Required skills

Required skills include

interpreting client requests test methods and procedures accurately

safely setting up and shutting down equipment using enterprise procedures

checking calibrationqualification status of equipment

identifying and calculating potential sources of uncertainty

preparing standards and samples appropriately

choosing and optimising procedures and equipment settings to suit sampletest requirements such as selection of wavelength maxima and position of burner

operating equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

making approved adjustments to procedures for nonroutine samples

recognising atypical dataresults

troubleshooting common analytical procedure and equipment problems

applying theoretical knowledge to interpret data and making relevant conclusions

recording and reporting dataresults

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

spectrometric principles and concepts related to instrumentation operation and testing

relationship of chemical structure to electromagnetic radiation absorption

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

sample preparation procedures

use of spectroscopy for qualitative and quantitative analysis

function of key components of the equipment

effects on spectra of modifying andor optimising instrumental variables such as wavelength slit width burner position and lamp voltage

basic procedure and equipment troubleshooting techniques

preparation and use of calibration charts andor standards

calculation steps to give results in appropriate accuracy precision uncertainty and units

enterprise andor legal traceability requirements

basic equipment maintenance procedures

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

interpret client requests test methods and procedures accurately

safely set up and shut down equipment using enterprise procedures

check calibrationqualification status of equipment

prepare standards and samples appropriately

choose and optimises procedures and equipment settings to suit sampletest requirements such as selection of wavelength maxima and position of burner

operate equipment to obtain valid and reliable data

make approved adjustments to procedures for nonroutine samples

recognise atypical dataresults

troubleshoot common analytical procedure and equipment problems

apply theoretical knowledge to interpret data and makes relevant conclusions

record and report dataresults in accordance with 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

MSLA Analyse data and report results

MSL925001A Analyse data and report results.

Resources may include

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate spectrometers 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 workplace documentation completed by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors

observation of candidate applying a range of routine spectrometric techniques

oral or written questioning of chemical principles and concepts spectrometric 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

Manufacturing

Ultraviolet UV spectroscopy is a sensitive technique for measuring polycyclic hydrocarbons Because polycyclic hydrocarbons are considered carcinogenic they are strictly regulated and technicians making these measurements must follow enterprise procedures when handling samples A technician conducting such an analysis noted variable results After some discussion with the laboratory scientist it was determined that the standard materials were light sensitive and were being degraded The technician suggested that they change the light in the work space to yellow When the lighting was changed the standard remained stable and the measurements for polycyclic hydrocarbons were carried out successfully

Biotechnology

DNA can be extracted from human blood for subsequent identification of inherited genetic disorders paternity disputes or forensic investigations It is not a difficult procedure and is performed by technical officers in diagnostic molecular biology laboratories and those working in university research laboratories

In such a procedure the DNA is separated from the haemoglobin and blood cells the protein in the plasma and the fat by a series of enzymic digests and phenolchloroform extractions The last purification step involves precipitation by clod ethanol and dissolving the DNA in TRIS buffer The yield from mL of human blood is about mg of DNA if all is well The yield is determined by spectrometric absorption at and nm The two wavelengths are used to determine the DNA extract and the degree of protein contamination The technical officer will carry out this step before proceeding Too small a yield will make further testing impractical and a polymerase chain reaction PCR will then be used to amplify the DNA in the sample

Food processing

A technician was determining the amount by mass of carotene in imported tomato paste The technician extracted a known mass of the paste into acidified ether evaporated off the solvent and measured the absorbance of the remaining material by spectrometry After reference to the Australian Food Additive Guide the technician was able to report the tomato paste met the requirements of the Australian standard

Codes of practice

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Routine spectrometric methods

Tests

Preparation of sample

Common analytical procedure and equipment problems

Hazards

Addressing hazards

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements