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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Establish client needs and schedule analysis
  2. Prepare samples and standards
  3. Setup, optimise instrument and sub-systems
  4. Perform analysis
  5. Process and analyse data
  6. Maintain a safe work environment
  7. Maintain laboratory records

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include

establishing client needs for routine and nonroutine samples

interpreting client request test methods and procedures accurately

preparing samples and standards optimise procedures and equipment to suit sampletest requirements

safely setting up starting up and shutting down equipment

obtaining valid and reliable data

troubleshooting common analytical procedure and equipment problems

assembling checks and optimising instrument subsystems

checking the calibrationqualification status of equipment

operating equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

calculating analyte concentrations with appropriate accuracy precision uncertainty and units

recognising atypical dataresults

applying theoretical knowledge to interpret data and make relevant conclusions

recording and reporting dataresults using enterprise procedures

maintaining security integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

followingoccupational health and safety OHS procedures and principles of good laboratory practice GLP

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

principles and concepts related to instrument operation material preparation and testing such as

mechanisms for absorptionemission

distinction between selective ion monitoring SIM and total ion current TIC mode in gas chromatographic mass spectroscopy GCMS

sequence of steps required for successful anode stripping voltameter ASV

function of key components and subsystem of the instrument

handling of hazardous chemicals and samples andor the fragilelabile nature of biological material

sample preparation procedures

effects on outputs and results of modifying instrumental variables

procedures for optimising instrument performance

basic procedure and equipment troubleshooting techniques

preparation and use of calibration charts andor standards

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

basic equipment maintenance procedures

enterprise andor legal traceability requirements

relevant health safety and environment requirements

Evidence Required

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

interpret client request test methods and procedures accurately

safely set up start up and shut down equipment using enterprise procedures

assemble checks and optimise instrument subsystems

check calibrationqualification status of equipment

prepare samples and standards appropriately

optimise procedures and equipment to suit sampletest requirements

operate equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

calculate analyte concentrations with appropriate accuracy precision and units

recognise atypical dataresults

troubleshoot common analytical procedure and equipment problems

apply theoretical knowledge to interpret data and make relevant conclusions

record and report dataresults using enterprise procedures

maintain security integrity and traceability of samples and documentation

follow OHS procedures and principles of GLP

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

MSL Analyse data and report results

Resources may include

standard laboratory with specialised analytical instruments

laboratory reagents and equipment

SOPs and test methods

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of test dataresults obtained by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy consistency and timeliness of results

inspection of test records and enterprise documentation completed by the candidate

observation of candidate using specialised instruments to measure analytes

feedback from clients peers and supervisors

oral or written questioning of relevant chemical principles concepts analytical techniques and enterprise procedures

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

If oysters and other shellfish accumulate significant levels of heavy metals they can represent a public health risk when consumed by humans Analysis of heavy metal residues requires digestion of the sample in a concentrated acid typically nitric The digest is diluted in ultra pure water and analysed by standard addition and electrothermal atomic absorption spectroscopy AAS using a phosphate modifier to reduce lead volatility The technician must pay careful attention to the digestion process and to the widely varying absorbances that will result from oysters of having accumulated different concentrations of residue

Manufacturing

Electrothermal atomic absorption AA spectrophotometers are one of the more common instruments for the analysis of microgramlitre levels of metals Setting up the instrument requires more skill and care than a normal flame AAS instrument Firstly the technician must check the graphite tube for wear replace it if necessary and realign it The auto sampler delivery tube must also be checked for its alignment so that delivery of the microlitre aliquots of solution is accurate and precise The technician must also make the standards with great attention to avoid contamination from glassware and reagents

Manufacturing

The physical and mechanical properties of metal alloys are crucially dependent on their composition Therefore the composition of alloys must be checked carefully While acid dissolution and analysis by flame AAS or ICP emission spectroscopy is possible one of the most common techniques used is Xray fluorescence XRF because it does not have the same demanding sample preparation requirements XRF samples after polishing to remove any surface defects can be analysed directly against reference standards of the same alloy Control of instrument variables is critical in obtaining accurate results This requires the technician to carefully optimise a number of components within the overall instrument before conducting the analysis

Environmental

An insurance company contracted a consulting laboratory to conduct tests on an accelerant residue that may have been used in a recent arson attack on a local school building The residue was run through a column chromatograph and compared with reference standards such as petrol kerosene mixtures evaporated petrol to establish the identity of the sample Confirmation of these results was obtained by using a GCMS instrument to establish the identity of the sample beyond reasonable doubt along with additional tests for heavy metals such as lead


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS 2252 Biological safety cabinets

AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set

AS/NZS 2982.1:1997 Laboratory design and construction-General requirements

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set

AS 2830.1 Good laboratory practice - Chemical analysis

AS 2162.1 General - Volumetric glassware

AS 2134.1 Flame atomic absorption spectroscopy

ISO/IEC Guide 98-3:2008 Uncertainty of measurement - Part 3 Guide to the expression of uncertainty in measurement (GUM)

Eurachem/CITAC Guide CG4 Quantifying uncertainty in analytical measurement

Australian code of good manufacturing practice for medicinal products (GMP)

calibration and maintenance schedules

cleaning, hygiene and personal hygiene requirements

data quality procedures

enterprise procedures, SOPs and operating manuals

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

incident and accident/injury reports

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

material, production and product specifications

national measurement regulations and guidelines

principles of GLP

production and laboratory schedules

quality manuals, equipment and procedure manuals

quality system and continued improvement processes

safety requirements for equipment, materials or products

sampling procedures (labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal)

schematics, work flows and laboratory layouts

statutory and enterprise OHS requirements

stock records and inventory

test procedures (validated and authorised)

training program contents

waste minimisation, containment, processing and disposal procedures

Specialised analytical instruments

Specialised analytical instruments may include:

spectrometric instruments such as:

electrothermal (AAS)

vapour generation (AAS)

X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and diffraction (XRD)

nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

mass spectrometry (MS)

neutron activation analysis (NAA)

inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS)

chromatographic instruments such as:

GC-MS

GC sampling devices (e.g. headspace and thermal desorption)

specialised GC detection devices (e.g. electron capture detector (ECD), flame photometric detector (FPD) and nitrogen phosphorous detection (NPD))

specialised GC detection devices (e.g. fluorescent, diode array and electrochemical)

liquid chromatography mass spectroscopy (LC-MS), electro-spray MS

gas chromatography fourier transform infra red (GC-FTIR)

electrometric instruments, such as anodic stripping voltammetry

flow injection analytical equipment

Tests requiring specialised instruments

Tests requiring specialised instruments may include:

trace analysis

non-destructive testing

multi-analyte determination

analysis involving high sample throughput

Instrument sub-systems

Instrument sub-systems may include:

sample introduction units and auto sampling equipment

detectors and signal conditioning units

temperature control devices such as cryostats, ovens, and thermostat baths

software control/interface

Sample preparation

Sample preparation may include:

identification of any hazards associated with the samples and/or analytical chemicals

grinding, mulling, preparation of disks, digestion, dissolving, ashing, refluxing, extraction, filtration, evaporation, flocculation, precipitation, washing, drying and centrifugation

solid-phase micro-extraction

determination of, and if appropriate, removal of any contaminants or impurities

ultra-trace procedures requiring high purity solvents, clean rooms, ultra clean glassware and specialised glassware

Common analytical procedure and equipment problems

Common analytical procedure and equipment problems may include:

sample introduction blockages

incomplete atomisation of analyte

poor resolution of peaks

poor sensitivity

Hazards

Hazards may include:

electric shock

biohazards:

microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, and human or animal tissue and fluids

mycotoxins

chemicals:

acids (e.g. sulphuric, perchloric and hydrofluoric)

heavy metals and pesticides

anions (e.g. fluoride)

hydrocarbons (e.g. mono-aromatics)

radiation (alpha, beta, gamma, X-ray and neutron)

sharps and broken glassware

aerosols from broken centrifuge tubes and pipetting

flammable liquids and gases

cryogenics such as dry ice and liquid nitrogen

fluids under pressure such as hydrogen in gas liquid chromatography and acetylene in atomic absorption spectrometry

sources of ignition

high temperature ashing processes

disturbance or interruption of services

Addressing hazards

Addressing hazards may include:

use of MSDS

labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials

personal protective equipment such as gloves, safety glasses, and coveralls

use of fumehoods, direct extraction of vapours, gases

use of appropriate equipment such as biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, Class I, II and III biohazard cabinets

handling and storage of all hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, MSDS and manufacturer's instructions

minimising exposure to radiation ionising such as lasers, electromagnetic and ultraviolet (UV) radiation

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health