Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

MSL976001A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Classify building sites

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency MSL976001A - Classify building sites
Description This unit of competency covers the ability to classify building sites, including residential, light industrial, commercial and institutional structures for the purpose of providing guidance for the design of footing systems.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency is applicable to senior technical officers working in the construction materials testing industry sector. Site classification is applicable to single dwelling houses, townhouses and commercial, institutional or light industrial buildings. The classification depends on reactivity of the foundation soils and other potential problems, such as mine subsidence, groundwater conditions and slope. These influence the design of footings, so as to minimise damage due to foundation movement during the life of the building. Operations are performed in accordance with laboratory and/or enterprise procedures, and appropriate legislative requirements. This competency is typically performed by paraprofessionals who often guide the work of experienced testers.Industry representatives have provided case studies to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting. These can be found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites MSL975007A Supervise sampling, inspections and testing at construction sitesORMSL975023A Supervise geotechnical site investigationsANDMSL974002A Conduct geotechnical site investigationsMSL973012A Assist with geotechnical site investigations
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities
Slides
PPT
Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Prepare for on-site operations
  • Identify the job, consult with the client and obtain relevant information, drawn from such sources as maps, drawings, specifications and codes of practice
  • Select equipment and materials required for the job
  • Identify personal protective equipment and safety procedures specified for the job and organise site induction, as required
  • Record description of the job to be undertaken, compare with specification and resolve any variations
  • Select suitable transport for site access
  • Brief support personnel on job requirements
       
Element: Conduct on-site investigations
  • Identify the location of the proposed structure
  • Observe and record physical characteristics of the site, including topography, vegetation, recent activity and the presence of underground services
  • Conduct subsurface investigations, obtain samples and record strata details, including groundwater conditions, while minimising disturbance and potential contamination of site
  • Perform relevant in situ testing
  • Clean up on completion, backfilling or sealing the excavation or ensuring that it is left in a safe and uncontaminated condition
       
Element: Conduct laboratory testing
  • Perform relevant laboratory tests to determine foundation materials properties
  • Report test results in accordance with enterprise practices
       
Element: Assign a classification to the site
  • Analyse field data, test results and observations, checking for accuracy and validity
  • Ascertain whether fill is present on-site, its extent, and whether controlled or uncontrolled
  • Determine the classification of the site in accordance with approved procedures or as documented in the relevant code
  • Report results to client in accordance with enterprise procedures
       
Element: Maintain records
  • Record and store observations, data and results in accordance with enterprise procedures
  • Maintain confidentiality and security of client and enterprise information
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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:

conduct site and laboratory operations, and analyse test results and observationsto assign a site classification

read and interpret maps, drawings, specifications and codes of practice

conduct subsurface explorations and log strata

conduct insitu testing for site classification purposes

conduct disturbed and undisturbed sampling

record project details in writing, by sketching and photography

conduct laboratory testing for site classification purposes

observe, interpret and report atypical situations

communicate problems to appropriate personnel

report results to clients using enterprise procedures.

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:

MSL915001A Provide information to customers

MSL916003A Supervise laboratory operations in work/functional area.

Resources may include:

access to building sites, site tools, equipment and materials

standard construction materials testing laboratory, samples, equipment, materials, test methods and enterprise procedures

access to more than one workplace or simulated learning environment if the primary workplace or learning environment is unable to provide a suitable range of equipment.

Method of assessment

It is strongly recommended that assessment is conducted through observation over time. The timeframe must allow for adequate assessment of operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions. Where this is not practical, additional assessment techniques must be used.

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of site classifications and other enterprise documentation prepared by the candidate

analysis of work completed over a period of time to ensure accurate and consistent work is obtained within required timelines

feedback from peers and supervisors

use of suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios.

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 study below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Construction materials testing

A geotechnical consultancy company has been contracted to perform a site investigation for the purpose of determining the classification of a building site. The client is a structural engineer who will use the information to design a block of townhouses for the site. The company manager assigns a senior technician to the project along with an experienced tester to perform the site work. A second tester will perform the laboratory testing. The senior technician is a signatory for all tests for which the organisation is NATA accredited. They obtain a map of the area and establish that there is no local information available on conditions in the immediate vicinity. There are no buried services to be damaged during the investigation. They brief the field tester on the project, specifying the number and suggested locations of boreholes as well as the sampling and testing requirements. The field tester performs the site investigation by drilling power auger holes, logging and sampling the strata and performing dynamic cone penetrometer (DCP) tests. They push tubes to obtain undisturbed samples of material that they classify as high plasticity clay. They note the presence of uncontrolled fill in one corner of the site, and take several photographs with a digital camera.

When the site investigation is completed, the senior technician inspects the field logs, notes and photographs and then specifies an appropriate testing program, including shrink-swell tests on the high plasticity clay. Using the shrink-swell test result, they calculate the characteristic surface movement and after reviewing all the data assign a P classification in accordance with AS2870: Residential slabs and footings - Construction. They then prepare a report to the client, including a description of the site, the extent and nature of the investigation, test results and bore logs and the site classification. Finally, all documentation relating to the project is filed and stored as a complete record in accordance with NATA, quality assurance and liability requirements. After review by the company manager, the results of the investigation are communicated to the client.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills

Required skills include:

conducting site and laboratory operations, and analysingtest results and observationsto assign a site classification

reading and interpreting maps, drawings, specifications and codes of practice

conducting subsurface explorations and log strata

conducting insitu testing for site classification purposes

conducting disturbed and undisturbed sampling

recording project details in writing, by sketching and photography

conducting laboratory testing for site classification purposes

observing, interpreting and reporting atypical situations

communicating problems to appropriate personnel

reporting results to clients using enterprise procedures

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

engineering properties of soil and rock materials

insitu and laboratory test methods applicable to site classification

methods of assigning a site classification

mathematical principles and processes used in site classification

provisions and requirements of relevant codes

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:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS ISO 1000-1998 The international system of units (SI) and its application

AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set

calibration and maintenance schedules

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

environmental legislation and regulations

equipment manuals

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

industry codes of practice

material, production and product specifications

National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) documents regarding construction materials testing

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

production and laboratory schedules

quality manuals

standard operating procedures (SOPs)

Tools and equipment

Tools and equipment used may include:

hand and power augers

hand tools, including shovels, scoops, spanners, wrenches and tape measures

consumables, including sample bags, labels and thin-walled sampling tubes

documentation, including maps, plans and worksheets

field test equipment, including pocket penetrometer, dynamic cone penetrometers and sand penetrometer

laboratory equipment, including balances, ovens, liquid limit apparatus, linear shrinkage troughs, vernier calipers, core swell testing cell, and psychrometer

camera and global positioning system (GPS) receiver

safety clothing and equipment, including helmet, boots, earmuffs and glasses

Typical problems

Typical problems may include:

delays in obtaining test results

damage to services

displaced, missing and inaccurate survey markers

misidentification of samples and sampling locations

equipment breakdown and breakage

environmental problems and issues, including site access, inclement weather, traffic, wildlife, vegetation, construction activities and contamination of stormwater

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

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify the job, consult with the client and obtain relevant information, drawn from such sources as maps, drawings, specifications and codes of practice 
Select equipment and materials required for the job 
Identify personal protective equipment and safety procedures specified for the job and organise site induction, as required 
Record description of the job to be undertaken, compare with specification and resolve any variations 
Select suitable transport for site access 
Brief support personnel on job requirements 
Identify the location of the proposed structure 
Observe and record physical characteristics of the site, including topography, vegetation, recent activity and the presence of underground services 
Conduct subsurface investigations, obtain samples and record strata details, including groundwater conditions, while minimising disturbance and potential contamination of site 
Perform relevant in situ testing 
Clean up on completion, backfilling or sealing the excavation or ensuring that it is left in a safe and uncontaminated condition 
Perform relevant laboratory tests to determine foundation materials properties 
Report test results in accordance with enterprise practices 
Analyse field data, test results and observations, checking for accuracy and validity 
Ascertain whether fill is present on-site, its extent, and whether controlled or uncontrolled 
Determine the classification of the site in accordance with approved procedures or as documented in the relevant code 
Report results to client in accordance with enterprise procedures 
Record and store observations, data and results in accordance with enterprise procedures 
Maintain confidentiality and security of client and enterprise information 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSL976001A - Classify building sites
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

MSL976001A - Classify building sites

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: