Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Need for euthanasia may include:
accidents
cull of production
environmental failure; fire or other trauma
excessive aggression
meeting the requirements of product quality assurance
outbreak of disease
reaching the end point of research
the need to alleviate uncontrollable pain and distress.
Methods of euthanasia may include:
chemical or physical methods of euthanasia:
barbiturate overdose through an acceptable injection route
captive bolt
cervical dislocation
decapitation by guillotine
gas
gunshot
microwave.
Equipment and materials that may be required to conduct euthanasia include:
carbon dioxide gas cylinders and regulators
captive bolts
chemicals
drugs
needles
sealed and approved containment cages
scales
syringes
restraining devices and drugs.
Location should be selected to ensure:
animals are euthanised in a quiet, clean environment and normally away from other animals.
OHS risks associated with euthanasing animals may include:
animal bites, kicks, scratches and crush injuries
biological hazardous waste and sharps disposal
cross-contamination between project classified clean and dirty animals
escape of animals and subsequent threat to safety of humans and other animals
gas leakage
handling of chemicals and medicines
inhalation of aerosol particles
intraocular contamination
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
needle pricks and cuts from other sharps
potential injuries to humans during capture, handling and transport processes
release of infective agents (animal and human)
slippery or uneven work surfaces
transmission of zoonotic diseases.
Statutory requirements that impact on the euthanasia of animals include:
approval from the institution's AEC
relevant codes of practice, including the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes
local government regulations covering the transport and disposal of hazardous wastes
relevant state or territory legislation and regulations such as those relating to:
firearms usage
fisheries
prevention of cruelty to animals
quarantine
the practice of veterinary surgery
the administration and storage of therapeutic and controlled substances
wildlife.
Grief and stress coping mechanisms may include:
advising workplace supervisor of the situation
seeking and accepting support from colleagues
seeking and accepting assistance from professional counsellors
practising stress management techniques
requesting and participating in formal or informal debriefing sessions.

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
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. Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
prepare and maintain required materials and equipment
select and apply appropriate methods of euthanasia to kill a range of research animals in a humane, rapid and appropriate manner for the approved endpoint in accordance with supervisor's instructions, relevant codes of practice, legislation and codes of practice
dispose of animal carcasses and biological waste not required for research or post-mortem purposes in accordance with statutory requirements
decontaminate, clean and store equipment and materials or dispose of them accordingly
use appropriate coping mechanisms to deal with personal distress or grief
maintain accurate records.

The skills and knowledge required to conduct euthanasia of research animals must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts and include the ability to deal with unplanned events.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
All activities and procedures must be performed in accordance with animal welfare legislation, ethical and approved project protocols under supervision of a senior or more experienced staff member.

Assessment of this unit is to be practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal technology research facility.

There must be access to a range of research animals as well as relevant information, equipment and/or resources to enable one to demonstrate competence.

Method of assessment
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated, to industry defined standards, on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and over a number of assessment activities.

The assessment strategies must include practical skills assessment. Suggested strategies for this unit are:
written and/or oral assessment of candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and first-hand testimonial evidence of candidate's application of practical tasks
simulation exercises that reproduce normal work conditions
case study analysis
third-party evidence
workplace documentation.

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).