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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Obtain biological samples
  2. Perform basic biological techniques associated with the examination of microorganisms
  3. Prepare microscope for use
  4. Perform microscopic examination in accordance with test methods
  5. Classify organisms
  6. Relate cell structures and their functions to environmental adaptation
  7. Maintain a safe work environment
  8. Maintain workplace records

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.

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with environmental protection, nature conservation, wildlife/plant protection, prevention of cruelty to animals and quarantine

legislation, standards and codes of practice for work health and safety (WHS)

codes of practice dealing with the care and use of animals for scientific purposes

Australian and international standards covering safety in laboratories and water microbiology, such as AS/NZS 2243.3:2010 Safety in laboratories - Microbiological safety and containment, and AS/NZS 4276 Water microbiology

international guidelines and methods, such as:

Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for fresh and marine water quality

American Public Health Association (APHA) Standard methods for examination of water and wastewater

registration/licensing and/or accreditation requirements

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs), work schedules; quality management procedures; sampling procedures, validated/authorised test procedures; safety data sheets (SDS) and safety procedures; equipment manuals; recording and reporting procedures; cleaning, hygiene, personal hygiene requirements; waste minimisation, containment, processing and safe disposal procedures.

Equipment, materials and systems include one or more of:

sampling equipment for different sample types and species, such as air samplers (e.g. for Legionella), nets (e.g. for plankton), sediment samplers, soli samplers (e.g. Niskin and Nansen)

protective and physical containment facilities and equipment for safe handling of microorganisms, including personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves, gowns, masks, safety glasses, and gloves for working with extremes of heat and cold

laboratory equipment, such as glassware and measuring equipment; transfer equipment such as inoculating loops, pipettes (quantitative and qualitative), flasks, tubes and spatulas; Bunsen burners and bench incinerators; water baths; filtration membranes; disinfecting and sterilising equipment, such as ultraviolet (UV) lamps and autoclaves

laboratory consumables, such as stains, media, reagents; disinfecting and sterilising solutions

materials suitable for the safe containment, collection, processing and disposal of biological and non-biological wastes

carbon dioxide cabinets, incubators, anaerobic jars, fermentation chambers, continuous culture systems and other devices for controlling growth environments of microorganisms; liquid nitrogen containers for cell storage

microscopes with bright field and other relevant illumination systems and stereomicroscopes

counting chambers for micro-enumeration; colony counting devices

laboratory information management systems (LIMS), reference databases, record and filing systems.

Samples include one or more of:

air

surface water, wastewater and stormwater

soils and sediments

plants and animals.

Aseptic techniques include one or more of:

preparation of basic and enriched media

sterilisation of media

aseptic transfer of microorganisms (e.g. bacteria, fungi and yeasts) to culture media

production and identification of pure cultures on solid media

production of contaminant-free cultures in liquid media.

Microscopes and microscopy techniques include one or more of:

bright field microscopy

dark field microscopy techniques

Kohler illumination and its importance in producing uniform and glare-free images

phase contrast microscopy

polarised light microscopy

stereo microscopy techniques

image analysers and camera eyepieces

stage micrometers and microscopic measurement

counting chambers.

Organism classification includes one or more of:

kingdoms

hierarchical system of species classification

dichotomous keys.

Cell structure and function include one or more of:

eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells and their organisation

cell organelles and structures, including plasma membrane and cell wall, chromosomes, nucleus, cytoplasm, vacuoles and vesicles, golgi complex, endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes, chloroplasts, ribosomes and mitochondria, cytoskeleton, cilia and flagella

biological membranes (structure and function - osmosis, diffusion, active transport cellular metabolism)

heterotrophic and autotrophic organisms.

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times

assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant.

Performance Evidence

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

performing each of the following environmental biological techniques on at least two (2) occasions:

collecting biological samples in accordance with given instructions/procedures

using aseptic techniques to obtain/manipulate samples and prepare media

using standard techniques to grow cultures of environmentally significant microorganisms

setting up, cleaning and optimising the performance of light microscopes

conducting tests and microscopic examination of samples to identify and enumerate environmentally significant (micro)organisms and important components of plant/animal tissues

interpreting instructions, manuals and applying workplace procedures

logging, tracking and reporting biological samples from collection/receipt through to completion of a procedure

identifying artefacts or image aberrations attributable to misalignment or obstruction of light paths or condensers used in bright field, dark ground, and phase contrast microscopy, or with other steps in microscopic examinations

interpreting, recording and storing test results, including performing simple calculations/estimations

preparing documentation that is concise, accurate and meets workplace requirements

using personal protective clothing, safety equipment and procedures to prevent contaminating oneself, other people, the work area, equipment or the samples under test

demonstrating safe sterilisation, disinfection, cleaning, spillage, decontamination and waste disposal techniques

cleaning and storing laboratory equipment

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

principles and terminology used in elementary microbiological testing, organism classification, microscopic examination and cell structure

common sampling techniques for air, water, soil in a range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats

relationship between sterile practices, hygiene procedures and the ability to obtain growth of microorganisms free of contamination

importance of pure culture techniques and aseptic transfer to successful microbiological investigation and correct interpretation of results

growth requirements of microorganism cultures (e.g. bacteria, fungi and yeasts)

principles of infection control related to work health and safety (WHS), sampling and transfer of materials in microbiological investigations

disinfection and sterilisation procedures used in the collection, processing and safe disposal of samples and materials

cleaning and sanitising requirements of equipment and work area and effects of physical and chemical agents on microbial growth and death

parts and functions of common microscopes, set-up procedures and common causes/solutions for sub-optimal performance (e.g. fringing)

cell theory, basic structure and function of cells and organelles

basic classes and classification of organisms

cell physiology and processes, such as simple and facilitated diffusion, plasmolysis, osmosis, tonicity, active transport, energy production, mitosis, motility, phagocytosis and pinocystosis

purposes and mechanisms of staining (e.g. Gram +ve and -ve)

workplace and/or legal traceability requirements

relevant hazards, controls and safety procedures – especially those associated with handling microorganisms.