Required skills include

planning work sequences involving multipleparallel tasks

applying safety information such as material safety data sheets MSDS and working safely

applying enterprise procedures and test methods accurately

checking and using test equipment in accordance with enterprise procedures

estimatingcalculating simple scientific quantities eg density and moisture content

recording and presenting results accurately and legibly

maintaining security integrity and traceability of all samples and dataresults

cleaning and maintaining equipment

demonstrating a professional approach and positive companyorganisation image

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

construction materials and 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 test 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

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 efficient work sequences

prepare a range of laboratory samples andor test pieces and conduct associated laboratorybased acceptance tests 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 Participate in laboratoryfield workplace safety

MSL943002A Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety

MSLA Receive and prepare samples for testing

MSL953001A Receive and prepare samples for testing.

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 conduct a range of laboratorybased 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 at a consulting laboratory receives a job sheet that requires a particle size distribution PSD test to be performed on a soil sample The sample weighs kg and is contained in a large bucket All the required documentation is present and complete The technician locates the documented method for the PSD test AS and assembles the necessary equipment Heshe uses a riffle box to obtain the recommended minimum size of sample and places it in a C oven overnight Heshe performs the sieving process in three stages coarse mm intermediate mm and fine mm and micron The technician uses a stiff brush to carefully clean all the fines off the larger particles and sieves and remembers to continue washing the sample until the wash water is clear Heshe determines the moisture content and mass of the dry fractions according to the test method taking particular care to check that the sum of the masses on each sieve and in the pan equals the original mass of the sample The technician then reports the percentage of material retained on each sieve to the nearest

Construction materials testing

A technician carefully reads through a job sheet for a compactive test on an asphalt core sample The specified test method is QC and the maximum density has already been determined as The technician prepares the necessary test equipment and materials and then inspects the core closely Heshe looks for cracks pits and voids and evidence of over compaction in the form of crushed particles as these features will affect the reliability of the test result The technician records the cores general appearance and notes that it meets the test specifications After checking the accompanying paperwork heshe logs the job into the laboratory information management system Heshe trims the core sample to obtain a suitable test piece mm and performs the test The technician makes sure that the test piece is fully encapsulated in wax before weighing the suspended test piece in water Heshe watches for bubbles and any increase in mass that would indicate a leak After heshe is satisfied that the recorded masses are reliable the technician calculates the core density as indicating a compaction of After rechecking the data entries and calculations the technician completes the test report

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Hazards may

Enterprise safe work procedures

Laboratory-based acceptance tests

Samples and test pieces

Test and sample preparation equipment/materials

Appropriate corrective actions

Technical/administrative records

Minimising environmental impacts

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements