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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Log samples
  2. Address customer service issues
  3. Prepare samples for testing
  4. Distribute samples
  5. Maintain a safe work area and environment

Required Skills

Evidence Required

The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence

Critical aspects of competency

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard In particular assessors should look to see that the candidate

receives and logs samples in accordance with enterprise procedures

checks samples for history and acceptable transport conditions

applies standard precautions when dealing with hazardous materials

applies knowledge of relationships between specific sample preparation and associated tests

promptly clarifies specific client requirements with appropriate personnel as necessary

performs sample preparation and subsampling in accordance with enterprise procedures

labels and stores samples following enterprise procedures and maintains sample integrity and traceability

follows required sample disposal procedures

maintains all equipment and workspace in accordance with enterprise procedures

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain

enterprise procedures for the receipt documentation distribution and storage of samples

potentially hazardous and unstable nature of samples

requirement of specified sample types for specific tests

importance of accurate and complete labelling of samples

importance of maintaining effective customer relations

sample storage and transport requirements

relevant health safety and environment requirements

Specific industry

Additional knowledge requirements may apply for different industry sectors For example in biomedical laboratories

potentially infective nature of all biological materials

nature of unstable solutions such as anticoagulated whole blood

nonconformance of clotted samples for procedures such as routine haematological tests

Assessment context and methods

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

The following assessment methods are suggested

review of sample receipt and preparation records prepared by the candidate

feedback from supervisors and peers

direct observation of sample receipt and preparation

questioning to assess knowledge of procedures where direct observation is difficult such as sample receipt and preparation in the field

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 Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate

Interdependent assessment of unit

This unit of competency may be assessed with

PMLCOMB Communicate with other people

PMLCOM300B Communicate with other people

PMLOHSB Participate in laboratoryfield workplace safety

PMLOHS302B Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety.

Resource implications

Resources may include

a selection of sample containers tubes request forms sample documentation

simulated samples when an authentic sample is unavailable or inappropriate

This competency in practice

Environmental

A laboratory assistant at a hazardous liquid waste recycling plant is required to log in all samples match all samples with the inhouse profile of the source of the waste label them and activate the tracking procedure Heshe then prepares a sample for a series of standard tests which are determined by the profile of the waste material acid or alkali organic or heavy metal etc Given the hazardous nature of the waste the laboratory assistant must use appropriate safety equipment at all times and ensure the safe disposal of all hazardous material The assistant must work efficiently as these procedures are activated upon arrival of a road tanker and when the hazardous waste has been verified and judged acceptable for treatment at the plant by the laboratory supervisor The laboratory assistant also liaises with the truck driver or the referring client should the samples andor subsequent tests not comply with enterprise conditions for receiving the hazardous waste

Construction materials and mineral assay

A laboratory assistant has received a consignment of disturbed soil samples from a client for classification testing A test request and field logs have been sent by mail Each sample is bagged and labelled with the label showing the name of the client project date and sampling location and a field description of the material The laboratory policy is that samples weighing more than kg must be bagged so that the individual bags do not exceed this limit and labelled as bag of bag of etc The assistant checks to ensure all component bags of such samples are present Heshe is careful to handle the samples using safe manual handling techniques The assistant arranges the samples in order of location and reconciles them with the test request and logs Two samples have been shown on the request but have not been received The assistant emails the technician who despatched them and subsequently is advised that they were overlooked during despatch and will be forwarded as soon as possible

The assistant compares the samples with the field descriptions and finds that they match Samples that are not designated for testing immediately are set aside in the laboratory store The remainder are placed in trays for drying in the C oven The tray numbers are carefully written on the respective worksheets When the samples have dried and cooled they are split out sufficiently for sieve analysis and plasticity testing making allowance for the maximum particle size of each sample The assistant is careful to avoid raising dust during the process

Biomedical

A laboratory assistant has just started a shift in specimen reception and puts on a coat and gloves before touching any samples There is a pile of samples and forms in the sample box In some cases the samples and forms are enclosed in a plastic bag In other cases they are seemingly unconnected The assistant notices that one of the samples has a bloodstained label Shehe quickly examines the samples isolates the leaking sample in a lockable plastic bag and places the related request form in the bags separate compartment The assistant then disposes of herhis dirty gloves The assistant now logs all samples into the computer placing to one side a sample and request form that is inadequately labelled Shehe makes a note to call the referring doctor as soon as possible The assistant places the haematology samples in the colourcoded tray and calls the laboratory for their pickup Shehe then calls the doctor of the patient whose sample is inadequately labelled Shehe records the missing date of birth on the request form and then barcodelabels tubes for the samples testing Within minutes shehe has cleared the first rush of samples Shehe takes the time to carefully empty the bin of wastes

Key Competencies

The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered for effective work participation The bracketed numbering against each of the key competencies indicates the performance level required in this unit These are standalone levels and do not correspond to levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework AQF

Level represents the competence to undertake tasks effectively

Level represents the competence to manage tasks

Level represents the competence to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks

Collecting analysing and organising information

Communicating ideas and information

Planning and organising activities

Working with others and in teams

Using mathematical ideas and techniques

Solving problems

Using technology

Level

Level

Level

Level

Level

Level

Level


Range Statement

The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.

Information sources could include:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR) guidelines for working with genetically altered organisms

enterprise operating procedures for preparing samples

safety manuals describing personal protective equipment requirements; control of hazardous wastes; containment and cleanup of spillages; disposal and recycling of wastes

procedure sheets indicating how samples and sub-samples are to be labelled, processed, distributed, flagged for urgent testing or for other non-routine requirements, including referral to external laboratories

procedure sheets indicating transport and storage requirements

procedure sheets for physical and chemical separation

enterprise quality manuals

material safety data sheets (MSDSs).

Where a laboratory routinely posts or couriers samples for testing, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations and Australia Post Regulations must be met.

Samples received may include:

gas or air samples

liquid samples, such as water, wastewater, stormwater, sludges and complex mixtures, sewage

solid samples, such as soils, sediments, rocks/minerals, concrete, quarry or mining products

solid wastes, such as hazardous, non-hazardous, domestic, commercial, industrial, mining, agricultural

raw materials, start-, middle-, end- of production run samples, final products.

Hazards may include:

biohazards, such as micro-organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, human or animal tissue and fluids

dust and noise

chemicals, such as acids and hydrocarbons

aerosols

sharps, broken glassware

manual handling of heavy sample bags and containers

crushing, entanglement, cuts associated with moving machinery.

Safe work practices may include:

use of material safety data sheets (MSDSs)

use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, gown, body suits, respirators, safety boots

use of biohazard containers and laminar flow cabinets

correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials

handling, and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, enterprise procedures and regulations

regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas.

Health, safety and environment

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

All operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.