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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare for laboratory-based acceptance tests
  2. Prepare samples or test pieces
  3. Check test equipment before use
  4. Perform laboratory tests
  5. Maintain a safe work environment

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

Australian and international standards covering the requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, laboratory safety, quality management and environmental management

national work health and safety (WHS) standards and codes of practice, national measurement regulations and guidelines, and environmental legislation and regulations

standard methods for sampling and testing construction materials, such as soils, aggregates, concrete and asphalt

specific codes, guidelines, procedures and methods, such as:

AustRoads test methods, State/Territory Road Authority test methods

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

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); quality and equipment manuals; calibration and maintenance schedules; material safety data sheets (MSDS) and safety procedures; material, production and product specifications; production and laboratory schedules; workplace recording and reporting procedures; waste minimisation and safe disposal procedures; and maps and site plans

sampling and testing procedures for specific sites, clients and samples

Laboratory-based acceptance tests

Laboratory-based acceptance tests include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

testing of concrete, such as:

compressive and tensile tests

flexural tests

testing of soils, such as:

laboratory density and moisture content

classification (consistency, particle distribution, dispersion and particle density)

unconfined compressive strength

pH and conductivity

colour

testing of asphalt and bitumen seals, such as:

density and compacted density

particle size distribution

stability/flow

stripping (core samples)

testing of aggregates, such as:

particle size distribution and grading

particle shape

particle density, durability and absorption

contamination (silt and organics)

Appropriate corrective actions

Appropriate corrective actions include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

carefully re-reading procedures and checklists

logically checking equipment set-up

checking calibration, zero error and drift for the measuring instrument

repeating test measurements

checking data entry and transcription for errors

seeking advice

Samples and test pieces

Samples and test pieces include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

samples of aggregates, soil, rock, concrete and road pavement

beams and cylinders for laboratory testing, such as Brazil test

pats for Marshall stability/flow test

Workplace safety procedures

Workplace safety procedures include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs/barriers

labelling of samples, reagents and hazardous materials

use of PPE, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, coveralls, respirators and safety boots

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

following established safe handling procedures for tasks involving manual handling

cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using recommended procedures

WHS and environmental management requirements

WHS and environmental management requirements:

· complying with WHS and environmental management requirements at all times, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation. These requirements must not be compromised at any time

· applying standard precautions relating to the potentially hazardous nature of samples

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

safely preparing at least three (3) different laboratory samples or test pieces and conducting laboratory tests on them to confirm their acceptability

safely conducting laboratory-based acceptance tests in accordance with workplace procedures and test methods to provide reliable data within the required timeframe

planning efficient work sequences involving multiple/parallel tasks

checking, operating, cleaning, maintaining and storing test equipment in accordance with workplace procedures

recognising obvious errors or atypical data and taking appropriate corrective actions

estimating and calculating simple scientific quantities, such as density and moisture content

recording and presenting results accurately and legibly

maintaining security, integrity and traceability of all samples, test pieces, test data, results and documentation

keeping accurate and complete technical and administrative records.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

the purpose and principles of construction materials tests performed as part of job role and key preparation/measurement steps in the test methods

the properties of construction materials under test

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

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

pre-use checks and operating procedures for test equipment routinely used in job role

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

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

workplace confidentiality requirements relevant to job role

relevant hazards, work health and safety (WHS) and environmental management requirements.