Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Type of asbestos containing materials (both friable and non-friable) may include:

Note:
Non-friable asbestos is also known as bonded asbestos
ACM notionally listed as non-friable may become friable due to weathering or damage
acoustic plaster soundproofing
adhesives and glues
asbestos cement
asbestos cement moulded guttering
asbestos cement sheets
asbestos tiles
bitumastic felts and materials
compressed asbestos cement panels
floor vinyl covering
gaskets
mortar
pipe lagging
woven textiles, ropes, tapes and braids
decorative coatings
resinous backing board
sealant mastic
sprayed on fireproofing, soundproofing and thermal insulation
tape
thermal insulation.
Legislation, regulations, code of practice and standards may include:
asbestos WHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice, including those relating to asbestos fibre hazards
exposure standards for atmospheric contaminants in occupational environments
guidance material, such as guidance notes, guides, fact sheets, model regulations and technical reports that provide practical guidance and direction for hazard control
national Safe Work Australia codes
Australian standards
biological exposure indices.
Independent assessment is a:
requirement that is achieved by the licensed asbestos removalist and asbestos assessor being contracted independently to the client or project manager in order to avoid conflicts of interest.
Characteristic and health impacts of exposure to ACM include:
range of diseases
how it is absorbed into the body
how it affects specific parts of the body, such as extent of damage to tissue
dose factors relating to concentration and time.
Accreditation framework must include:
role of NATA and other accredited laboratories
accreditation processes
accreditation status of the assessor
requirements for sampling, testing and reporting for planning purposes
role relationships with and of the accredited assessor.
Compliant removal of asbestos by specialist removalists requires application of methodologies and processes, including:
decontamination of:
worker
tools and equipment
work area and work site
installation, use and disassembly of decontamination units
leak test enclosures
use, maintenance and construction of enclosures
use of:
ARCP
negative air extraction units
PPE.
Work-site documentation may include:
ARCP
building plans and specifications
building surveys.
Areas within the work site where measurementsare to be collected are determined by factors, including:
area or space available
location of removal work area or work site
movements of people and equipment
number of persons occupying area
physical features of equipment, such as emitting sources
tasks or activities being undertaken
type, quantity and location of asbestos in buildings and other sites
waste disposal pathways.
Personal protective equipment used in the monitoring process may include:
protective clothing, such as:
disposable coveralls with fitted hood and cuffs
safety footwear (pull-on, not lace-up)
disposable or protective gloves
respiratory protection class appropriate to the type of asbestos to be removed, which may be P1, P2 or P3
correct face fitting and use of respiratory protective equipment
spare sets of PPE.
Air monitor locations may include:
before asbestos removal activities inside asbestos removal areas
during asbestos removal activities:
areas adjacent to and above and below asbestos removal site
areas of high occupancy in the locality
for removal of friable asbestos:
area near (but not directly behind) negative air exhaust
clean decontamination area
area where underclothes are laundered
after asbestos removal and final cleaning inside the contained work area and work site.
Membrane filter method must conform to the:
requirements of the current edition of the NOHSC Guidance Note on the Membrane Filter Method for Estimating Airborne Asbestos Fibres.
Strategy for sampling may include consideration of:
accessibility and other practical considerations
bulk sampling analysis
fibre counting
frequency of exposure
location of nearby sensitive receptors
size of the workforce (i.e. individual worker or groups of workers)
work shift times.
Operability of equipment checks may include:
battery serviceability
accuracy of calibrated devices
availability of appropriate attachments, leads, filters, etc.
pump fault lights
rejection criteria for flow rate fluctuations
pump back pressure tests
ensuring equipment is NATA or other accredited laboratory tested and certified, with certificate of currency as appropriate.
Equipment may include:
air-monitoring stands
air monitors
battery charges
field sheets
filter cassettes
rotameters
screwdrivers
stopwatches
tubing.
Calibration records are checked for equipment, including:
pumps
rotameters
stopwatches.
Equipment:
is used according to manufacturer specification and professional guidelines
entails processes that include checking the time and flow rate at the start and end of the sample collection period.
Information and data are collected andmay include:
conditions, such as activities and number of people present when measurements were made
date, time and duration of collection
locations where information and data were collected
readouts and measurements taken
required field blanks
sampling method, such as grab, longitudinal or continuous
specifications of equipment used.
Report containing required information and datamay be required for or contain:
exposure monitoring for the purpose of determining the PPE required
control and clearance air-monitoring report
where, when and why measurements were taken
sampling process:
how measurements were taken
specifications of equipment used
locations where samples were taken
conditions at time of sampling, including whether the sampling period represented normal operating conditions
table of results
interpretation and discussion of results
evaluation of results with reference to appropriate standards
completion of the clearance certificate
areas not accessed.
Audience for the report may include:
client
NATA or other accredited laboratory staff
neighbours
occupiers of site
owners and managers
principal/managing contractors
removalists
supervisors
WHS committee or WHS representatives
WHS regulatory bodies.

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
This unit of competency could be assessed in the workplace or a close simulation of the workplace environment, providing that simulated or project-based assessment techniques fully replicate workplace conditions, materials, activities, responsibilities and procedures.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person should demonstrate the ability to:
plan for the asbestos removal assessment process by ensuring access to required documentation and consultation with the client and workplace
interpret and apply the requirements of relevant legislation, regulations, codes of practice and standards to ensure the safe and correct assessment of the removal of ACM
demonstrate understanding of the scientific and technical principles that underpin the ACM removal assessment process
undertake preparations for collecting samples, including identification of sampling areas, the sampling process, sampling schedule, air-monitoring plan and strategy
collect samples from site and handle in a manner that ensures the integrity of the sample, including use of protocols for the chain of custody
prepare samples for analysis and transporting to a NATA or other accredited laboratory
interpret and analyse laboratory results
conduct site inspections, prepare advice to clients and provide clearance certification.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit is to be assessed using standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints.
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge will usually be conducted in an off-site context.
Assessment is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include:
an induction procedure and requirement
realistic tasks or simulated tasks covering the mandatory task requirements
relevant specifications and work instructions
tools and equipment appropriate to applying safe work practices
support materials appropriate to activity
workplace instructions relating to safe work practices and addressing hazards and emergencies
research resources, including industry-related systems information
safety data sheets.
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Construction, Plumbing and Services Training Package
include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice, with a decision on competency only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person’s demonstrated ability and applied knowledge
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence.
Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.
Supplementary evidence of competency may be obtained from relevant authenticated documentation from third parties, such as existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.