Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.
All personnel that conduct sampling and testing have defined roles and responsibilities within the enterprise's quality system. Their roles and responsibilities are set out in quality manuals and workplace procedures.

Quality manuals and workplace procedures may be based on standards, codes and regulations, such as
AS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
Food Standards Code 2002 Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) and amendments
AQIS Export Control Orders
NATA accreditation procedures
AOAC standards
ADAC regulations
ISO 9000 series Quality management and quality assurance standards
AS 2830 Good laboratory practice
Therapeutic Goods Act
Codes of Practice, such as good laboratory practice (GLP) and good manufacturing practice (GMP)
OECD Principles of good laboratory practice
customer specific requirements/standards.

Quality control procedures may include
standards imposed by regulatory and licensing bodies
enterprise quality procedures
working to a customer brief and associated quality procedures
checklists to monitor job progress against agreed time, costs and quality standards
the use of hold points to evaluate conformance
the use of inspection and test plans to check compliance.

Sustainable energy principles and work practices may include
examining work practices that use excessive electricity
switching off equipment when not in use
regularly cleaning filters
insulating rooms and buildings to reduce energy use
recycling and reusing materials wherever practicable
minimising process waste.

Reporting may involve
verbal responses
data entry into laboratory information management system (LIMS) or enterprise databases
brief written reports using enterprise proformas.

Quality improvement opportunities that relate to the work of laboratory assistants could include
improved methods for sampling, testing and recording data
improved hygiene and sanitation procedures
minimisation of waste and rework
improved laboratory layout and work flow.

Health, safety and environment
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
All operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.

The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence.
Critical aspects of competency

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard. In particular, assessors should look to see that the candidate:

applies required quality control procedures during sampling, testing and the recording of data
provides quality products and services to customers in keeping with their role
resolves simple customer requirements
minimises waste and rework
contributes to improvements in productivity and quality through teamwork and commitment to personal work standards.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

role of internal and external audits
quality requirements of the candidate's job role and function(s)
continuous improvement and waste minimisation principles
recording, reporting and document control requirements.
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.

Knowledge is also required of the:

products and services provided by the enterprise
layout of the enterprise, divisions, and laboratory
organisational structure of the enterprise
lines of communication
role of laboratory services to the enterprise and customers
scheduling of tests and procedures to meet customer requirements
enterprise procedures associated with the candidate's regular technical duties.

Assessment context and methods
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of quality control data collected by the candidate
review of quality improvements suggested by the candidate
feedback from supervisors and peers
oral or written questions about quality concepts and enterprise procedures
flow charts or diagrams prepared by the candidate to describe work flows and workplace layout (alternatively, the candidate could explain existing charts or diagrams).
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. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.

Interdependent assessment of unit

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

PMLCOM300B Communicate with other people
technical units of competency dealing with sampling and testing.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

enterprise quality manual and procedures
standard operating procedures (SOPs).

This competency in practice
Laboratory assistants must have a good working knowledge of quality control procedures and how they contribute to the achievement of enterprise quality objectives. An assistant was measuring the moisture content of coke by a standard method. The standard operating procedure (SOP) for this test stated that the limits for moisture should be between 2% and 5% by weight. The assistant obtained a result of 5.8%. The assistant had followed the standard operating procedure (SOP) correctly and performed the determination in triplicate and had confidence in the precision of the result. The assistant ' recognised and reported the non-conformance' to the laboratory supervisor. The production manager took corrective action and modified the drying process to reduce the moisture content and provide a product which met the customer's requirements.
A laboratory assistant working in the pathology department of a rural hospital was responsible for serum lithium estimations by flame photometry. When asked by the office staff when the lithium results would be ready, the assistant replied that the testing schedule of the laboratory meant that the test would not be done until the following week and asked why the office staff needed to know. The answer was that an outpatient clinic was being held, and the results were needed for a consultation. Although samples were often taken a week before the clinic was to be held, the assistant realised that results were not always ready for the clinic because of the testing schedule of the laboratory. The assistant reported the situation to the laboratory supervisor. The supervisor rescheduled lithium testing to match the clinic times, so that results would always be ready for the clinic consultation. This pleased the clinic staff, the patient did not waste a visit, the office staff no longer got irate phone calls and the quality of service was improved overall.
A fruit processing company produced many tonnes of solid vegetable waste annually. This was dumped as landfill at considerable cost and the local council was concerned that the method of disposal was not sustainable. The laboratory assistants at the company were included in a quality improvement team to investigate the problem. The team concentrated on alternative production methods to minimise waste yields and additional production methods that would enable the waste to be profitably utilised. They identified four potential uses of the waste: a source of pectin, alcohol and sugar and conversion of raw fruit peel to glazed peel. A cost-benefit analysis was performed in consultation with supporting industries, including a local winery to assess the merits of these value adding activities. The outcome was that the amount of waste produced by the company was significantly reduced with much of the waste channelled into marketable products with full cost recovery. After some initial doubts, the laboratory personnel realised that they were able to make useful contributions to the project. As a result, they became part of an ongoing investigation of waste minimisation and value adding practices.

The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered for effective work participation. The bracketed numbering against each of the key competencies indicates the performance level required in this unit. These are stand-alone levels and do not correspond to levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Level (1) represents the competence to undertake tasks effectively
Level (2) represents the competence to manage tasks
Level (3) represents the competence to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Communicating ideas and information
(1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(1)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(1)

Using technology
(1)