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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare for field-based acceptance tests
  2. Perform field tests
  3. Collect site samples and prepare test pieces
  4. Finalise field testing
  5. Maintain a safe work environment

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include

planning work sequences involving multipleparallel tasks

interpreting safety information eg site safety plans and working safely

applying enterprise procedures and test methods

checking and using test equipment in accordance with test methods andor enterprise procedures

cleaning and maintaining equipment

estimatingcalculating simple scientific quantities eg density

recording and presenting results accurately and legibly

maintaining security integrity and traceability of all samples dataresults and documentation

demonstrating a professional approach and positive companyorganisation image

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

construction materials test methods routinely used in job role including

purpose and principles of test

properties of materials under test

key preparationmeasurement steps in test method

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

expected values for sample type

preuse checks and operating procedures for test equipment routinely used in job role

expected values and sources of uncertainty and methods for control in construction materials tests routinely used in job role

procedures for recording and reporting test results calculations site observations and unexpected or atypical results and equipment problems

procedures for ensuring traceability of samples test pieces test data and results

health site safety and environmental management requirements relevant to job role

confidentiality requirements relevant to job role

Evidence Required

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

liaise effectively with site personnel to arrange for testing to be performed safely and efficiently

conduct fieldbased acceptance tests and collectprepare associated field samples or test pieces safely and accurately and within the required timeframe

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 other relevant units of competency such as

MSLA Record and present data

MSL922001A Record and present data

MSLA Work safely with instruments that emit ionising radiation

MSL943001A Work safely with instruments that emit ionising radiation

MSLA Participate in laboratoryfield workplace safety

MSL943002A Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety.

Resources may include

data sets and records

test methods and description of test setup

computer and relevant software or laboratory information system

relevant enterprise procedures

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of test data results and records generated by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and clients regarding the candidates ability to work independently and conduct a range of fieldbased acceptance tests reliably safely and efficiently

questions to assess understanding of enterprise procedures and test methods relevant to their job role

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 to show its relevance in a workplace setting

Construction materials testing

A technician working for a consulting laboratory receives a telephone request from a client to conduct some concrete tests at their site at am They require a slump test and the preparation of three test cylinders and two flexural beam test pieces for later testing The technician arrives at the site early and checks with the foreman about where the concrete truck will come in and positions hisher vehicle in a shady spot close by where the samples can cure without being disturbed Heshe prepares the slump plate shovel scoops slump rod cylinder moulds bucket steel ruler spirit level thermometer brushes and worksheets Heshe checks the slump plate for level and damps down the moulds when the truck arrives After waiting for the recommended volume of concrete to be discharged heshe collects a sample and conducts the slump test Heshe pays particular attention to how each layer is added to the cone and rodded and then carefully lifts off the cone in one easy motion Using the slump rod on top of the cone as a benchmark heshe measures the slump as mm This result is consistent with the results obtained from several repeat tests Heshe returns the slump material to the kibble and collects five buckets of concrete to make the cylinders and beamsThe technician places a maximumminimum thermometer alongside the prepared samples to monitor the curing process and the covers them with insulating material Heshe carefully cleans all the test equipment while the concrete is still wet and restows it in thevehicle On returning to the laboratory heshe ensures that all results and records are competed according to standard procedures

Construction materials testing

A laboratory technician has been tasked with conducting a series of field density measurements using a nuclear gauge at a road construction site Prior to leaving for the site heshe locates the test method AS and assembles all the materials and equipment needed for the job The technician reviews the companys safe working rules for using the gauge conducts the specified preuse checks of the equipment does a standard count and enters all the required information in the relevant technical and administrative records After safely stowing the equipment heshe drives to the site On arrival the technician checks with the foreman about the size of the lot test locations and datum point and the details about the other work currently going on at the site The technician sets up the specified safety barriers and signs ensures that the gauge is operating correctly and checks the radiation levels around the instrument Heshe drills the first of the ten required holes carefully ensuring that it is the correct depth and is vertical clear of obstructions and large enough to enable the gauge to be raised and lowered without jamming Heshe spreads sand near the hole to ensure that the instrument is flush with the ground and there is no air gap With the source in position heshe performs two measurements and to minimise the effect of any rocks or voids that may be close to the surface Heshe notes that the two results agree to within the accepted tolerance of kgm The technician then carefully retracts the rod and locks the source in its shielded position before moving the instrument to the next location After successfully completing all the required measurements the technician carefully cleans checks and restows the equipment fills in the holes removes the barrierssigns and advises the foreman that heshe has finished the testing On returning to base heshe finalises the job in accordance with enterprise procedures


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS 1012 Methods of testing concrete

AS 1141 Methods for sampling and testing aggregates

AS 1289 Methods of testing soils for engineering purposes

AS 2891 Methods of sampling and testing asphalt

AS ISO 1000-1998 The international system of units (SI) and its application

AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set

AustRoads test methods

calibration and maintenance schedules

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

enterprise sampling procedures for specific samples, sites and clients

environmental legislation and regulations

equipment manuals and warranty, supplier catalogues and handbooks

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

industry codes of practice

maps, site plans

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

material, production and product specifications

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) documents regarding construction materials testing (Field application document)

national measurement regulations and guidelines

occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice

quality manuals

sampling and test procedures, enterprise or standard operating procedures (SOPs)

site safety plans

State/Territory Road Authority test methods

Hazards

Hazards may include:

sunlight, dust and noise and heat

manual/handling of heavy equipment or materials

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery

vehicular traffic on roads and sites

injuries caused by falling objects and working conditions such as uneven surfaces, heights, slopes, wet surfaces, trenches and confined spaces

biohazards, such as microbiological organisms in soils

nuclear density/moisture gauges and industrial X-ray equipment

Enterprise safe work procedures

Enterprise safe work procedures may include:

use of site safety plans and MSDS

use personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, sunscreen lotion, hearing protection, gloves, goggles, coveralls, respirators and safety boots

handling and storing hazardous material and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, and enterprise procedures and regulations

regular cleaning and/or decontaminating of equipment

signage, barriers, traffic control and flashing lights

Field-based acceptance tests

Field-based acceptance tests may include:

testing of concrete:

consistency (e.g. slump)

making and curing of concrete cylinders

air content

Schmidt hammer

testing of soils:

field density (e.g. compaction control)

coarse particle distribution (e.g. rock protection layers and embankments)

dynamic cone penetration (DCP)

infiltration

Clegg hammer

sample cores form stabilised pavements

testing of asphalt and bitumen seals:

temperature of freshly laid asphalt

field density

texture depth

permeability

aggregate spread rate and binder spray rate

Site samples and test pieces

Site samples and test pieces may include:

site samples of aggregates, soil, concrete and road pavement

beams and cylinders for subsequent laboratory testing such as Brazil test and Marshall stability/flow test

asphalt cores and slabs for testing wheel tracking and fatigue

Test/sampling equipment and materials

Test/sampling equipment and materials may include:

survey equipment, steel ruler/tape and spirit level

shovel, scoops, plates, rods, cylinder and beam moulds

buckets, bags and sample containers

coring equipment

excavation equipment

slump cones, density cones and density sand

thermometer

air content meter

brushes

nuclear density/moisture gauge

worksheets, test methods

portable computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs)

Appropriate corrective actions

Appropriate corrective actions may include:

accuracy check of data entry and transcription

logical check of equipment setup

check of calibration, zero error and drift for measuring instrument

careful re-reading of procedures and checklists

repeat test measurements

seek advice

Minimising environmental impacts

Minimising environmental impacts may include:

disposal of surplus or spent or materials

containing run-off of water

recycling of wastes

compliance with quarantine requirements, including cleaning of vehicles to prevent transfer of pests (e.g. fire ants and seeds) and contaminants

compliance with environmental, cultural and heritage protection requirements

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise occupational health safety and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

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