Required skills

Required skills include

identifying resource requirements for field monitoring activities

liaising with clients and site personnel about monitoring activities

interpreting safety information eg site safety plans and working safely

applying work instructions test methods and enterprise procedures with close attention to detail

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

cleaning and troubleshootingmaintaining instruments and equipment in the field

operating communication systems

estimatingcalculating simple scientific quantities eg stress strain and pressure

recording and presenting results accurately and legibly

using laboratory software eg spreadsheets file management and data logger control

maintaining security integrity and traceability of all samples dataresults and documentation

demonstrating a professional approach and positive companyorganisation image

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

monitoring activities routinely performed in job role including

purpose and principles of monitoring

properties of materials andor structures being monitored

key steps in setup operation and shutdown of monitoring instruments

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

expected measurement values for materials or structures

monitoring instruments and equipment routinely used in job role including the function of key components effects of varying key controls connections data acquisition fundamentals and common problems

basic instrument fault identification and rectification procedures preuse checks and operating procedures for monitoring instruments and equipment routinely used in job role

expected values and sources of uncertainty and methods for control in monitoring activities routinely performed in job role

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

procedures for ensuring traceability of 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

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

set up operate and troubleshoot monitoring equipment in the field

conduct monitoring activities safely and produce reliable data within the required timeframe

work semiautonomously

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 Process and interpret data

MSL924001A Process and interpret data

MSLA Use laboratory application software

MSL924002A Use laboratory application software

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 monitoring activities

monitoring instruments and equipment

data logger computer and relevant software or laboratory information system

relevant enterprise procedures

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of monitoringdata results and records generated by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and clients regarding the candidates ability to work independently and conduct a range of monitoring activities reliably safely and efficiently

questions to assess understanding of enterprise procedures monitoring activitiesand 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 contracting engineer has requested daily monitoring of a large cutting on a major new highway for at least several months The new cutting has exposed a major geological fault that may result in significant slippage or total failure of the slope A technician is assigned the task of monitoring the site which is approximately km from the laboratory Heshe confirms the site location specified monitoring points and the data required by the engineer Heshe then contacts the site manager to arrange access and schedule the monitoring times The technician confirms that heshe has a currentfirst aid certificate and has previously completed the construction companys site induction program Because there is only WD access to the cutting the technician arranges to use an appropriate vehicle On arrival at the site the technician meets key company staff Heshe locates the boreholes and identifies each monitoring point on the site plan Heshe then assembles the laboratorys inclinometer taking care to check the torpedo probe data logger graduated support cable electrical cables and connectors Heshe carefully checks the first borehole and uses a dummy probe to clean the keyways and ensure that it is free of obstructions Heshe records a trial set of orthogonal readings m intervals over the m depth The technician then obtains a complete set of baseline data being careful to conduct repeat measurements and record each depth precisely so that subsequent measurements can be recorded at the same point and small changes in inclination can be detected On return to base heshe verifies the data and discusses the results with the laboratory manager before issuing them to the client Heshe then documents the site details and work instructions for the team to ensure rapid turnaround of data for the client

Construction materials testing

Two technicians have been assigned the task of surveying the condition of a stretch of highway to determine the extent of deterioration and whether it needs to be resealed They locate the test method Q and conduct a routine preuse check of the laboratorys dedicated vehicle and confirm that all monitoring systems are functioning correctly They examine the previous road roughness data and schedule the test for pm in order to minimise interferences On reaching the site they drive the specified route to check for hazards such as cross roads wildlife and other traffic After commencing the test the driver maintains constant speed while the operator records chainage data and key road features on a laptop computer to reference the data set After one pass the technician reviews the data file to identify problem spikes gaps or anomalies in the data Then they perform repeat runs for both lanes in both directions being careful to use the same wheel path in each case On return to base they download the data files run data quality checks and use laboratory software to smooth the data They then store the data files in accordance with enterprise procedures and complete the test report

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Hazards

Enterprise safe work procedures

Monitoring activities

Monitoring instruments and equipment

Administrative requirements and appropriate approvals

Appropriate corrective actions

Minimising environmental impacts

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements