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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for on-site operations
   • Identify the job, location, work instructions, appropriate sampling and test procedures and safety requirements
   • Identify site hazards and identify appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety procedures that are specified for the job and materials used
   • Record description of the job to be undertaken, compare with specification and report any variations
   • Arrange for the collection, checking, stowing and transport of all tools, equipment and materials required at the site
   • Ensure site access requirements, such as entry permits and safety inductions, have been organised
2. Arrange excavation of boreholes, test pits and/or trenches
   • Identify the sampling/testing location
   • Excavate or oversee excavation to the sampling and testing depth, minimising disturbance and potential contamination of the site
   • Identify materials and record changes of strata, test results and other relevant information
   • Ensure materials from different strata are kept separate
   • Terminate the excavation at the appropriate depth and record the reason for termination
3. Conduct site sampling
   • Prepare and check sampling equipment and materials
   • Take disturbed and undisturbed samples in accordance with workplace methods and procedures
   • Label and record samples in accordance with workplace methods and procedures
   • Recognise and record details of site conditions that may impact on sample integrity or site interpretation
4. Conduct testing
   • Prepare and conduct pre-use checks of test equipment
   • Perform, or assist with performing, tests in accordance with test methods or workplace procedures
   • Record test data in accordance with test methods or workplace procedures
   • Recognise obvious errors or atypical data and take appropriate corrective actions
5. Finalise site operations
   • Backfill or seal any excavation and ensure that it is left in a safe and uncontaminated condition
   • Reinstate surfaces disturbed by sampling or testing
   • Clean all equipment (and vehicle, as necessary) avoiding environmental damage, stormwater contamination or spread of pests
   • Check all equipment and materials prior to re-stowing them for safe transport
   • Handle and transport samples in accordance with established practices
   • Notify appropriate site personnel on completion of investigations and prior to leaving site
   • Check serviceability of test equipment before storage on return to base
6. Maintain records
   • Maintain equipment records in accordance with established practices
   • Complete site safety plans, equipment logs and test reports in accordance with workplace procedures
   • Maintain confidentiality of workplace information
7. Maintain a safe work environment
   • Use safe work procedures and PPE to ensure personal safety and that of others
   • Minimise environmental impacts of testing/sampling and generation of waste
   • Collect and/or dispose of all waste in accordance with workplace procedures

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, and 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
Common site problems	Common site problems include, but are not limited to, one or more of: caving in of excavation walls drilling difficulties not knowing the requirements of the design engineer not understanding the nature of the item being designed (e.g. retaining wall, piled structure and earthworks) sample loss during retrieval knowing when to stop a hole, or what and when to test and sample misidentification of samples and sampling locations equipment breakdown and breakage environmental problems and issues, including site access, inclement weather, traffic, wildlife, vegetation and construction activities
Site hazards	Site hazards include, but are not limited to, one or more of: solar radiation, dust and noise manual handling of heavy materials and equipment working in/on trenches, confined spaces, wet and uneven surfaces, heights and slopes vehicular and pedestrian traffic underground services, such as gas and electricity working close to earth moving equipment, trucks and overhead loads
Safe work procedures	Safe work procedures include, but are not limited to, one or more of: locating site services before investigations commence use of signage, barriers, flashing lights and traffic control use of PPE, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, goggles, coveralls and safety boots use of MSDS use of machinery guards recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs/barriers handling and storing hazardous material and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer instructions, and workplace procedures and regulations labelling of samples, reagents and hazardous materials regularly cleaning equipment and vehicles following established manual handling 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

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Performance Evidence

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

preparing for, safely conducting and concluding at least two (2) geotechnical site investigations

interpreting maps, site plans and drawings accurately

identifying and locating site services at sampling and testing sites

accurately identifying, interpreting and reporting site features and geotechnical conditions; soil, rock and fill materials

collecting representative samples and handling and transporting them in accordance with workplace procedures

performing basic in situ tests and site measurements (e.g. location and depth)

minimising environmental impacts and generation of waste while conducting site investigations

identifying and solving common site problems

seeking timely advice to deal with situations beyond own technical competence

providing accurate sampling and testing data, site information and work results within the expected timeframe

preparing test reports and maintaining accurate and complete records

efficiently setting up, checking, using and cleaning/maintaining tools and equipment

collecting, storing and disposing of waste in accordance with workplace procedures.

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Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

concepts, purposes and principles of geotechnical site investigations conducted as part of job role

site safety and management rules, including safety induction, risk assessments, controlled entry/exit to site and required personal protective equipment (PPE)

common site problems and recommended corrective actions

identification and classification of soil, rock and fill materials

uses and engineering properties of soil and rock materials

principles of representative sampling and testing

in situ testing methods used in job role

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

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