Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to monitor waste disposal sites. The unit covers preparing for monitoring activities by interpreting documents and consulting with relevant personnel, and organising materials, tools and equipment, and scheduling special testing and sampling activities. The unit also covers monitoring batters, landfill cells and drainage systems, and waste and surrounding environment to ensure appropriate levels of odour, gas and noise and condition of infrastructure.
The unit supports those who work in lead roles in a waste management team.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Prepare to monitor waste disposal site. | 1.1. | Monitoring requirements are identified and communicated to relevant personnel according to organisation and compliance requirements. |
1.2. | Testing and sampling requirements are identified and scheduled. | ||
1.3. | Materials, tools and equipment including personal protective equipment (PPE) are selected, checked and organised according to monitoring requirements. | ||
1.4. | Hazards and risks are identified and managed or reported according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
1.5. | Supervisory processes, checks and measures are used to ensure work is completed within specified timeframes. | ||
2. | Monitor batters, landfill cells and drainage systems. | 2.1. | Covered batters, cells and drains are checked and problems are managed or reported according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
2.2. | Drainage systems and grease traps are monitored and problems are managed or reported according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
2.3 | Sample of drainage liquid is taken and contamination levels and characteristics are assessed according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3. | Monitor waste and surrounding environment. | 3.1. | Tests are organised and monitored according to organisational and compliance requirements. |
3.2. | Condition of infrastructure at waste site is assessed and necessary maintenance is identified according to organisational requirements. | ||
3.3. | Details of monitoring activities are recorded according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also monitor two different waste disposal sites, including for each:
assessing batters, landfill cells and drainage systems and sampling and assessing drainage liquid for contamination
assessing waste and the surrounding environment, including testing to ensure that odour, gas and noise levels comply with acceptable levels
assessing the condition of waste site infrastructure including fences, roads and signs and identifying maintenance requirements
managing or reporting identified issues from the above assessment activities.
While monitoring above waste disposal sites, the person must:
consult with relevant personnel to identify work activities, and to explain monitoring procedures
prepare for monitoring activities by identifying and organising required materials, tools and equipment, as specified in the range of conditions
organise and schedule testing and sampling activities
use supervisory methods, checks and measures to ensure that work is completed within specified timeframes
follow organisational procedures to work safely and comply with regulatory and legal requirements.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
classifications of waste
contingency measures which can be applied where testing and sampling results indicate non-compliances
hazards and risks associated with waste including hazardous substances and dangerous goods
organisational policies and procedures and regulatory and legal requirements relating to monitoring waste disposal sites
supervisory techniques and methods
techniques to minimise erosion at waste disposal sites
waste containment methods
waste disposal and recovery methods
waste non-conformances
waste resource recovery and management options
waste types, streams and characteristics.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by organisational requirements
relationships with team members and supervisor:
working in a team.
Timeframe:
as specified by organisational requirements.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify monitoring tasks clarify instructions to personnel. |
Reading skills to: | follow manufacturer specifications when checking equipment. |
Writing skills to: | complete waste documents and proformas. |
Problem-solving skills to: | apply contingency measures to resolve issues indicated by testing and sampling results. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Monitoring requirements | air emissions drainage systems ground water landfill cells landfill environment: gases noise odour timeframes and schedules for monitoring activities. |
Relevant personnel must include at least one of the following: | client staff supervisor or team leader. |
Compliance requirements must include: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation relating to maintaining waste disposal sites, including: environmental protection hazardous substances and dangerous goods industry codes work health and safety licensing requirements. |
Checked must include checks for: | erosion flooding integrity of form and shape leachate vermin. |
Monitored must include: | detecting contamination and blockages identifying drainage flow and characteristics. |
Tests must include: | olfactory tests to identify level of odour at waste site and surrounding environment tests to monitor gases at waste site tests to monitor noise levels at waste site. |
Sectors
Waste management