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Evidence Guide: MSL974010A - Perform mechanical tests

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

 

MSL974010A - Perform mechanical tests

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

Interpret and schedule test requirements

  1. Review test request to identify samples to be tested, test method and equipment/instruments involved
  2. Identify hazards and enterprise control measures associated with the sample, preparation/test methods and/or equipment
  3. Plan work sequences to optimise throughput of multiple samples, if appropriate
Review test request to identify samples to be tested, test method and equipment/instruments involved

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify hazards and enterprise control measures associated with the sample, preparation/test methods and/or equipment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plan work sequences to optimise throughput of multiple samples, if appropriate

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Receive samples and prepare test pieces

  1. Log samples using standard operating procedures (SOPs)
  2. Record sample description, compare with specification and note and report discrepancies
  3. Prepare test pieces, and standards if appropriate, in accordance with mechanical testing requirements
  4. Ensure traceability of samples from receipt to reporting of results
Log samples using standard operating procedures (SOPs)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record sample description, compare with specification and note and report discrepancies

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare test pieces, and standards if appropriate, in accordance with mechanical testing requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure traceability of samples from receipt to reporting of results

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check equipment before use

  1. Set up equipment/instruments in accordance with test method requirements
  2. Perform pre-use and safety checks in accordance with relevant enterprise and operating procedures
  3. Identify faulty or unsafe components and equipment and report to appropriate personnel
  4. Check equipment calibration using specified procedures, if applicable
  5. Quarantine out-of-calibration equipment/instruments
Set up equipment/instruments in accordance with test method requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perform pre-use and safety checks in accordance with relevant enterprise and operating procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify faulty or unsafe components and equipment and report to appropriate personnel

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check equipment calibration using specified procedures, if applicable

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Quarantine out-of-calibration equipment/instruments

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test samples to determine mechanical properties

  1. Operate equipment/instruments in accordance with test method requirements
  2. Perform tests/procedures on all test pieces and standards, if appropriate in accordance with specified methods
  3. Shut down equipment/instruments in accordance with operating procedures
Operate equipment/instruments in accordance with test method requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Perform tests/procedures on all test pieces and standards, if appropriate in accordance with specified methods

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shut down equipment/instruments in accordance with operating procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Process and interpret data

  1. Record test data noting atypical observations
  2. Ensure calculated values are consistent with expectations
  3. Record and report results in accordance with enterprise procedures
  4. Estimate and document uncertainty of measurement in accordance with enterprise procedures, if required
  5. Interpret trends in data and/or results and report out of specification or atypical results promptly to appropriate personnel
  6. Determine if obvious procedure or equipment problems have led to atypical data or results
Record test data noting atypical observations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure calculated values are consistent with expectations

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Record and report results in accordance with enterprise procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Estimate and document uncertainty of measurement in accordance with enterprise procedures, if required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interpret trends in data and/or results and report out of specification or atypical results promptly to appropriate personnel

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Determine if obvious procedure or equipment problems have led to atypical data or results

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain a safe work environment

  1. Use established work practices and personal protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of other laboratory personnel
  2. Minimise the generation of wastes and environmental impacts
  3. Ensure the safe collection of laboratory and hazardous waste for subsequent disposal
  4. Care for and store equipment, used test pieces and back-up samples as required
Use established 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 environmental impacts

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ensure the safe collection of laboratory and hazardous waste for subsequent disposal

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Care for and store equipment, used test pieces and back-up samples as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain laboratory records

  1. Enter approved data into laboratory information management system (LIMS)
  2. Maintain confidentiality and security of enterprise information and laboratory data
  3. Maintain equipment and calibration logs in accordance with enterprise procedures
Enter approved data into laboratory information management system (LIMS)

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain confidentiality and security of enterprise information and laboratory data

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintain equipment and calibration logs in accordance with enterprise procedures

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:

interpret test methods/procedures accurately

prepare and test samples in accordance with specified methods

perform calibration checks (if required)

safely operate test equipment/instruments to enterprise standards and/or manufacturer's specifications

apply basic knowledge of physical properties of materials to interpret gross features of data and make relevant conclusions

identify atypical results, such as out of normal range or an artefact

trace and source obvious causes of an artefact

communicate problems to a supervisor or outside service technician

record and communicate results in accordance with enterprise procedures

maintain security, integrity and traceability of samples, sub-samples, test data/results and documentation.

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.

Resources may include:

standard laboratory equipped with appropriate test equipment/instruments, standards and materials

enterprise procedures and standard methods.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of test data/results obtained by the candidate over a period of time to check accuracy, consistency and timeliness of results

review of test records and workplace documentation completed by the candidate

observation of candidate conducting a range of mechanical tests and sample preparation procedures

feedback from peers and supervisors

oral or written questioning of mechanical principles and concepts, test methods and enterprise procedures.

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.

Construction materials

A technical assistant is responsible for compressive strength testing of concrete cylinders. Typically, there are 20 to 30 to be tested each day. On arrival in the morning the assistant records the maximum and minimum temperatures of the curing tanks, locates the particular cylinders to be tested and removes them from the tanks. She/he dries each cylinder, weighs it and measures its diameter and length using a comparator gauge. The ends are checked for excessive roughness and non-parallelism. She/he then starts the compression test machine and checks that the load pacer is set to the correct loading rate. She/he places a rubber cap on the finished end of each cylinder in turn and places it centrally on the platen of the load frame. The assistant closes the protective screen, applies load at the specified rate until failure occurs, and records the maximum load. After the cylinder has failed, the assistant removes it from the platen and checks for invalid failure modes. When this occurs (e.g. a shear failure) she/he puts the cylinder aside for further investigation. Any debris is removed from the platen and the next cylinder is tested. When all cylinders have been tested, the assistant cleans away any material left on the compression machine and switches it off. She/he enters all the data in into the laboratory information management system (LIMS) which calculates the unit mass and ultimate compressive strength of each cylinder. Finally, the assistant reviews the data for unusual or unexpected results that may indicate an error.

Manufacturing

A technician is asked to test a new polymeric material that is to be used to manufacture children's toys. The technician makes several representative test pieces and measures the elastic properties of the polymer as well as the durability of the polymer to flex many times without cracking. Because the polymer is to be used in a toy, the technician also dispatches samples of the polymer for chemical testing by a consulting laboratory to determine whether any toxic monomer could leach out if a child sucked the toy.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

Required skills include:

using instruments for qualitative and/or quantitative analysis

interpreting test methods and procedures

sample preparation procedures

performing calibration checks

metrology techniques underpinning test/procedure including estimating uncertainty

using instruments for qualitative and/or quantitative analysis

maintaining and evaluating reagents

troubleshooting basic equipment/method

preparing calibration graphs and calculating results using appropriate units and precision

applying theoretical knowledge to interpret gross features of data and make relevant conclusions such as identifying atypical results as out of normal range or an artefact

tracing and sourcing obvious causes of an artefact

recording and communicating results in accordance with enterprise procedures

maintaining security, integrity, traceability of samples, sub-samples, test data, results and documentation

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

mechanical principles and concepts underpinning the test/procedure

purpose of tests

metrology techniques underpinning test/procedure

principles and concepts related to equipment/instrument operation and testing

function of key components of the equipment/instrument

effects on test of modifying equipment/instrument variables

sample preparation procedures

basic equipment/method troubleshooting procedures

calibration procedures

calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision

enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

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 1012 Methods of testing concrete

AS 1289 Methods for testing soils for engineering purposes

AS ISO 1000-1998 The international system of units (SI) and its application

AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories

AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set

AS/NZS ISO 9000 Set:2008 Quality management systems set

ISO 5269 Pulps - Preparation of laboratory sheets for physical testing

ISO 9142:2003 Adhesives - Guide to the selection of standard laboratory ageing conditions for testing bonded joints

Australian code of good manufacturing practice for medicinal products (GMP)

calibration and maintenance schedules

data quality procedures

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

material, production and product specifications

national measurement regulations and guidelines

principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

production and laboratory schedules

quality manuals, equipment and procedures manuals

SOPs

Mechanical principles and concepts underpinning the test/procedure

Mechanical principles and concepts underpinning the test/procedure may include:

matter, interatomic and intermolecular forces and states of matter

mass, weight, forces, pressure and energy

cohesive/adhesive forces, friction and slip resistance

elasticity, hardness, ductility, malleability, strength of materials, elastic limit, elastic moduli and ultimate stress

electrical concepts, including electric field, voltage, current, resistance and AC/DC

elasticity, hardness, strength of materials, plasticity, permeability and dispersion

Preparation of samples and test pieces

Preparation of samples and test pieces may include processes such as:

cutting

trimming

machining

etching

Mechanical tests and procedures

Mechanical tests and procedures may include:

adhesive strength

elastic properties and strength of materials

slip resistance and friction

viscosity and torque

creep and endurance

abrasion, hardness, impact, indent and penetration resistance

pressure and/or vacuum testing using manometers and load cells

Tests

Tests may include methods for:

control of starting materials, in-process materials and finished products

investigation of sources of construction materials

basic troubleshooting of enterprise processes

Hazards

Hazards may include:

microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil

chemicals, such as acids and solvents

sharps and hand tools

flammable liquids and gases

cryogenics, such as dry ice and liquid nitrogen

fluids under pressure, such as steam and industrial gases

sources of ignition

disturbance or interruption of services

crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery or falling objects

Hazard control measures

Hazard control measures may include:

ensuring access to service shut-off points

recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs

labelling of samples and hazardous materials

handling and storage for hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, MSDS and manufacturer's instructions

identifying and reporting operating problems or equipment malfunctions

cleaning equipment and work areas regularly using enterprise procedures

using personal protective clothing and equipment, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, coveralls and safety boots

following established manual handling procedures

reporting abnormal emissions, discharges and airborne contaminants, such as noise, light, solids, liquids, water/waste water, gases, smoke, vapour, fumes, odour and particulates to appropriate personnel

Records

Records may include:

test and calibration results

equipment use, maintenance and servicing history

faulty or unsafe equipment

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