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.
This unit of competency describes the work conducted by supervised laboratory assistants who prepare a range of working solutions for laboratory use. Test solutions include those required to perform laboratory tests. All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or enterprise requirements. These procedures include or have been prepared from:
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS 2162.1 General - volumetric glassware
AS 2163 Laboratory glassware - measuring cylinders
AS 2165 Laboratory glassware - burettes
industry methods, such as American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) Solution methods
Codes of Practice, such as GLP and GMP
material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
National Measurement Act
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
equipment manuals
equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures
calibration and maintenance schedules
quality manuals
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
production and laboratory schedules
material, production and product specifications.
The nature of test solutions will depend on the enterprise and the range of testing carried out. Typical test solutions may include:
solutions required for diagnostic/analytical and limit tests in food and chemical laboratories, such as sulphates, chlorides, heavy metals
solutions, such as stains for standard diagnostic/analytical procedures in biomedical/environmental laboratories, such as cell staining, fixation of cells and tissues, suspension of cells, titrimetric indicators
solutions required for laboratory maintenance and disinfection, such as 70% ethanol, hypochlorite.
Laboratory equipment may include:
pH meters
balances
magnetic stirrers, waterbaths and hot plates
measuring cylinders, beakers, conical flasks, volumetric flasks, pipettes, burettes
filter papers and funnels
fume cupboards.
Hazards may include:
corrosive chemicals, such as acids and alkalis
sources of heat, such as burners
sharps, broken glassware
spillages.
Safety precautions may include:
use of material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
use of personal protective equipment, such as safety glasses, gloves and coveralls
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.
Monitoring quality of solutions can include:
noting turbidity to exclude absorption of moisture
noting deposits to exclude microbial contamination or chemical degradation
noting crystals to exclude evaporation
conducting titrations to check concentration
noting colour changes indicating a pH shift with solutions containing indicators
checking expiry dates on solution containers.
Concentration terms may include: % w/w, % w/v, % v/v, ppm (mg/L), molarity.
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.