Application
This unit of competency covers the ability to coordinate environmental management activities at a site, or within a project, to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, permits and/or licences. Personnel are required to interpret and explain environmental management policies, plans and procedures to other personnel and apply them to a wide range of activities. This includes recognising potential/actual environmental impacts of current and planned work/recreational activities, implementing and monitoring appropriate preventative and corrective actions to minimise harm to the environment, coordinating response to incidents, liaising with the site personnel and stakeholders, and providing site/project reports. Personnel work under the supervision of an environmental scientist or engineer, site manager or workplace environmental manager.
This unit of competency is applicable to environmental site coordinators, environmental managers and senior environmental officers working in all industry sectors. 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.
While no specific licensing or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication, environmental monitoring and management activities are governed by relevant legislation, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements. Local requirements should be checked.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Confirm environmental management responsibilities | 1.1 | Interpret legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements and approvals that apply to site/project. |
1.2 | Clarify own scope of responsibility/authority for achieving specific environmental outcomes for site/project and the roles of other key personnel. | ||
1.3 | Identify resources available to implement environmental management policies and plans for site/project. | ||
2 | Develop and maintain positive relations with site personnel and stakeholders | 2.1 | Identify significant stakeholders, their relationship to the workplace and position or perceived attitudes about the site/project. |
2.2 | Participate in meetings and networks to obtain/maintain knowledge about stakeholders, their representatives and their issues. | ||
2.3 | Use appropriate strategies to foster the trust and confidence of site personnel and stakeholder representatives. | ||
2.4 | Communicate workplace positions/requirements in a way that acknowledges concerns of personnel/stakeholders and promotes understanding. | ||
2.5 | Respond to requests for information or participation in stakeholder activities in accordance with workplace procedures. | ||
2.6 | Provide timely, authorised information using language, styles and formats that are readily understood. | ||
2.7 | Identify difficult situations and negotiate solutions by using a collaborative approach and harnessing cooperation (within scope of responsibility). | ||
2.8 | Obtain regular feedback and use it to maintain and enhance positive relations. | ||
3 | Provide environmental management information and training | 3.1 | Use environmental management plans and recent incident reports to identify/review information and training needs of site personnel. |
3.2 | Access, or develop, information and training programs to meet the identified needs. | ||
3.3 | Provide accessible information and training programs to ensure that all site personnel understand their environmental obligations/responsibilities. | ||
3.4 | Confirm site personnel’s understanding of environmental management actions specified for specific work areas and activities. | ||
3.5 | Monitor the effectiveness of information and training and adjust content, format and delivery strategies, as appropriate. | ||
4 | Assess environmental impacts and risks | 4.1 | Review scheduled activities well in advance to identify implications for environmental management. |
4.2 | Identify potential/actual events, risks and activities that may cause/have caused harm to the environment. | ||
4.3 | Conduct inspections and in-situ measurements to quantify risks and impacts. | ||
4.4 | Report assessment of risks and impacts in accordance with workplace/legislative requirements. | ||
5 | Ensure environmental monitoring and management plans are implemented | 5.1 | Conduct specified environmental monitoring and site inspections to check performance against environmental management requirements. |
5.2 | Ensure that workplace environmental monitoring instruments are fully functioning and maintained appropriately. | ||
5.3 | Conduct additional monitoring/inspections after atypical events, legitimate complaints or government requests to assess whether environmental management plan is operating effectively. | ||
5.4 | Examine results of in-situ measurements, laboratory analyses, inspections and audits to identify significant trends, non-conformance and/or incidents. | ||
6 | Respond to environmental non-conformances and incidents | 6.1 | Recognise unusual situations, unexpected risks/hazards and potential/actual environmental incidents. |
6.2 | Implement workplace procedures for responding to environmental non-conformance and incidents to ensure prompt control and remediation. | ||
6.3 | Investigate the causes of non-conformances and incidents within scope of responsibility and in accordance with workplace/legislative requirements. | ||
6.4 | Analyse findings to identify opportunities to re-design activities, work practices, environmental controls, information/training programs and/or management procedures. | ||
6.5 | Implement authorised corrective/preventative actions to prevent recurrence of non-conformance/incident and to reduce risks. | ||
6.6 | Record all recommendations, actions and outcomes in accordance with the workplace/legislative requirements. | ||
7 | Keep management informed about environmental performance | 7.1 | Provide regular reports about environmental performance, instances of potential/actual non-conformance and incidents and the actions taken in each case. |
7.2 | Report opportunities and recommendations for improvements in accordance with workplace procedures. | ||
7.3 | Seek manager’s advice when challenges are beyond own scope of responsibility/technical competence or when input from environmental specialists may be required. | ||
8 | Maintain environmental records | 8.1 | Ensure all required records are legible, accurate and satisfy workplace/legislative requirements. |
8.2 | Store environmental records to enable easy access and review by authorised personnel according to workplace procedures. | ||
8.3 | Regularly review and assess environmental records to identify significant trends and impacts. | ||
8.4 | Identify any problems with the maintenance and security of records and resolve them promptly. | ||
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include demonstration of:
coordinating environmental management activities at a site, or within a project, to ensure compliance with relevant legislation, regulations, permits and/or licences on at least two (2) occasions
accessing, interpreting and applying relevant legislative/regulatory requirements, environmental management plans, standards, codes and guidelines relevant to site/project
regularly (re)assessing environmental risks and impacts arising from site/project activities
explaining environmental management information clearly to site personnel
collecting and analysing site/project environmental data and verifying and reporting results
monitoring effective implementation of site/project environmental management plans, workplace policy and procedures, and specified work methods
recognising, investigating and rectifying environmental management issues within scope of responsibility
responding effectively to complaints and requests for information
solving complex technical problems and resolving issues/conflicts constructively with site personnel and stakeholders
seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility
maintaining site/project environmental records in accordance with legislative/licensing/workplace requirements
providing accurate, complete and timely reports and briefings about environmental performance
working safely and monitoring the safety of others.
Evidence of Knowledge
Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:
environmental protection/management terminology, concepts and principles relevant to job role
site/project characteristics, nature of activities conducted at site, environmental management values, environmental issues, and risks and impacts
environmental legislative/regulatory requirements and responsibilities relevant to site/project
workplace environmental management plans, procedures, control measures and management actions for site/project
workplace procedures for identifying assessing environmental risks and impacts, managing stakeholder relations, responding to complaints, cultural/heritage finds and other environmental incidents, and record management and reporting
interpersonal communication, negotiation and conflict resolution techniques
problem-solving techniques
relevant hazards, health, safety and workplace emergency response procedures.
Assessment Conditions
Judgement of competence must be based on holistic assessment of the evidence. Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time, rather than a single assessment event.
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace, or a simulated workplace environment. A simulated workplace environment must reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including the environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence or through an independent process such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept in each case).
Holistic assessment methods include:
review of environmental monitoring results, records and reports generated by the candidate
review of environmental information and/or training materials developed by the candidate
feedback from peers, managers and/or stakeholder representatives that the candidate is able to safely coordinate environmental management activities for site/project and provide reliable environmental performance reports/briefings at agreed times
oral and/or written questions to assess the candidate’s understanding of environmental management terms and principles, legislative/regulatory requirements, risk assessment, common examples of non-compliance and management actions, recording and reporting requirements
analysis of case studies/simulations/reports of relevant environmental management issues and incidents.
Access is required to all instruments, equipment, materials, workplace documentation, procedures and specifications associated with this unit including, but not limited to:
site/project history
relevant legislation, codes, standards, workplace environmental management policies, plans, actions, procedures and checklists
physical resources required for coordination activities, such as maps, laptop computer, digital camera, and monitoring and sampling equipment.
Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.
The assessor must demonstrate both technical competency and currency.
Technical competence can be demonstrated through:
relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment AND/OR
relevant workplace experience
Currency can be demonstrated through:
performing the competency being assessed as part of current employment OR
having consulted with an organisation providing relevant environmental monitoring, management or technology services about performing the competency being assessed within the last twelve months.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (language, literacy and numeracy) that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different 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. | |
Legislation, regulations, standards, codes, workplace procedures and requirements include the latest version of one or more of: | federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, Australian Heritage Council Act, Native Title Act and National Environmental Protection Measures state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations 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 legislation, standards and codes of practice for work health and safety (WHS), and handling of dangerous goods Australian and international standards covering environmental management, such as AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental Management Basic Set registration/licensing and/or accreditation requirements site information, such as applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements, site processes, work schedules, emergency preparedness and response, job hazard analyses, safe work procedures and work method statements workplace environmental management plans and monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks for specific sites and/or activities (e.g. sampling, monitoring, construction and mining) workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); work schedules; recording and reporting procedures; equipment manuals and warranties; safety data sheets (SDS) and safety procedures; waste minimisation, containment, processing and safe disposal procedures. |
Environmental information and training include one or more of: | workplace environmental management policy content and purpose site/project environmental management plan legislative responsibilities licensing/permit/compliance requirements due diligence and duty to notify lines of communication introduction to site/project and environmental considerations, and sources of environmental information environmental management actions and checklists, methods/procedures for specific activities incident management and reporting. |
Provision of environmental information and training includes one or more of: | site induction (environmental component) task specific training (e.g. spill management) toolbox talks (regular, ‘as required’ and topic specific) daily, pre-start meetings with supervisors/team leaders about specific issues (e.g. hazards and working in close proximity to known fauna habitats) posters and reading materials displayed in common areas and noticeboards supervisor notices and daily bulletins about specific environmental issues response to community complaints. |
Site personnel and stakeholders include one or more of: | workplace employees contractors and subcontractors consultants, such as environmental scientists, planners, engineers and external auditors suppliers and service providers community representatives and landowners visitors or members of the public government/regulator representatives and inspectors. |
Reports include one or more of: | non-conformance report form hazard near miss report form site/project incident investigation report weekly environmental report monthly environmental report regulatory agency reports (where required by permit, approval or licence conditions). |
Site/project records include one or more of: | digital photographs environmental monitoring data internal quality/environmental audit reports records required by permit, approval or licence conditions records of training records of monitoring equipment purchase, calibration, inspection, maintenance and service records of complaints and government requests records of environmental non-conformances, incidents or significant impacts contractor and supplier information electronic/hard copy correspondence records of approved expenditure and orders. |
Environmental issues and incidents include one or more of: | finding or disturbing an actual/potential cultural heritage item or site community or stakeholder complaint failure of erosion or sediment controls spill or release of chemical, hydrocarbon or other hazardous material decline in water quality due to site/project activities decline in air quality due to dust, SOX and NOX unacceptable noise levels environmental harm to protected habitat or species transport of prohibited materials to/from site (e.g. pests, weeds and contamination). |
WHS requirements include: | compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant. |
Sectors
Environmental
Competency Field
Management