Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements and Performance Criteria | |||
Element | Performance Criteria | ||
1 | Prepare for on-site operations | 1.1 | Identify the job, consult with the client and obtain relevant information, including the level of supervision required, drawings and specifications |
1.2 | Select equipment and materials required for the job | ||
1.3 | Identify site hazards and the personal protective equipment and safety procedures specified for job | ||
1.4 | Organise site induction for support personnel as required | ||
1.5 | Record description of the job to be undertaken, compare with specification and resolve any variations | ||
1.6 | Select suitable transport for site access | ||
1.7 | Brief support personnel on job-specific requirements | ||
2 | Establish on-site operations | 2.1 | Consult with the site superintendent to determine methods of communication, roles, responsibilities and expectations of each party, including identification of potential problems and conflicts |
2.2 | Set up facilities for supervision, testing and sample storage | ||
2.3 | Inspect the site to determine the characteristics of the project, including survey control points | ||
2.4 | Design inspection, sampling and testing program in accordance with specifications | ||
3 | Supervise earthworks operations | 3.1 | Conduct inspection, sampling and testing in accordance with project requirements |
3.2 | Direct and advise the site superintendent based on test results and observations | ||
3.3 | Record test data and observations in accordance with enterprise practices | ||
3.4 | Remit samples to the base laboratory for testing as required | ||
3.5 | Ensure cleaning of equipment does not cause environmental damage | ||
3.6 | Supervise the removal of equipment and materials from site | ||
4 | Analyse project data and report to client | 4.1 | Analyse project data and report to client |
4.2 | Report test results to site superintendent at specified frequency | ||
5 | Maintain enterprise records | 5.1 | Record observations, data and results in accordance with enterprise practices |
5.2 | Maintain security and confidentiality of enterprise information | ||
5.3 | Prepare and issue a final project report detailing supervision and testing carried out, statement of compliance and relevant tables and plans as required. |
Required Skills
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence.
Critical aspects of competency
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard. Candidates must be able to direct earthworks operations, as well as sampling and testing of materials. In particular the assessor should look to see that the candidate:
reads and interprets maps, drawings, specifications and Codes of Practice
identifies and locates sampling and testing sites
measures and estimates elevations, lengths, areas and volumes
determines sampling and testing frequencies
takes representative samples
identifies and describes materials
records project details in writing, by sketching and photography
handles and transports samples correctly
records sampling and testing information
compares test results with specifications and draws valid conclusions on compliance
uses tools and equipment effectively and efficiently
observes, interprets and reports atypical situations
communicates problems to appropriate personnel
records and communicates work results
works safely
resolves problems constructively.
Underpinning knowledge
Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:
engineering properties of soil and rock materials
techniques used in civil construction
plant and equipment used in earthworks
in-situ and laboratory test methods and their application to various materials
roles and responsibilities for different levels of supervision
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.
Assessment context and methods
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
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 workplace documents completed by the candidate
review of work outputs over a period of time to ensure accuracy, consistency and timeliness
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. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.
Interdependent assessment of unit
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
PMLORG500B Schedule laboratory work for a small team
PMLCOM500B Provide information to customers
PMLDATA500B Analyse data and report results.
Resource implications
Resources may include:
access to construction sites, tools, equipment and materials
enterprise procedures, sampling plans, test methods and equipment manuals.
This competency in practice
Construction materials
A geotechnical consultancy company has been contracted to provide level one supervision for a commercial development in accordance with AS3798 - Guidelines on earthworks for commercial and residential developments. This will involve the construction of roadways, building pads and parking areas for heavy vehicles. A senior technician has been placed in charge of the project with an experienced tester to assist with routine testing and supervision. The principal contractor has provided copies of specifications, drawings and local authority requirements for this type of project. The project will involve clearing and stripping, setting-out (by contract surveyors), cut-to-fill, drainage, sewer lines and other services and construction of roadways and building pads.
The supervision will be carried out in accordance with local authority requirements. Testing will involve measuring in-situ densities of fill (including trench backfill) and road base materials. California Bearing Ratio (CBR) tests will be used as an aid in determining pavement thicknesses. Additional tests will be used to monitor the quality of pavement materials supplied from a local quarry. This will involve both on-site and off-site testing and require liaison with off-site personnel to ensure that the testing is timely and as specified. Based on test results and direct observations, the technician is able to direct and advise the contractor's operators so that the materials are correctly placed and compacted. Test locations are marked on drawings and sketches and photographs used to record details of the project. Detailed daily records are used to prepare monthly reports for the contractor, accompanied by test certificates. Office staff use this information to invoice the client. The technician monitors the project to avoid exceeding the project budget. When the project is finished, the technician prepares a completion report, including all test results, site observations and a scale drawing showing all filled areas and reviews the information as a guide to planning and costing future projects.
Key Competencies
The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered for effective work participation. The bracketed numbering against each of the key competencies indicates the performance level required in this unit. These are stand-alone levels and do not correspond to levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Level (1) represents the competence to undertake tasks effectively
Level (2) represents the competence to manage tasks
Level (3) represents the competence to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Collecting, analysing and organising information | Communicating ideas and information | Planning and organising activities | Working with others and in teams | Using mathematical ideas and techniques | Solving problems | Using technology |
Level 3 | Level 3 | Level 3 | Level 3 | Level 2 | Level 3 | Level 2 |
Range Statement
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 competence describes the work conducted by experienced technicians and engineering para-professionals.
Operations are performed in accordance with laboratory and/or enterprise procedures and appropriate legislative requirements. These procedures and requirements include or have been prepared from:
industry Codes of Practice
environmental legislation and regulations
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
equipment manuals
equipment start-up, operation and shutdown procedures
calibration and maintenance schedules
quality manuals
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
production and laboratory schedules
material, production and product specifications.
Tools and equipment used may include:
hand and power augers
hand tools, including shovels, crowbars, scoops, spanners, wrenches, tape measure
consumables, including sample bags, labels
documentation, including maps, plans, contract documents, worksheets
field test equipment, including sand replacement apparatus, nuclear soil moisture/density gauge, dynamic cone penetrometer
still/video camera
two-way radio, mobile telephone
levelling equipment (dumpy, automatic levels).
Site hazards may include:
solar radiation, dust and noise
manual handling of heavy materials and equipment
working in/on trenches, confined spaces, wet and uneven surfaces, heights, slopes
vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Safety procedures may include:
location of site services before investigations commence
use of material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hat, hearing protection, sunscreen, gloves, masks, goggles, coveralls, safety boots, high visibility clothing
handling, and storage of hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, enterprise procedures and regulations
regular cleaning of equipment and vehicles
machinery guards
signage, barriers, flashing lights, traffic control.
Typical skills may include:
working safely with equipment and around earthmoving plant
driving safely on- and off-road
working safely in field conditions
setting up and maintaining tools and equipment
using tools and equipment to perform sampling and in-situ testing
cleaning equipment before leaving site in compliance with environmental authority requirements
reading site plans, specifications and codes to determine sampling locations and frequencies
measuring and estimating elevations, lengths, areas and volumes
identifying of soil and rock materials
observing and recording project information
handling and storing samples appropriately
comparing test results with specifications
resolving problems without creating confrontational environments
using computer software to create/maintain databases and produce detailed reports.
Typical problems include:
uncooperative site personnel
non-conformances leading to confrontation with other personnel
delays in obtaining test results
damage to services, materials and site conditions
displaced, missing and inaccurate survey markers
misidentification of samples and sampling locations
equipment breakdown and breakage
environmental problems and issues, including site access, inclement weather, traffic, wildlife, vegetation, construction activities.
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.