This unit of competency is applicable to laboratory supervisors and managers working in the environmental industry sector. All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or enterprise requirements.

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'.

MSL975011A

Design and supervise complex environmental field surveys

MSL974007A

Undertake environmental field-based monitoring

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Establish the overall requirements of the field activities

1.1. Identify key stakeholders along with their potential interests, sensitivities, roles and responsibilities

1.2. Clarify the purpose and general objectives of the field activities with stakeholders and the level/detail of information required

1.3. Identify and accurately interpret all statutory requirements that apply to the field activities

1.4. Identify and interpret all existing enterprise requirements associated with field monitoring and/or survey activities

1.5. Analyse drivers and constraints that may influence field activities

1.6. Refine and document the detailed objectives of the field activities with senior management and key stakeholders

2. Scope all requirements to collect appropriate data under field conditions

2.1. Identify the type, quantity and quality of data needed to meet the defined objectives

2.2. Identify sites or areas and resources required for all planned field activities

2.3. Define data quality procedures that must be incorporated in all field activities

2.4. Identify risks, environmental and safety issues associated with field activities

2.5. Inspect all sites or areas and assess them against defined requirements and any standards that apply to the field activities

2.6. Refine and document all requirements necessary to collect appropriate field data

3. Select and adapt field protocols covering the field activities

3.1. Identify field protocols that may be suitable for the defined field activities

3.2. Review and select the most appropriate field protocol for the defined field activities

3.3. Develop and document detailed methodologies, risk management plans and general time schedules covering all the planned field activities

4. Design and document a detailed implementation plan

4.1. Define all staff tasks, roles and responsibilities and the overall staff work program

4.2. Identify and list all resources needed to undertake all planned field activities and associated pre- and post-field activities

4.3. Design and document an overall implementation plan covering all enterprise field activities

4.4. Meet with all staff involved and clearly outline the objectives, field methodologies and data quality procedures covered in the implementation plan

5. Prepare a financial budget and staff training and work programs

5.1. Develop a detailed budget, including contingencies covering all planned field activities

5.2. Develop detailed staff work programs for individual field activities in the context of the implementation plan

5.3. Identify competencies required to undertake all field activities and, if appropriate, develop appropriate training programs for all staff involved in field activities

Required skills

Required skills include:

designing and documenting field work plans

emergency planning

project management

negotiation and conflict resolution techniques

communicating effectively and efficiently with clients, stakeholders and other relevant parties

identifying and interpreting policy and statutory requirements

analysing enterprise field procedures and drivers

identifying type, quality and quantity of data needed for defined field activities

reviewing literature to identify existing and relevant field protocols

developing and documenting the enterprise's field monitoring/survey procedures and practices

reviewing enterprise databases

developing detailed budgets, work programs, resource requirements and staff training needs

developing data quality procedures

undertaking reconnaissance and evaluation of field sites

developing and documenting overall implementation plan

responding effectively to changes or unforeseen circumstance

negotiating effectively with stakeholders on multiple issues and, in general, reaching satisfactory agreements

leading, supporting and mentoring junior staff

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

general field monitoring and survey protocols

specific field monitoring and survey practices and techniques

correct terminology relevant to defined field activities

staff training procedures

current developments in field instrumentation, communication equipment and data storage/analysis systems

environmental planning and assessment procedures

data quality procedures

rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in terms of relevant legislation, such as occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental impact assessment and environmental protection

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:

demonstrate understanding of the purpose of the activity, including:

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

communicate effectively and efficiently with clients, stakeholders and other relevant parties

document the objectives of field activities accurately and clearly

identify and interpret policy and statutory requirements accurately

analyse enterprise field procedures and drivers

identify type, quality and quantity of data needed for defined field activities

review literature to identify existing and relevant field protocols

develop and document enterprise's field monitoring/survey procedures and practices

review enterprise databases

develop detailed budgets, work programs, resource requirements and staff training needs

develop data quality procedures

undertake reconnaissance and evaluation of field sites

develop and document overall implementation plan

respond effectively to changes or unforeseen circumstance

negotiate effectively with stakeholders on multiple issues and, in general, reaching satisfactory agreements

lead, support and mentor junior staff.

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:

MSL916002A Manage and develop teams

MSL916005A Manage complex projects.

Resources may include:

legislation, regulations, policies, codes of practice, enterprise procedures and field protocols.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of the design of monitoring/survey plans, quality assurance procedures, field implementation plan and budget prepared by the candidate

feedback from stakeholders that their input was sought and considered

feedback from staff and supervisors that plans were clear, comprehensive and able to be implemented effectively

oral and written questions to assess underpinning knowledge of statutory and enterprise requirements for field activities, relevant policies, procedures, protocols and codes of practice

simulation exercises to assess contingency planning.

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

Environmental

A large national industrial company has prepared an environmental management plan (EMP) covering all its national locations. Given that 'monitoring' is a major component of any EMP, the environmental manager has been instructed to prepare an annual plan covering all environmental field activities so that the company has an integrated, standardised and non-overlapping monitoring plan covering all of its locations. The environmental manager establishes a planning team to develop plans and quality assurance procedures covering all environmental field monitoring or survey activities required during the year. The committee produces a strategic implementation plan which is forwarded to the Board for review and approval.

Construction materials testing

A laboratory supervisor for a large mining company was asked to prepare a proposal outlining the resources necessary to produce an annual state of the environment (SOE) report covering the mine site and surrounding land. Given that the report and associated field data would become a public document, the supervisor was also asked to prepare quality assurance procedures covering all environmental field activities undertaken by the company as part of the proposal. They began by identifying and documenting all existing and future field activities and analysing the drivers and constraints that could influence this work in the future. The supervisor then clarified which activities would impact on the SOE report and prepared an implementation plan covering the time schedule, resources, budget and management of risks, safety and emergencies along with a detailed description of the data quality requirements and field protocols involved. They circulated the draft proposal to relevant staff for comment. The company management then refined the draft for consideration by the Board.

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:

access to land (e.g. Aboriginal reserves)

animal care and ethics regulations

availability of required services

captured animal welfare and ethics code of practice

consultation (for example, with traditional owners)

emergency procedures, data quality procedures, and safety and survival aspects

environmental audits

environmental impact assessment procedures

environmental protection and/or conservation legislation and regulations

equipment and field instrument operating instructions, calibration procedures, instrument fault finding procedures, and general maintenance and repair procedures

field sampling plans, field monitoring or survey plans, industry based sampling and/or monitoring protocols

field test procedures (validated and authorised)

fieldwork procedures and standard operating procedures (SOPs)

national environment protection measures

OHS national standards and codes of practice

permits and/or licences to undertake field activities (e.g. animal trapping)

safety and accident/injury plans, emergency plans and risk management plans

sampling procedures

site locations

specific environmental standards (e.g. air, water and noise)

staff travel arrangements and accommodation conditions

waste management policies and legislation

Environmental field activities

Environmental field activities may include:

meteorology, geology, hydrology and ecology

water quality, industrial waste streams, air quality, noise and vibration

soils, flora, weeds, native fauna, exotic or pest species and threatened species

land use and cultural sites

Clients and stakeholders

Clients and stakeholders may include:

fee-for-service clients

Commonwealth, state/territory and local government agencies

enterprises with monitoring and/or survey responsibilities

private companies

regulatory authorities

environment protection agencies

developers

The purpose or objectives of environmental field activities

The purpose or objectives of environmental field activities will define/target information needs and may include:

part of enterprise environmental management plan

statutory requirements

general environmental monitoring or surveys

research studies

Drivers and constraints

Drivers and constraints may include:

political agendas, social and economic issues

new monitoring protocols

recent environmental impact assessments or audits

media or public concerns

recent judicial decisions

field safety or accident issues

competencies and availability of staff

time available to plan and implement field activities

Staff field tasks and roles

Staff field tasks and roles may include:

team or project leader and survey coordinator

field sampling officer, field monitoring officer and data management officer

safety and/or environmental officer

field camp supervisor, field assistant or field-hand

driver

any combination of the above

Field resources

Field resources may include:

sampling equipment

monitoring instruments and associated equipment

survey equipment

first aid and/or survival kits and equipment

navigation and communication equipment (e.g. compass, maps, global positioning system (GPS), two-way radio and mobile phone)

transportation systems (e.g. vehicles, boats and aircraft)

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

Testing

This unit contains employability skills.