Required skills

Required skills include

selecting and applying appropriate field survey practices

identifying and using equipment and instruments

sample collection preservation labelling packaging storage and transportation

project management

communicating effectively with senior staff and stakeholders

modifying existing field survey protocols

supervising junior staff

developing documenting and supervising field survey work programs

managing daytoday field surveys and associated activities

adapting field activities to suit changing circumstances

completing field survey planning and documentation

communicating specific activities to all relevant staff as part of the total field survey work program

negotiating effectively with staff and stakeholders and resolving conflict

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

understanding of the purpose and objectives of the activity including

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

rights and responsibilities of employers and employees

enterprise legal requirements regarding field survey activities

enterprise riskmanagement requirements

field survey protocols

specific field survey practices and techniques

correct terminology relevant to the defined field survey activity

data quality procedures

survey principles and practices

field safety environmental and emergency requirements

data recording and storage methods

environmental planning and assessment procedures

current developments in field instrumentation survey equipment and communication systems

relevant health safety and environment requirements

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

demonstrate understanding of the purpose and objectives of the activity including

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

demonstrate understanding of the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in terms of the following

enterprise legal requirements regarding field survey activities

enterprise data quality procedures

enterprise field safety procedures

riskmanagement requirements

enterprise field emergency plans

enterprise environmental requirements

field survey protocols

communicate effectively with senior staff and stakeholders

modify existing field survey protocols

supervise junior staff where appropriate

develop document and supervise field survey work program

manage daytoday field surveys and associated activities

adapt field activities to suit changing circumstances

complete field survey planning and documentation clearly and accurately within specified time frame

accurately communicate to all relevant staff their specific activities as part of the total field survey work program

negotiate effectively with staff and stakeholders and resolve conflicts where possible

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

MSLA Maintain instruments and equipment

MSL935004A Maintain instruments and equipment.

Resources may include

legislation regulations codes of practice enterprise procedures and field protocols

vehicles survey equipment samplingmonitoring equipment consumables and manuals

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of environmental field survey plan designed by the candidate

observation of fieldwork performed by the candidate with a focus on

field survey practices and procedures

accurate data recording and reporting

safety emergency and environmental impact assessment associated with survey activities

communication techniques

general presurvey site reconnaissance

feedback from peers and supervisors that relevant enterprise procedures were clearly and accurately followed

feedback from stakeholders that consultation and outcomes met their needs where appropriate

oral and written questions to assess underpinning knowledge

simulation exercises to observe general field survey preparation accident situations and emergency responses

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

Environmental

An environmental officer is asked to design and supervise a series of field surveys covering soils flora fauna and water quality Part of the study area is potentially high in nature conservation value with the rest of the area being considered for low density residential development The aim of the study is to determine which parts of the study area should be set aside for protected open space and if so to develop an environmental management plan based on the results of the field surveys

Environmental

A technical officer is part of a team preparing an environmental impact statement EIS for a large industrial site The technical officer is responsible for supervising all associated field surveys They need to understand the requirements of the relevant environment protection legislation and local environment department full details of all field surveys and associated enterprise procedures and how to present data so that it can be efficiently incorporated into the draft EIS Based on this information the technical officer prepares a detailed work plan and associated timeline which identifies all field survey activities and associated resources They are also careful to identify all quality assurance requirements The draft EIS report is reviewed closely by management before its release given the level of public interest and the possibility of court action sometime in the future

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Field survey activities

Clients and stakeholders

The purpose or objective of the field survey

Drivers and constraints

Hazards

Safety procedures and control measures

Administrative requirements and approvals

Field survey resources

Field instruments and equipment

Field procedures

Typical problems

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements