised mandrel tapers using carborundum slurries The stopcock is then tested to British Standards to ensure compliance with leakage rates The cell is then assembled by sealing the stopcock and optical discs to the insulated jacketed glass tube Annealing protocols are followed and then the jacket is silvered mindful of the safety issues related to the chemicals used The jacket is emptied of the silver solution dried evacuated using a vacuum line and then sealed The optical cell is then delivered for use

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Tools and equipment

Glass coating

Grinding

Finishing

Hazards

Safety practices

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements