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Evidence Guide: MSL954001A - Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

MSL954001A - Obtain representative samples in accordance with sampling plan

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Prepare for sampling

  1. Confirm the sampling location, number and type of samples, and timing and frequency of sampling from enterprise or client's sampling plan
  2. Liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access and, if appropriate, all necessary clearances and/or permits
  3. Select sampling equipment and conditions to achieve representative samples and preserve sample integrity during collection, storage and transit
  4. Check that all procedures are in accordance with client or enterprise requirements, relevant standards and codes
  5. Identify site and sampling hazards and review enterprise safety procedures
  6. Assemble and check all sampling equipment, materials, containers and safety equipment
  7. Arrange suitable transport to, from and around site as required
Confirm the sampling location, number and type of samples, and timing and frequency of sampling from enterprise or client's sampling plan

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access and, if appropriate, all necessary clearances and/or permits

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Select sampling equipment and conditions to achieve representative samples and preserve sample integrity during collection, storage and transit

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check that all procedures are in accordance with client or enterprise requirements, relevant standards and codes

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify site and sampling hazards and review enterprise safety procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assemble and check all sampling equipment, materials, containers and safety equipment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Arrange suitable transport to, from and around site as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct sampling and log samples

  1. Locate sampling sites and, if required, services at the site
  2. Conduct representative sampling in accordance with sampling plan and defined procedures
  3. Record all information and label samples in accordance with traceability requirements
  4. Record environment or production conditions and any atypical observations made during sampling that may impact on sample representativeness or integrity
  5. Transport all samples back to base according to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and relevant codes
Locate sampling sites and, if required, services at the site

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conduct representative sampling in accordance with sampling plan and defined procedures

Completed
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Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record all information and label samples in accordance with traceability requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record environment or production conditions and any atypical observations made during sampling that may impact on sample representativeness or integrity

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Transport all samples back to base according to standard operating procedures (SOPs) and relevant codes

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare samples for testing

  1. Prepare sub-samples and back-up sub-samples that are representative of the source
  2. Label all sub-samples to ensure traceability and store in accordance with SOPs
  3. Follow defined preparation and safety procedures to limit hazard or contamination to samples, self, work area and environment
  4. Distribute sub-samples to defined work stations maintaining sample integrity and traceability requirements
Prepare sub-samples and back-up sub-samples that are representative of the source

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Label all sub-samples to ensure traceability and store in accordance with SOPs

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Follow defined preparation and safety procedures to limit hazard or contamination to samples, self, work area and environment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Distribute sub-samples to defined work stations maintaining sample integrity and traceability requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Address client issues

  1. Enter approved information into laboratory information management system (LIMS)
  2. Report all relevant aspects of the sampling and preparation phases in accordance with enterprise procedures
  3. Ensure that information provided to client is accurate, relevant and authorised for release
  4. Maintain security and confidentiality of all client/enterprise data and information
Enter approved information into laboratory information management system (LIMS)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report all relevant aspects of the sampling and preparation phases in accordance with enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure that information provided to client is accurate, relevant and authorised for release

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain security and confidentiality of all client/enterprise data and information

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain a safe work environment

  1. Clean all equipment, containers, work area and vehicles according to enterprise procedures
  2. Check serviceability of all equipment before storage
  3. Use defined safe work practices and personal protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of other laboratory personnel
  4. Minimise the generation of wastes and environment impacts
  5. Ensure the safe collection of all hazardous wastes for appropriate disposal
Clean all equipment, containers, work area and vehicles according to enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check serviceability of all equipment before storage

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Use defined safe work practices and personal protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of other laboratory personnel

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minimise the generation of wastes and environment impacts

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure the safe collection of all hazardous wastes for appropriate disposal

Completed
Date:

Teacher:
Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

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:

collect the specified quantity of sample to enable all processing and testing to occur and back-up samples to be stored

obtain a sample that is representative of the bulk material

preserve the integrity of samples by closely adhering to procedures

label samples and sub-samples to satisfy enterprise/legal traceability requirements

identify atypical materials and samples and take appropriate action

maintain sampling equipment in appropriate condition

complete sampling records using enterprise procedures

follow safety regulations and enterprise OHS procedures during sampling, transport and storage

follow relevant legislative requirements for the disposal of waste and the preservation of the environment.

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:

MSL924001A Process and interpret data

MSL943002A Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety

relevant MSAL974000 series units of competency

relevant MSAL975000 series units of competency relevant to the sampling.

Resources may include:

variety of sample types

sampling plans

a selection of sampling containers and sampling equipment.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

inspection of samples collected by the candidate

review of sampling documentation completed by the candidate

feedback from peers, customers and supervisors that sampling plans were followed

questioning to assess underpinning knowledge of representative sampling procedures

observation of the candidate taking a range of samples.

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.

Manufacturing

A metallurgical laboratory technician is very familiar with preparing representative samples for a range of final products in a steelmaking plant. One day, he/she is asked to sample a 50 tonne small-particle coal delivery which is believed to have a higher than acceptable sulphur content. Having never prepared representative samples for such a large quantity of material, the technician consulted their supervisor and developed an appropriate sampling plan. The technician arranged for the operator of a small front-end loader to take buckets of coal from five equally spaced points around the pile. The resulting material was then combined and mixed in one heap. The technician coned and quartered the heap enough times to obtain a representative sample of about 5kg. He/she arranged for the unwanted material to be returned to the stockpile. On return to the laboratory, the technician crushed the sample and repeatedly coned and quartered the material to obtain an analytical portion.

Environmental

A field technician trained in sampling natural water systems is asked to sample a bright yellow industrial wastewater discharge into a small creek. The relevant sampling plan specifies that the samples should be collected where the waste water is well mixed near the centre of the creek and at the mid-depth point. The technician also notes that the samples must be collected where turbulence is at a maximum so that the settling of solids is minimal. On arrival at the site, the technician locates where the wastewater is entering the creek. He/she moves downstream to where the waste water and creek water is well mixed and there is little apparent loss of the yellow suspended solids. The technician dons the required personal protective equipment and uses a convenient bridge to collect a set of six samples and duplicates over a half-hour period using the equipment and procedures specified in the sampling plan. Using a field notebook, the technician records all information specified in the laboratory's chain of custody requirements and safety plan for handling potentially hazardous industrial waste.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

Required skills include:

collecting representative samples in accordance with a sampling plan

techniques to preserve the integrity of samples

identifying atypical materials and samples and taking appropriate action

maintaining sampling equipment

completing sampling records

working safely

following requirements for the disposal of waste and the preservation of the environment

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

principles of representative samples

principles and procedures for random, systematic and stratified sampling, consistency of sampling procedures

preservation of the integrity of samples

maintaining identification of samples relative to their source

enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements

cost effectiveness of sampling

characteristics of product/material to be sampled and likely contaminants

links between quality control, quality assurance, quality management systems and sampling procedures

enterprise procedures dealing with legislative requirements for the handling, labelling and transport of hazardous goods

links between correct occupational health and safety (OHS) procedures and personal and environmental safety particularly at high risk sites

Specific industry

Additional knowledge requirements may apply for different industry sectors. For example:Biomedical and environmental services:

specific legislation on biohazards

documentation procedures for the chain of custody for samples to be used as evidence or for blood transfusion

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.

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:

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS 1199 Sampling procedures and tables for inspection by attributes

AS 1678 Emergency procedure guide -Transport

AS 1940-2004 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids

AS 3780-2008 The storage and handling of corrosive substances

AS 4433.2-1997 Guide to the sampling of particulate materials - Preparation of samples

AS/NZS 4452:1997 The storage and handling of toxic substances

American Association of Cereal Chemists (AACC) Approved Methods of Analysis

Australian Dangerous Goods Code

enterprise and/or client sampling schemes and sampling plans

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

gene technology regulations

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

methods and procedures which may be written to meet enterprise, client and/or regulatory/certifying body requirements

National Code of Practice for the labelling of workplace substances [NOHSC:2012 (1994)]

site plans, maps and specifications

Basic principles of sampling

Basic principles of sampling include:

representative samples

preservation of integrity of samples

maintaining identification of samples relative to their source, enterprise and legal traceability

cost-effectiveness of sampling

consistency of sampling procedures

sampling principles, including random, systematic and stratified sampling

Materials sampled

Materials sampled may include:

gas or air samples

liquid samples, such as water, groundwater, waste water, stormwater, sludges and sewage

solid samples, such as soil, sediments, rocks, concrete, quarry and mining material

solid wastes

raw materials, start, middle, end of production run samples, final products and materials used in production processes, such as flocculants

plants

animals

microbiological samples

Types of samples

Types of samples may include:

grab samples

composite samples

quality control samples

research or one-off samples

environmental or survey samples

Sampling tools and equipment

Sampling tools and equipment may include:

shovels, augers and chain saws

sampling frames, sampling tubes, dip tubes, spears, flexible bladders and syringes

front-end loader, backhoe, excavator and drill rig

sample bottles or containers, plastic containers and disposable buckets

access valves

sample thief

auto samplers

pumps and stainless steel bailers

traps and cages

sterile containers, pipettes, inoculating loops and disposable spoons

Maintenance of integrity of samples

Maintenance of integrity of samples may include:

use of compatible container, such as glass, plastic, amber and opaque bottles

use of appropriate preservatives, such as sodium azide, toluene or antibiotics

decontamination of sampling tools between collection of consecutive samples

wrapping container in foil

purging of sample lines and boxes

handling and transport to avoid disturbance or damage

temperature control which may involve insulation of sample without direct contact with the coolant

wrapping in wet newspaper, cloth, sand or sawdust

transfer of sterile sample into sterile container

monitoring of storage conditions

Site and sampling hazards

Site and sampling hazards may include:

solar radiation, dust and noise

wildlife, such as snakes, spiders and domestic animals

biohazards, such as micro-organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, and human or animal tissue and fluids

chemicals, such as acids and hydrocarbons

aerosols

sharps and broken glassware

manual handling of heavy sample bags and containers

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery and hand tools

vehicular and pedestrian traffic

Safety procedures

Safety procedures may include:

use of MSDS

use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, gowns, body suits, respirators and safety boots

use of biohazard containers and laminar flow cabinets

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 decontaminating equipment and work areas

machinery guards

signage, barriers, service isolation tags, traffic control and flashing lights

lockout and tag-out procedures

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