Elements and Performance Criteria
- Confirm groundwater data requirements with supervisor
- Confirm the scope and purpose of sampling/monitoring data requirements
- Review available site information, such as site plan, bore locations, construction and history of sampling/monitoring
- Confirm the sampling methods, locations, numbers and types of samples, and duration/frequency of sampling from enterprise or client’s sampling plan
- Check that all sampling/testing procedures are in accordance with client or enterprise requirements, relevant standards and guidelines
- Prepare for groundwater sampling and monitoring
- Identify site and sampling hazards and review enterprise safety procedures
- Liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access and obtain all clearances and/or permits, as necessary
- Review field sampling procedures and sample preparation methods required for specific laboratory analyses
- Select purging/sampling equipment and sampling conditions to achieve representative samples and preserve sample integrity during collection, storage and transit
- Ensure all reagents, solutions, standards and blanks (as appropriate) are obtained and/or prepared ready for field use
- Select field test equipment/instruments and check operation and calibration as required in accordance with methods/procedures and manufacturer instructions
- Assemble and stow all sampling equipment, field test equipment, materials, containers and safety equipment
- Arrange suitable transport to, from and around site as required
- Liaise with drillers during establishment of wells and bores
- Confirm location of well or bore and groundwater monitoring requirements using site sampling and monitoring plan
- Examine the drilling/construction area to identify possible hazards
- Ensure proposed drilling/construction method will not cause contamination and that casing, drilling fluids and any other materials used in the bore are free of contaminants
- Ensure drilling and sampling equipment is cleaned thoroughly before drilling commences
- Ensure protective casings and screens are kept in their protective coverings prior to installation
- Monitor drilling to accurately log samples as required and prevent their contamination
- Conduct representative sampling of groundwater
- Locate sampling locations and services at the site and identify possible hazards
- Conduct sufficient measurements to accurately determine water level and bore depth, as required
- Record bore/environmental conditions and any atypical observations made during sampling that may impact on sample representativeness or integrity
- Conduct purging in accordance with defined procedure or method, collect the waste and decontaminate the equipment used
- Collect required representative samples and ensure all controls, blanks and replicate samples are properly integrated into the sampling process
- Record all information and label samples in accordance with chain of custody/traceability requirements
- Filter and prepare samples to preserve their integrity for subsequent analysis
- Secure and transport all samples back to base in accordance with enterprise procedures and relevant guidelines
- Conduct field testing of groundwater
- Assemble required monitoring instruments, equipment, and reagents and conduct pre-use checks in accordance with manufacturer instructions
- Retrieve samples for designated field tests or locate established locations for in-situ testing
- Set up, calibrate and operate equipment/instruments in accordance with test methods/procedures and manufacturer instructions
- Take sufficient measurements of groundwater field parameters to obtain reliable data and in accordance with specified methods/procedures
- Record all field observations/data and ensure that they are accurately transferred to enterprise information database
- Process and interpret groundwater data
- Review test data noting atypical observations
- Ensure calculated values are consistent with expectations
- Estimate and document uncertainty of measurements in accordance with enterprise procedures, if required
- Record and report processed results in accordance with enterprise procedures
- Interpret trends in data and/or results and report out-of-specification or atypical results promptly to appropriate personnel
- Determine if obvious procedure or equipment problems have led to atypical data or results
- Compare results with established groundwater quality standards, statutory environmental quality concentration limits or similar, if relevant
- Finalise reporting of results in accordance with enterprise requirements
- Maintain a safe work environment
- Use defined safe work practices and personal protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of others
- Rehabilitate sampling site to render it safe and to minimise environmental impact
- Clean/decontaminate all equipment, containers, work area and vehicles according to enterprise procedures
- Check serviceability of all equipment before storage
- Minimise the generation of wastes and environment impacts
- Liaise with relevant personnel for the safe collection of all hazardous wastes for appropriate disposal