This unit of competency is applicable to scientific glassblowers. It covers work that will sometimes be performed by less experienced workers under the guidance of an experienced scientific glassblower.

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 are found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'.

MSL963001A

Operate basic handblowing equipment

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for repair operations

1.1. Identify job, appropriate procedure, hazards and safety requirements, and apparatus required

1.2. Establish correct cleaning procedure for contaminated glassware before commencing repair operations

1.3. Use personal protective equipment and safety procedures as specified for job and materials to be used

1.4. Record job description, compare with blueprint, drawing, sketch, design or similar specification and report perceived difficulties

1.5. Prepare equipment for repair in accordance with job requirements

1.6. Identify, select and prepare glass stocks and components for job

2. Repair apparatus

2.1. Check and adjust equipment and tools for job requirements

2.2. Check and adjust equipment and tools for the job

2.3. Start up equipment using enterprise procedures

2.4. Follow supplied designs and enterprise procedures to perform the repairs required

2.5. Follow equipment shutdown procedures

3. Operate annealing equipment

3.1. Prepare annealing equipment for the job

3.2. Start up, operate and shut down annealing equipment using enterprise procedures

3.3. Monitor, adjust and record annealing operation

3.4. Rectify routine problems

4. Maintain a safe work environment

4.1. Follow established safe work practices to ensure safety of self and other workers

4.2. Minimise the generation of wastes

4.3. Ensure the safe disposal of wastes

4.4. Clean, care for and maintain work area, equipment and tools

4.5. Report hazards and incidents according to enterprise procedures

5. Maintain records

5.1. Record data as per enterprise requirements

5.2. Maintain equipment logs as per enterprise requirements

5.3. Maintain security and confidentiality of enterprise information

Required skills

Required skills include:

determining types of contaminants present on/in apparatus

cleaning techniques for contamination carried out before repair operations are undertaken

using appropriate treatment processes, with particular attention to risks associated with blowing used and possibly contaminated glass

reading and following blueprints, drawings, sketches and designs relevant to repair work

selecting appropriate grades of glass and preparing for use

preparing apparatus for repair

optimising and using glassblowing equipment

identifying atypical or out of normal repair problems

reporting problems to either supervisor or outside service technician according to enterprise procedures

recording and communicating work results

following correct occupational health and safety (OHS) and principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

relevant glassblowing techniques

the risks associated with blowing used and contaminated glass

contamination cleaning techniques to be carried out before repair operations are undertaken

use and function of the broken apparatus

repair materials and reason for their choice

use of appropriate tools and equipment

basic chemical and physical concepts related to behaviour of glass under heat and stress

basic knowledge of how apparatus to be repaired is used

critical material properties and appropriate glassworking parameters

pre-repair apparatus preparation procedures

annealing procedures

methods of minimising potential quality problems

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

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:

safely repair glass apparatus following enterprise procedures

assess the economics of salvage

follow a procedure of disassembly/assembly of apparatus in accordance with specifications

apply contamination cleaning techniques before repair operations are undertaken

report problems to appropriate personnel.

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:

MSL963001A Operate basic handblowing equipment.

Resources may include:

access to a scientific glassblowing facility, appropriate equipment, materials and procedures

a bank of case studies where these form part of the assessment method.

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:

inspection of glasswork and workplace documentation completed 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 show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Education

A trainee glassblower has been asked by his/her supervisor to repair several pieces of used and broken laboratory glassware as part of a cost saving exercise. Firstly, he/she determines whether the glassware will be used for general tasks or for qualitative analysis and how urgently the job is required. He/she then clarifies whether any hazardous material has been used in the equipment and applies the correct cleaning procedures. After determining the nature of the glass and the appropriate glassworking parameters, he/she repairs the equipment using safe apparatus. Finally the glassblower subjects the equipment to the appropriate annealing/conditioning process and checks the final outcome with his/her supervisor. Any contaminated or used glass waste is disposed of appropriately.

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:

calibration and maintenance schedules

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

equipment manuals

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

industry codes of practice

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

material, production and product specifications

national environment protection measures

OHS national standards and codes of practice

production and laboratory schedules

quality manuals

standard operating procedures (SOPs)

Tools, materials and equipment

Tools, materials and equipment may include:

burners, gas supplies and gas economisers

glassworking lathes

mechanical glass cutters and saws

mechanical glass grinding equipment

annealing ovens

measuring and recording equipment

hand tools, such as carbon paddles and mandrels, range of forceps, glass tubing gauges, angle setting jigs, calipers, glass support rollers, brass shapers, carbon rods, glass knife, stainless steel gauze, vernier calipers and other measuring tools, and strain viewer

various glass types, including soda-lime, borosilicate, quartz, silica and special formula glasses

glass to metal seals

communication equipment

Hazards

Hazards may include:

sharps and broken glassware

heat sources, such as burners and ovens

fluids under pressure (acetylene and oxygen)

glass dust

cuts associated with glass grinders and cutters

manual handling of heavy sample bags and containers

Safe work practices

Safe work practices may include:

use of personal protective equipment, such as heat resistant gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, respirators and safety boots

correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials

handling, and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, and enterprise procedures and regulations

regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas

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

Unit sector

Scientific glassblowing

This unit contains employability skills.