The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

demonstrate understanding of the purpose and objectives of the activity including:

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

demonstrate understanding of the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in terms of the following:

enterprise legal requirements regarding field survey activities

enterprise data quality procedures

enterprise field safety procedures

riskmanagement requirements

enterprise field emergency plans

enterprise environmental requirements

field survey protocols

communicate effectively with senior staff and stakeholders

modify existing field survey protocols

supervise junior staff, where appropriate

develop, document and supervise field survey work program

manage day-to-day field surveys and associated activities

adapt field activities to suit changing circumstances

complete field survey planning and documentation clearly and accurately within specified time frame

accurately communicate to all relevant staff their specific activities as part of the total field survey work program

negotiate effectively with staff and stakeholders and resolve conflicts, where possible.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

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

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSL935004A Maintain instruments and equipment.

Resources may include:

legislation, regulations, codes of practice, enterprise procedures and field protocols

vehicles, survey equipment, sampling/monitoring equipment, consumables and manuals.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of environmental field survey plan designed by the candidate

observation of fieldwork performed by the candidate with a focus on:

field survey practices and procedures

accurate data recording and reporting

safety, emergency and environmental impact assessment associated with survey activities

communication techniques

general pre-survey site reconnaissance

feedback from peers and supervisors that relevant enterprise procedures were clearly and accurately followed

feedback from stakeholders that consultation and outcomes met their needs, where appropriate

oral and written questions to assess underpinning knowledge

simulation exercises to observe general field survey preparation, accident situations and emergency responses.

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.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

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

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Environmental (1)

An environmental officer is asked to design and supervise a series of field surveys covering soils, flora, fauna and water quality. Part of the study area is potentially high in nature conservation value with the rest of the area being considered for low density residential development. The aim of the study is to determine which parts of the study area should be set aside for protected open space and, if so, to develop an environmental management plan based on the results of the field surveys.

Environmental (2)

A technical officer is part of a team preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a large industrial site. The technical officer is responsible for supervising all associated field surveys. They need to understand the requirements of the relevant environment protection legislation and local environment department, full details of all field surveys and associated enterprise procedures and how to present data so that it can be efficiently incorporated into the draft EIS. Based on this information the technical officer prepares a detailed work plan, and associated timeline, which identifies all field survey activities and associated resources. They are also careful to identify all quality assurance requirements. The draft EIS report is reviewed closely by management before its release given the level of public interest and the possibility of court action sometime in the future.

Required skills

Required skills include:

selecting and applying appropriate field survey practices

identifying and using equipment and instruments

sample collection, preservation, labelling, packaging, storage and transportation

project management

communicating effectively with senior staff and stakeholders

modifying existing field survey protocols

supervising junior staff

developing, documenting and supervising field survey work programs

managing day-to-day field surveys and associated activities

adapting field activities to suit changing circumstances

completing field survey planning and documentation

communicating specific activities to all relevant staff as part of the total field survey work program

negotiating effectively with staff and stakeholders and resolving conflict

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

understanding of the purpose and objectives of the activity including:

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

rights and responsibilities of employers and employees

enterprise legal requirements regarding field survey activities

enterprise risk-management requirements

field survey protocols

specific field survey practices and techniques

correct terminology relevant to the defined field survey activity

data quality procedures

survey principles and practices

field safety, environmental and emergency requirements

data recording and storage methods

environmental planning and assessment procedures

current developments in field instrumentation, survey equipment and communication systems

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Codes of practice

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

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

animal welfare codes and ethics committee approval

codes of practice and field protocols

consultation (e.g. with traditional owners)

data quality assurance procedures

emergency plans

environmental audits

environmental impact assessment procedures

environmental protection and conservation legislation

environmental standards (e.g. air, water and noise)

existing plans covering environmental field activities

field survey plans

fieldwork procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs)

industry based protocols

national environment protection measures

occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice

permits for access to land (e.g. Aboriginal reserves)

permits for wildlife capture and handling

policies and statutory requirements

risk management plans

safety and accident/injury plans

Field survey activities

Field survey activities may include:

meteorology

geology

soils

hydrology

geomorphology

water quality

noise

vegetation

wildlife

climate

land uses

land resources

agriculture

forestry

mining

conservation

recreation

Clients and stakeholders

Clients and stakeholders may include:

Commonwealth, state/territory and local government agencies

organisation with monitoring and/or survey responsibilities

regulatory authorities

private companies

developers

The purpose or objective of the field survey

The purpose or objective of the field survey may include:

part of enterprise environmental management plan

statutory requirements

environmental impact assessment for major development

environment audit

pollution control activity

general environmental and ecological surveys

research studies

Drivers and constraints

Drivers and constraints may include:

political agendas, social and economic issues

new field survey protocols or codes of practice

recent judicial decisions

recent environmental impact assessments or audits

media or public concerns

field safety or accident/incident issues

competencies and availability of staff

time available to design and implement field activities

Hazards

Hazards may include:

solar radiation, dust and noise

personnel getting lost

accidents, emergencies and incidents, such as snake, insect or animal bites

exposure to severe weather conditions

manual handling of heavy objects

power tools, generators and moving machinery

vehicle and boat handling in rough/remote conditions

Safety procedures and control measures

Safety procedures and control measures may include:

use of personal protective equipment, such as sunscreen, hats, safety glasses, gloves, coveralls and safety boots

'stay with vehicle' and other survival techniques

regular communication schedule

global positioning system (GPS), maps and aerial photos

handling, storage and disposal of all hazardous materials/waste in accordance with material safety data sheets (MSDS), labels, enterprise procedures, codes and regulations

Administrative requirements and approvals

Administrative requirements and approvals may include:

travel requisitions

authority for use of vehicles and equipment

insurance

permits

Field survey resources

Field survey resources may include:

staff with appropriate competencies

transport systems (e.g. vehicles, boats and aircraft)

navigation and communication equipment

sampling and monitoring equipment

standard and specialised monitoring equipment

survey equipment

general field monitoring and/or field testing equipment

first aid and/or survival kits and equipment

consumables

Field instruments and equipment

Field instruments and equipment may include:

samplers (e.g. air, surface and groundwater, bottom sediments, soils and animals)

meters (e.g. dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, turbidity, liquid flow, light, rainfall, humidity, temperature, oxides of carbon, oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, particulates, ozone and hydrocarbons)

associated information, such as equipment operating manuals, field instrument operating instructions, calibration procedures, instrument fault finding procedures, general maintenance and repair procedures, first aid and survival manuals

Field procedures

Field procedures may include:

sampling

field testing (validated and authorised)

animal trapping (and release), tagging and keeping

emergency response, safety and survival aspects

data collection, analysis and reporting

protection of the environment

Typical problems

Typical problems may include:

unexpected restriction on access to sites

seasonal conditions

equipment failure or loss

communication failure/difficulties

unforseen environment impacts

contact with hazardous wastes

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health