Required skills

Required skills include

planning and preparing for working on contaminated sites

communicating effectively with other site personnel and negotiating access and support

recognising hazards and assessing risks using risk cards and following step back procedures

interpreting and consistently applying health and safety plans and safe work methods using safety equipment and personal protective equipment

reading the landscape site observational and descriptive skills

collecting samples in accordance with sampling planprocedures standards or instructions

using appropriate techniques to preserve the integrity of samples and transport them safely

demonstrating correct and safe use of samplingfield test equipment andor analysers including setup preuse checks calibration and performance checks

using field test equipmentportable analysers to obtain reliable quantitative results

identifying and rectifying basic instrument faults

identifying atypical data and samples and taking appropriate action

solving technical problems and responding effectively to changedunforeseen circumstances

seeking advice when issuesproblems are beyond scope of competenceresponsibility

completing accurate records of site observations sampling test data and results

writingcompiling concise and accurate reports

maintaining cleaning and decontaminating equipment and personal protective equipment

following requirements for the safe collection and disposal of hazardous waste and preservation of the environment

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

specific legislation regulations standards and codes of practice related to contaminated sites

common terminology used in samplingtesting of air water and soil at contaminated sites

common site hazard and risks risk assessment techniques and use of risk cards

properties and health risks associated with groups of contaminants such as

asbestos

heavy metals such as lead chromium and arsenic

chemical manufacture and industry wastes such as acidsalkalis resins dyes paints solvents fuels oils fertilisers insecticides herbicides fungicides aromatic hydrocarbons phenols chlorinated phenols chlorinated benzenes and organochlorines

safe work methods and equipment personal protective equipment and health safety and environment requirements relevant to site activities undertaken

overview of sampling plan design for contaminated sites including preliminary sampling nontargetedgrid sampling targetedjudgemental sampling and different sampling strategies for gas water and soil

samplingtest methodsstandards relevant to site activities undertaken

function of key components operating principles of common samplingtest equipment relevant to site activities undertaken

common procedureequipment problems leading to atypical dataresults

labelling chain of custodytraceability of samples and management of large volumes of data

recording and reporting procedures

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 contexts Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include

demonstrating an understanding of the legislative regulatory and planning requirements for contaminated sites

using accurate terminology to describe common contaminants and samplingtestsafety equipment

interpreting and applying site samplingmonitoring plans samplingtest methods and standards health and safety plans and safe work method statements

observing site features accurately and recognising hazards

operating maintaining andor calibrating sampling and test equipment to obtain reliable samples and produce consistently valid and accurate results

interpreting gross features of data identifying atypical results and making relevant conclusions

calculating results using appropriate unitsprecision

providing accurate complete records of sampling and test observations data and results

working safely for the protection of self and others

following relevant legislativeregulatory requirements for the disposal of waste and the preservation of the environment

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 Perform sampling and testing of water

MSS024006A Perform sampling and testing of water

MSSA Collect and evaluate groundwater data

MSS025006A Collect and evaluate groundwater data

MSSA Perform sampling and testing of soils

MSS025007A Perform sampling and testing of soils

MSSA Perform sampling and testing of air

MSS025009A Perform sampling and testing of air

PSPRADA Monitor radiation

PSPRAD707A Monitor radiation.

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

Resources may include

vehicles

safety procedures safe work methods sampling and test methods standards and equipment manuals

appropriate sampling containers samplingtest equipment analysers reagents and gases

specified safety equipment decontamination equipment and reagents

digital camera

global positioning system GPS logbooks and data loggers and computers

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested

inspection of samples collected by the candidate

review of measurements test results calculations and observations produced by the candidate

review of samplingtest records and reports completed by the candidate

feedback from supervisor about the candidates ability to consistently apply enterprise procedures and work safely

oral and written questioning to check the candidates understanding of the principles of samplingtesting of contaminated sites operation of sampling equipment test instrumentsanalysers and processing of data

observation of the candidate performing a range of sampling and testing tasks

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

Site information and sources

Visual inspection of the site

Scope and purpose of sampling, field tests and/or monitoring

Samples

Field tests and monitoring

Hazards/risks

Safety procedures and equipment

OHS and environmental management requirements