Elements and Performance Criteria

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
state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:
land use, acquisition, planning and protection
environmental protection
pollution and contaminated sites
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS/NZS 3580 series Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air
AS 2365 series Methods for the sampling and analysis of indoor air
AS 2986 series Workplace air quality
National Environment Protection Measure (Ambient Air Quality)
enterprise sampling and monitoring protocols
equipment manuals and warranties, supplier catalogue and handbooks
government policy (e.g. environmental protection and impact assessment)
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
site-specific requirements
Air quality management activities
Air quality management activities will vary greatly with the type of site/project/program. They could involve either ambient air monitoring or source emission testing and may include:
determination of sampling point locations, sampling methods, number and type of samples, duration and frequency of sampling
specification of site sampling plans
specification of site equipment, such as instruments, and sampling ports/platforms to meet quality and safety requirements
arranging/conducting the set-up, calibration, (re)configuration, maintenance and troubleshooting of equipment
liaison with site personnel to coordinate process operations and sampling programs to ensure representative results
instruction and auditing of personnel to ensure monitoring, sampling and testing methods or procedures are followed
analysis and verification of results
investigation of unexpected and unacceptable results, including non-compliances
liaison/negotiation with regulators about licence conditions, and explanation of results and non-compliances
specification of air quality management actions for sites
site inspections to monitor the effectiveness of air quality management actions
Ambient air parameters
Ambient air parameters may include:
inorganic gases:
CO, CO2, NOx andSOx
acid gases
H2S
ozone
fluorides
organic gases:
methane and non-methane hydrocarbons
poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
organic oxidants and other photochemical smog compounds (e.g. poly-aromatic nitrates (PANs))
air toxics:
benzene, toluene and xylenes
formaldehyde
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH marker)
particulates:
deposited matter
suspended matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1)
particulate fluorides
lead
Indoor air parameters
Indoor air parameters may include:
inorganic gases, such as:
CO, CO2 andNOx
radon
organic gases, such as:
formaldehyde
PAHs
organic oxidants and other photochemical smog compounds (e.g. PANs)
particulates, such as:
suspended matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1)
microorganisms and spores
Occupational (workplace) air parameters
Occupational (workplace) air parameters may include chemicals listed in the ‘Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment’. Concentration levels for action are:
peak
short term exposure limit (STEL)
time weighted average (TWA)
Sampling equipment
Sampling equipment may include:
gas sample bags and gas sample bottles/containers
gas pipettes and gas syringes
air sampling pumps
sampling manifolds
passive diffusion samplers
impingers (with absorption solutions)
solid adsorbents
colour detection tubes
coated and uncoated filters
sampling trains in continuous gas monitors
pitot tubes
high volume samplers
dichotomous samplers
gas flow meters
Testing equipment
Testing equipment may include:
continuous gas monitors
ultraviolet (UV) absorption (e.g. ozone)
chemiluminescence (e.g. NOx)
pulsed fluorescence (e.g. (SOx)
non-dispersive Infrared (e.g. CO)
flame ionisation detection (FID) (e.g. methane)
photo ionisation detection (PID)
integrating nephelometer methodologies (e.g. suspended particulates)
oxygen sensors (e.g. zirconia)
gas chromatographs
mass spectrometers
atomic absorption spectrophotometers
infrared spectrophotometers
UV-visible spectrophotometers
tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM)
beta gauges
particle counters
portable (handheld) gas monitors
Air quality reports
Air quality reports may include:
weekly and monthly environmental reports
non-conformance report form
contributions to regulatory agency reports (where required by permit, approval or licence conditions)
Air quality records
Air quality records may include:
digital photographs of air quality monitoring sites
data files
records required by permit, approval or licence conditions
records of monitoring equipment purchase, calibration, inspection, maintenance and service
records of complaints and government requests
records of air quality non-conformances, incidents, or significant impacts
contractor and supplier information
internal quality/environmental audit reports
electronic/hard copy correspondence
records of approved expenditure, orders
Air quality management actions
Air quality management actions will vary greatly with the type of site and industrial processes involved and may include:
use of adsorbers, filters and scrubbers
use of water and/or enclosing transfer points, operating equipment and discharge points to reduce dust
covering and/or watering stockpiles when not in use
keeping vehicle movements to engineered routes
using appropriate dust suppressants
limiting clearance/excavation areas to minimise ground disturbance
using mulch or vegetation cover to stabilise soils
prohibiting the burning of vegetation or waste
limiting or ceasing activities (e.g. dusty work) during unfavourable weather conditions (e.g. high wind)
use of wind breaks and wind fences to prevent migration of dust
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

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 in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:
planning and implementing the day-to-day air quality management activities for a site, project or ongoing program
explaining air quality management plans, procedures, sampling/monitoring methods and operation of monitoring equipment clearly and accurately
verifying the accuracy and completeness of air quality data, results and technical records
investigating unexpected or unacceptable air quality results in a logical and efficient manner
reporting air quality results, performance and opportunities for improvements in accordance with enterprise procedures
maintaining air quality records in accordance with legislative/licensing/enterprise requirements.
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:
MSS027011A Select, commission and maintain environmental monitoring instruments.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
site/project/program history
relevant legislation, codes, standards, enterprise environmental management policies, plans, actions, procedures, checklists and equipment manuals
air quality data sets, records and reports
sampling methods and description of monitoring set-up, access to monitoring, sampling and testing equipment
computer and relevant software or enterprise information management system.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of air quality data files, results and records verified by the candidate
feedback from managers and site personnel regarding the candidate’s ability to safely coordinate day-to-day air quality management activities
review of reports and recommended improvements to air quality monitoring or management prepared by the candidate
questions to assess understanding of procedures governing the validation of data; acceptability of data/results; sources of air quality data variability, interferences and uncertainty; and relevant preventative or corrective actions
analysis of case studies/reports of relevant air quality management issues and incidents
observation of the candidate providing air quality management information and/or instruction to other personnel.
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