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

MSS027005A Mapping and Delivery Guide
Contribute to improving environmental performance

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency MSS027005A - Contribute to improving environmental performance
Description This unit of competency covers the ability to perform activities associated with the review or internal audit of the environmental performance of an enterprise. Personnel will work under the guidance of a manager or a lead auditor and the scope of activities performed will depend on their job role, the size of the enterprise, and complexity of its environmental management system (EMS) and auditing requirements. They also work under the supervision of an environmental scientist or engineer, site manager or enterprise environmental manager.
Employability Skills Not applicable.
Learning Outcomes and Application This unit of competency is applicable to environmental site coordinators, environmental managers and senior environmental officers working in a range of industry sectors such as:environmental monitoring, sampling and field testing (e.g. air, water, soil and noise)geotechnical servicesnatural resource managementoccupational hygiene monitoring (e.g. air, noise and radiation)water supply and treatment, storm and wastewater managementsolid and hazardous waste managementsite remediation or rehabilitationresource efficiency (e.g. energy, water and waste auditing).Note that the term ‘manager’ is used to refer to management of a function, project and /or program and does not necessarily imply line management.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Not applicable.
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: Plan review/audit activities with manager or lead auditor
  • Review legislative and/or regulatory compliance requirements and relevant enterprise policies and procedures
  • Clarify objectives and scope of the activities planned together with the risks, constraints and resources available
  • Clarify site, sections, work areas, functions and/or practices to be reviewed/audited
  • Confirm own role and responsibility for specific review/audit tasks
  • Plan the review/audit activities to minimise workplace disruption and ensure they can be safely conducted within agreed time intervals/timeframes
       
Element: Prepare for assigned review/audit activities
  • Gather background information relevant to site, sections, work areas, functions and/or practices to be reviewed/audited
  • Scrutinise the relevant review/audit criteria, tools and evidence requirements to enhance own objectivity and attention to detail
  • Identify any technical and equipment requirements for review/audit and if support personnel are required
  • Inform all personnel involved and arrange meetings or appointments, as necessary
       
Element: Conduct assigned review/audit activities
  • Collect a representative sample of site documentation
  • Collect sufficient information from observations and interviews to provide reliable evidence of environmental performance
  • Work cooperatively with personnel to maximise their ownership of the review/audit and identify opportunities to improve environmental performance
  • Keep accurate records of observations and interview responses
       
Element: Analyse information and evaluate performance
  • Analyse information to identify significant performance trends, patterns, gaps and areas of risk
  • Recognise instances of non-conformance/non-compliance and identify options for improving performance
  • Evaluate performance against specified benchmarks and support conclusions with appropriate evidence
  • Seek manager or lead auditor’s advice when issues or problems are beyond own scope of responsibility/competence or when input from environmental specialists may be required
       
Element: Report review/audit results
  • Document results in accordance with relevant standard/enterprise procedures and compare with initial objectives
  • Confirm results with manager/lead auditor
  • Report results to appropriate personnel for action in accordance with enterprise procedures
       


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.

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:

following relevant standards and/or enterprise procedures for review/audit activities

consulting effectively with interested parties and keeping them informed about the review/audit process

obtaining sufficient information to draw valid conclusions about environmental performance and providing sound recommendations

providing clear, timely reports that enable effective action to be taken.

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 candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS027001A Coordinate environmental management activities.

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

Resources may include:

background information for site

current site documentation

relevant legislation, codes, standards, enterprise environmental management policies, plans and procedures

enterprise review/audit procedures and tools

access to site personnel

access to a computer, internet, enterprise reports, published case studies and research.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of results of review/audit activities and the supporting documentation prepared by the candidate

feedback from site personnel, lead auditor or manager that the candidate follows relevant audit standards and procedures

oral/written tests involving environmental management terms, principles and quantities, and enterprise procedures for review/audit activities

analysis of case studies involving environmental performance issues/problems within scope of responsibility

observation of the candidate interacting with site personnel during review/audit activities.

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 work-like environment.

Guidance information for assessment

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:

interpreting legislative/regulatory requirements and relevant audit standards, policies, procedures and plans

planning, organising and evaluating environmental review/audit activities

clearly explaining environmental performance requirements and review/audit procedures

communicating effectively with site personnel and encouraging their active participation

working systematically, with close attention to detail

analysing information and drawing logical, evidence-based conclusions

clearly documenting results, required actions and options for improvements

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

providing accurate, complete and timely reports and briefings

recognising hazards, assessing risks and working safely

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

environmental protection/management/audit terminology, concepts, principles and relevant examples of best practice

legislative/regulatory requirements and compliance strategies

key aspects of enterprise environmental management systems/policies/procedures/plans

procedures for conducting environmental performance review/audit activities

procedures for site sampling, environmental monitoring and testing and reporting of results

hazards and risks relevant to review/audit activities and specified control measures

correct use of review/audit tools (e.g. performance criteria, checklists and benchmarks)

common examples of environmental non-conformance/non-compliance, and corrective/preventative actions and strategies for improving environmental performance

common issues and problems that may arise when conducting environmental review/audit activities and the recommended actions in each case

relevant health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures

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

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

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:

land use, acquisition, planning and protection

environmental protection

cultural/heritage protection

vegetation management

nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection

water and water management

soil conservation

pollution and contaminated sites

fisheries, forestry and mining operations

Australian and international standards, such as:

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

AS/NZS ISO 19011:2003 Guidelines for quality and/or environmental management systems auditing

EMS, site plan and information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements

information about site processes and work schedules

information about emergency preparedness and response

monitoring procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks

sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soils)

job hazard analyses

safe work procedures and work method statements

Scope of review/audit activities

Scope of review/audit activities may include:

components of an initial environmental review (IER) prior to establishing an EMS

periodic inspection against environmental management plan requirements for:

monitoring and measurement

materials and energy usage

materials storage and handling, and spills

wastewater management

air emissions management

noise management

chemical waste management

solid waste management

scheduled review/internal audit of site, section, function or work area

scheduled review/ internal audit of components of an enterprise EMS, such as:

non-conformity, corrective/preventative actions

competence, training and awareness programs

control of records

supplier or contractor performance

emergency preparedness and response

adequacy of environmental management for new or changed operations, processes and work activities

investigation of a complaint, environmental incident or suggested improvements

Information

Information may include:

enterprise environmental management policies, procedures, plans and actions

enterprise work instructions

background information, such as:

previous internal review/audit reports

previous external audit reports

records of complaints, incidents, non-conformance/non-compliance and the corrective and/or preventative actions taken

site documentation, such as:

minutes of meetings

log books, records of environmental monitoring and test results, and regular performance reports

records of equipment use, calibration and maintenance

records of training

instructions for contractors and suppliers

external reports (e.g. external experts and regulator)

records of observations, inspections and interviews

Review/audit results

Review/audit results may include:

observations

findings

examples of best practice

non-conformances/non-compliances with options for corrective and preventative actions, and improvements

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
Review legislative and/or regulatory compliance requirements and relevant enterprise policies and procedures 
Clarify objectives and scope of the activities planned together with the risks, constraints and resources available 
Clarify site, sections, work areas, functions and/or practices to be reviewed/audited 
Confirm own role and responsibility for specific review/audit tasks 
Plan the review/audit activities to minimise workplace disruption and ensure they can be safely conducted within agreed time intervals/timeframes 
Gather background information relevant to site, sections, work areas, functions and/or practices to be reviewed/audited 
Scrutinise the relevant review/audit criteria, tools and evidence requirements to enhance own objectivity and attention to detail 
Identify any technical and equipment requirements for review/audit and if support personnel are required 
Inform all personnel involved and arrange meetings or appointments, as necessary 
Collect a representative sample of site documentation 
Collect sufficient information from observations and interviews to provide reliable evidence of environmental performance 
Work cooperatively with personnel to maximise their ownership of the review/audit and identify opportunities to improve environmental performance 
Keep accurate records of observations and interview responses 
Analyse information to identify significant performance trends, patterns, gaps and areas of risk 
Recognise instances of non-conformance/non-compliance and identify options for improving performance 
Evaluate performance against specified benchmarks and support conclusions with appropriate evidence 
Seek manager or lead auditor’s advice when issues or problems are beyond own scope of responsibility/competence or when input from environmental specialists may be required 
Document results in accordance with relevant standard/enterprise procedures and compare with initial objectives 
Confirm results with manager/lead auditor 
Report results to appropriate personnel for action in accordance with enterprise procedures 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

MSS027005A - Contribute to improving environmental performance
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

MSS027005A - Contribute to improving environmental performance

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: