RGRSWA303A
Collect blood samples for racing animal drug testing

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to work under supervision and apply the process for the collection of blood samples from racing animals. It requires compliance with laboratory protocols and procedures as well as the rules of racing, OHS regulations and safe operating procedures, which are essential to maintaining the integrity of the samples and the continuity and security of evidence.This unit of competency operates in work environments of racing administration approved sample collection facilities that may include racecourse, kennel or stable premises.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Check with your State Principal Racing Authority for current license or registration requirements.

Application

This unit of competency supports racing personnel or other authorised persons who are required to collect blood samples from racing greyhounds or horses under supervision as part of their job role.

Blood collection may be restricted to veterinarians and veterinary nurses in some states. Candidates must ensure they are eligible to collect blood from animals before undertaking this unit.

Competencies attained in this unit apply to the greyhound, harness or thoroughbred code of the industry. Consequently when performance criteria are applied they will relate to the greyhound code or the harness code or the thoroughbred code, and statements of attainment for this unit will reflect this distinction.

This unit can be contextualised for other industries while also maintaining the integrity of the unit.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Plan for blood collection from greyhounds or horses.

1. Process for selecting greyhounds or horses to be sampled is confirmed with stewards.

2. Preparation of collecting area and provision of collecting equipment are confirmed.

3. Collecting area and equipment are secured.

4. Animals nominated for blood collection are identified and escorted to collecting area.

Collect blood samples from greyhounds or horses.

5. Collection procedures and rights and obligations are explained to nominated witness.

6. Techniques for handling greyhounds or horsesare employed to ensure safety of animals,self and others .

7. Preparation of animals for blood collection is conducted.

8. Blood collection procedures and protocols are followed.

9. Chain of custody of sampling equipment , documentation and sample is maintained.

10. Swab documentation, packaging, security and shipping protocols are followed.

11. Disposal of sharps is managed to ensure safety of self and others.

Document and provide information on swabbing procedure to relevant parties.

12. Swab documentation is completed and filed.

13. Alterations to standard collection procedures are justified and documented.

14. Incidents that occurred during collection procedure are documented and reported to stewards.

Required Skills

Required skills

applying safe handling and work practices when dealing with greyhounds or horses

communicating with stewards, veterinarians, racing officials, licensed and registered personnel and others using assertive communication techniques to gather, interpret and relay information related to blood sample collection from greyhounds or horses

completing duties in accordance with safe operating procedures and nominated time frame

conducting sample collection processes in accordance with laboratory protocols and procedures, and OHS and animal welfare regulations to maintain the integrity of samples

demonstrating common greyhound or horse handling skills

identifying and reporting swabbing irregularities

identifying animal by colour, brand, sex, and leg and face markings

maintaining racing code requirements for confidentiality

providing prompt and succinct information to stewards and others as required

reading and interpreting workplace documentation and rules of racing

relating to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with varying physical and mental abilities

responding quickly to requests from stewards or other racing officials

teamwork skills to ensure completion of job tasks

using initiative and problem-solving techniques to deal with difficult people

written communication skills to complete workplace documentation and reports.

Required knowledge

communication procedures within the race meeting environment and wider racing industry

ethical conduct standards of relevant racing principal authority

greyhound or horse behaviour and communication traits

industry terminology related to race meeting and swabbing procedures

hazard identification and risk management

laboratory protocols and procedures

protocols and procedures for communicating with stewards, and licensed and other racing industry personnel

racing industry animal welfare requirements

racing industry safety requirements, including safe operating procedures

reporting requirements for irregularities and problems, including difficulties in obtaining samples

sample collection standard operating procedures

swabbing protocols and associated rules of racing.

Evidence Required

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.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions that are to apply when collecting blood samples from greyhounds or horses

implementation of procedures and timely techniques for the safe, effective and efficient application of blood sample collection from greyhounds or horses

working with others to undertake and complete procedures that meet required outcomes.

Evidence should be collected over a period of time in a range of workplace-relevant contexts and include dealings with an appropriate range of situations.

Context of, and specific resources for assessment

Competency must be assessed in a racing workplace that provides access to the required resources. Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints. It is to comply with relevant regulatory requirements or Australian Standards requirements.

Assessment of the practical components of this unit will be by observation of relevant skills.

The following resources must be available:

a range of greyhounds, and harness or thoroughbred horses

materials and equipment relevant to assessing candidate's ability to perform blood sample collection duties

safe handling areas such as racetracks, including race meetings, related swabbing facilities, and an Australian racing forensic laboratory

work instructions and related documentation.

Method of assessment

Assessment methods must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Racing Training Package.

The suggested strategies for the assessment of this unit are:

written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and firsthand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks

case study to assess candidate's skills and knowledge associated with the overall procedure to ensure continuity of security of evidence.

Evidence is required to be demonstrated over a period of time, therefore where performance is not directly observed any evidence should be authenticated by supervisors or other appropriate persons, at least one of whom should be approved by the State Principal Racing Authority.

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands (e.g. literacy and numeracy demands) and the needs of particular target groups (e.g. people with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people with a language background other than English, youth and people from low socioeconomic backgrounds).


Range Statement

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.

Preparation of collecting area will include:

collecting and managing records pertaining to individual sample collection processes

communicating with other sample collection officers and swab steward or veterinarian

checking number and verifying contents of swab kits

checking that swab video camera is working

ensuring swab area is clean

ensuring appropriate systems and personnel are in place to monitor key operating areas

preparing paperwork and computer used in sample collection.

Collecting equipment will include:

blood collection bottles

collection bottle seals and labels

disposable gloves

laboratory cards

needles

sharps container

swab kit.

Collection procedures will include:

checking identification of attending witness

identifying greyhounds or horses to be swabbed

escorting animal and handler to swab area

preparing swab kit and swab area

recording swab kit numbers

recording swab details

requesting agent to sign required paperwork

storing swab samples in secured area prior to dispatch to laboratory for analysis

taking blood samples and sealing blood bottles.

Safety of animals , self and others will include:

adhering to responsibilities under OHS legislation and workplace practices

adhering to responsibilities under national and state codes of practice; federal, state and territory legislation; and local government regulations covering animal welfare

adhering to rules of racing and rules of the race venue

considering variables that influence behaviour of greyhounds or horses, such as:

fences and equipment

other persons or animals

vehicles

wind and noise

contributing to development of risk control measures

following safe work practices

following accident and injury procedures

identifying and reporting unsafe work practices

identifying emergency situations

monitoring animal behaviour

using appropriate handling and restraining techniques

using approved and well-maintained gear

wearing approved personal protective equipment.

Chain of custody of sampling equipment , documentation and sample may include:

conditions under which the sample is gathered, including:

identification of animals to be tested

identification of all personnel

duration of sample custody

security conditions and manner in which sample is transferred to subsequent custodians

documents or paper trails showing collection, custody, control, transfer and analysis of physical (evidence) sample

each transaction completely documented chronologically

identifiable person always to have physical evidence, from swab staff to detective or steward

jurisprudence concept applying to handling of sample and its integrity.


Sectors

Unit Sector

Greyhound, harness and thoroughbred racing codes


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor