Required skills

Required skills include

listening and communicating effectively with clients panellists and community members

negotiating with stakeholders to reach satisfactory agreements where possible

organising laboratory for potential panellists selection and field activities efficiently

interpreting and analysing information procedures and attending closely to detail

providing accurate information about odours and odour monitoring and instructing community odour observers and olfactometry panellists

applying odour monitoring procedures eg traceability of measurements

using monitoring equipment and olfactometry instruments correctly and safely and identifying and rectifying basic equipment faults

responding effectively to changed or unforeseen circumstances

seeking advice when issuesproblems are beyond scope of competenceresponsibility

working safely for the protection of self and others especially when transporting and managing panellists in the field

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

chemicalprocess engineering relevant to site

terminology such as olfactometry odour threshold odour intensity hedonic tone odour character or quality odour nuisance dilution to threshold odour concentration odour units ou and commonly used odour descriptors

regulatorylicensing requirements that apply to site

nature of odour complaints possible health effects typical community concerns and environmental issues about odour

usedesign of questionnaires to collect reliable information

calculating flow rates dilution factors odour emission rates and uncertainties

basic principles of atmospheric chemistry odorous compound families and meteorology

enterprise procedures and test methods for odour monitoring

setup and operation of dynamic olfactometer in the laboratory for panellists selection function of key components simple troubleshooting and calibration checks

likely causes of variation in odour results and their control

enterprise procedures for the recording of field data

reporting requirements protocols for the confidentiality and security of information and communicating with the community and media

relevant health safety and environment requirements

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and context Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include

accurately interpreting client requests enterprise procedures and legislativeregulatory requirements

selecting suitable field panellists andor community observers under supervision

communicating effectively with clients observers panellists and community members

using olfactometry equipment to obtain reliable data

managing odour field panellists and community observers

processing odour data and confirming its acceptability

communicating the significance of results including the discussion of any errors andor unexpected variation to appropriate personnel

reporting results and completing all records in the required format and timeframe

working safely for the protection of self and others

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidates workplace

This unit of competency may be assessed with

MSSA Assess the environmental risk or impact of a project activity or process

MSS025002A Assess the environmental risk or impact of a project activity or process

MSSA Provide environmental information to customers

MSS025004A Provide environmental information to customers

MSSA Assist with odour source assessment

MSS025010A Assist with odour source assessment.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team

Resources may include

odour measuring equipment

equipment materials and reagents for field measurements

enterprise procedures standard test methods and equipment manuals

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of odour data results and records prepared by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors that the candidate consistently follows enterprise procedures standard test methods and works safely

feedback from clients observers panellists about the candidates handling of enquiries and information

oralwritten questioning associated with odour measurements calculations a simulated case study about regulatory field assessment and community surveys

observation of the candidate conducting olfactometry testing andor instructing observerspanellists

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

The language literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a worklike environment

Guidance information for assessment

Codes of practice

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Odour nuisance

Odour sources and geometries

Information about the site and industrial activities

Odour monitoring plans

Complaint records

Community observer questionnaires

Odour monitoring equipment

Pre-use checks of odour monitoring equipment

Selection and training for field and internal panellists and community observers

Odour monitoring data

Odour control strategies

OHS and environmental management requirements