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Evidence Guide: MSS025002A - Assess the environmental risk or impact of a project activity or process

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

 

MSS025002A - Assess the environmental risk or impact of a project activity or process

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

Clarify the project activity or process and environmental management framework

  1. Review the history of the project activity or process and scope of the required risk/impact assessment
  2. Identify relevant legislative, regulatory and/or licensing requirements
  3. Access and interpret available information about the site, including relevant enterprise environmental management documents and/or risk assessment guidelines
  4. Prepare a detailed description of all phases of the project or process and the site/project environment
  5. Confirm project/process details, risk assessment procedure and risk assessment criteria with supervisor
Review the history of the project activity or process and scope of the required risk/impact assessment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify relevant legislative, regulatory and/or licensing requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Access and interpret available information about the site, including relevant enterprise environmental management documents and/or risk assessment guidelines

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prepare a detailed description of all phases of the project or process and the site/project environment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Confirm project/process details, risk assessment procedure and risk assessment criteria with supervisor

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify environmental issues for project activity or process

  1. Consult with enterprise personnel to identify relevant environmental issues
  2. Seek supervisor’s advice if input from community representatives and/or environmental specialists may be required
  3. Identify significant hazards and short/long-term risks associated with the process or project activity
  4. Analyse each part of the process or project for impacts on the physical, biological and social components of the local environment and ecological linkages operating at the site
  5. Identify both positive and negative impacts
Consult with enterprise personnel to identify relevant environmental issues

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seek supervisor’s advice if input from community representatives and/or environmental specialists may be required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify significant hazards and short/long-term risks associated with the process or project activity

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Analyse each part of the process or project for impacts on the physical, biological and social components of the local environment and ecological linkages operating at the site

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify both positive and negative impacts

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assess environmental risks and impacts

  1. Use agreed assessment criteria to evaluate project activity or process against relevant legislative, regulatory and/or licensing requirements, site terms/conditions, community values, and enterprise environmental management policies/plans
  2. Summarise all significant environmental risks or impacts and the evidence used to justify the assessment
Use agreed assessment criteria to evaluate project activity or process against relevant legislative, regulatory and/or licensing requirements, site terms/conditions, community values, and enterprise environmental management policies/plans

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summarise all significant environmental risks or impacts and the evidence used to justify the assessment

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evaluate alternatives

  1. Review enterprise environmental management documents to identify specified methods for controlling risks and minimising impacts at the site
  2. Work with relevant enterprise personnel and experts to consider alternative solutions, as necessary
  3. Identify possible amendments to project activities, alternative processes or improved environmental management actions to minimise risks or impacts
  4. Identify feasible and economically viable solutions and document the case for adopting them
Review enterprise environmental management documents to identify specified methods for controlling risks and minimising impacts at the site

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Work with relevant enterprise personnel and experts to consider alternative solutions, as necessary

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify possible amendments to project activities, alternative processes or improved environmental management actions to minimise risks or impacts

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Identify feasible and economically viable solutions and document the case for adopting them

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Report findings

  1. Report the assessment of environmental risks or impacts in the required format and expected timeframe
  2. Brief supervisor and/or stakeholders about the environmental assessment process and outcomes
Report the assessment of environmental risks or impacts in the required format and expected timeframe

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brief supervisor and/or stakeholders about the environmental assessment process and outcomes

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

Overview of assessment

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.

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

Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered by this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:

interpreting and applying enterprise procedures and tools for conducting assessments of environmental risks or impacts

identifying the significant environment risks and impacts for specified project activities or processes

logically assessing risks and impacts using enterprise assessment criteria

evaluating existing methods for controlling risks and minimising impacts, and suggesting improvements or practical alternatives

recognising the limits of their technical competence, role and responsibility

working safely.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.

Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

MSS025015A Plan and conduct environmental project work.

The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.

Resources may include:

enterprise environmental management documentation for site

enterprise risk assessment procedures and tools.

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of reports of risk/impact assessments for project activities or processes prepared by the candidate

feedback from peers and supervisors that the candidate consistently follows enterprise risk assessment procedures and works safely

oral/written questioning about environmental risk/impact assessment tasks typically conducted by environmental officers under supervision.

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.

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.

Guidance information for assessment

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required skills

Required skills include:

interpreting and applying legislative, enterprise and site requirements and procedures

planning and conducting environmental project work

listening and communicating effectively with clients, environmental scientists/engineers and community members

identifying and assessing hazards, environmental risks and impacts using established assessment criteria and enterprise procedures

using computer software (e.g. databases, spreadsheets and specialist programs)

defining and solving problems where alternatives are not obvious and where investigations may be required and the implications of various solutions considered

seeking advice when issues/problems are beyond scope of competence/responsibility

writing reports using enterprise formats and guidelines

presenting findings to stakeholders

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

environmental terms, concepts and principles relevant to project activities or processes

awareness of environmental management documentation (e.g. environmental impact assessment, environmental impact assessment and public environment report) and environmental assessment process required for new major projects or developments

awareness of roles, functions and responsibilities of environmental officers, environmental scientists, engineers and planners, and regulators

relevant legislation, regulations, licences and permit requirements for enterprise operations at site

enterprise environmental management framework of policy, procedures and management plans for site

project activities or process phases

enterprise procedures for identifying/assessing and controlling hazards/risks/impacts associated with project activities or processes on site

typical kinds of impacts of project activities or processes on the physical and ecological environment, infrastructure, land use, social issues and community values

enterprise project planning, management and reporting requirements

relevant health and safety requirements and enterprise safe work procedures

Range Statement

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

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

federal legislation, such as:

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

Australian Heritage Council Act 2003

Native Title Act 1993

state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, 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

Australian and international standards, such as:

AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set

enterprise or regulator procedures for sampling, monitoring and in-field testing

enterprise procedures and tools for assessment of environmental risks and impacts

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

enterprise environmental management plans for sites and projects

safe work procedures

Project activity or process

The project activity or process will be of a complexity consistent with the role of an environmental officer working under the supervision of an environmental scientist, engineer or planner, and may include:

construction activities

plant operations

functions and processes relocating to new premises

changes in processes involving changes in use of products or generation of waste

production of new materials

any work activities with significant risk to, or potential impact on, the environment

Enterprise environmental management documents

Enterprise environmental management documents may include:

notice of intention, initial advice statement

environmental impact assessment

environmental impact statement

public environment report

environmental management plans for specific sites and projects

site environmental management procedures and actions for specific issues

site environmental management action checklists

quality verification checklists

work method statements

job hazard analyses

reporting forms

Site or project environment

Site or project environment may include:

physical, biological and social components

land uses and tenures

climate

geology, landforms and soils

surface and groundwater, water quality and hydrology

air quality and dust

noise

pollutants and contaminants

vegetation, plant diseases, clearance and weeds

animal life, habitats, mobility and threats

rare and endangered species

community infrastructure

ethnography of area

archaeology

regional and local demography

Environmental issues

Environmental issues may include:

physical issues, including:

significant land disturbance, erosion, subsidence and instability

alteration of water courses

effects on quality, quantity or availability of surface water or groundwater

salination of water or land

acid drainage

heavy metal contamination

impact on coastal or marine landforms

ecological issues, including:

direct impacts on vegetation

loss of habitat

displacement of fauna

impact on ecological processes and linkages

loss of biodiversity

potential for spreading plant diseases and noxious weeds

impact of toxic or hazardous materials

creation of new habitats

land use issues, including:

major changes of land use

compatibility of development with surrounding land uses

preclusion of alternative land use (e.g. conservation or recreation)

increased demand on scarce natural resources

creation of new water storage and supplies

creation of opportunities for alternative beneficial land uses

social issues, including:

influx of population

impact on health and safety

changes in community character

creation of employment

increased revenue for local communities

community and cultural aspects

infrastructure issues, such as load on existing roads

impact on services, including utilities, health, education and community services

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