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.
This unit of competency assumes that the technical officer would perform tests and procedures under the close supervision of scientific staff. It is expected that all work would conform to statutory and enterprise occupational health and safety Codes of Practice.

Information sources may include
enterprise procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and operating manuals
test procedures (validated and authorised)
laboratory sampling procedures (labelling, preparation, storage, transport and disposal)
safety procedures to minimise contraction of zoonoses
safety requirements for equipment, materials or products
quality system and continued improvement processes
incident and accident/injury reports
schematics, work flows, laboratory layouts
instructions to comply with new legislation, standards, guidelines and codes
stock records and inventory
waste minimisation, disposal protocols and environment protection procedures.

Items of equipment, reagents, specimens and systems for botanical and zoological techniques. may include
dissecting, stereo and other microscopes, hand lenses
dissecting equipment
balances and scales
calipers, rules and measuring tapes
pH meters, dissolved oxygen probes and other potentiometric equipment
spectrometers
physiological monitors for temperature, respiration
monitors for experimental variables, such as temperature, humidity
hand held microtomes and microtome knives (non-disposable or disposable)
tissue processors
incubators, water baths, controlled environment chambers
greenhouse
volumetric glassware and measuring devices
general laboratory glassware and equipment identified with an anatomical pathology laboratory
chemicals for preparation of nutrient and culture requirements
chemicals for tests of plant and animal physiology and pathology
reference material for quality control and quality assurance systems
computer or other classification keys
laboratory information management systems, databases, record and filing systems, including specimen accessioning.

Communication may involve
scientists
field workers
local government professionals or representatives of State authorities, such as environmental protection agencies
supervisors, managers (laboratory, quality and customer service)
clients.

Hazards may include
microbiological organisms and agents, associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, human or animal tissue and fluids
solar radiation, dust and noise
chemicals, such as acids, solvents and stains
sharps, broken glassware
flammable liquids and gases
fluids under pressure, such as steam, industrial gases
disturbance or interruption of services.

Safe work practices may include
ensuring access to service shut off points
recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs
labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials
handling and storage of hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, materials safety data sheets and manufacturer's instructions
identifying and reporting operating problems or equipment malfunctions
cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using enterprise procedures
using personal protective equipment, such as gloves, safety glasses, coveralls, gown, hearing protection, safety boots
using containment facilities (PCII, PCIII and PCIV physical containment laboratories), containment equipment (biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, Class I, II and III biohazard cabinets) and containment procedures
following established manual handling procedures
reporting abnormal emissions, discharges and airborne contaminants, such as noise, light, solids, liquids, water/waste water, gases, smoke, vapour, fumes, odour and particulates to appropriate personnel.

Disposal of biohazardous wastes may include
collection for sterilization by autoclaving (for example, autoclaving of microbiological plates)
appropriate storage (for example, of waste containing radioactive isotopes)
use of biohazard waste containers.

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. The candidate must be able to contribute to the identification and classification of animals and plants for scientific and experimental purposes and to participate in the monitoring of the physiology and interactions of plants and animals and their environments.

In particular, the assessor should look to see that the candidate:

relates field and laboratory data for the generation of meaningful results
takes representative samples for analysis
works safely for the protection of him/herself and coworkers
communicates appropriately with customers and is cognisance of cultural and social contexts
does not contaminate sterile environments or specimens when performing aseptic manipulations in microbiological procedures and tissue culture
disposes of wastes carefully for the protection of those who may handle and process wastes and to minimise contamination of the environment.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain the:

growth requirements of organisms that are subjects of laboratory or greenhouse culture or propagation
general anatomy of plants and animals that is useful as classification data
processes that are essential for preservation of plant and animal material for use as reference material
relationships between field and laboratory data that are useful in giving commentary on the integrity or distress in biological environments
rationale for selection of techniques used to monitor the experimental environment and the effects of variables on organisms in the experimental environment
uses of environmental impact statements that incorporate the results of field and laboratory analyses
enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.
Competency includes the ability to communicate relevant scientific and technical concepts and terminology accurately to supervisors, peers and clients.

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 data/results obtained by the candidate over time to ensure accuracy, consistency and timeliness of results
inspection of records and workplace documentation completed by the candidate
observation of the candidate processing specimens and/or conducting analyses
review of computer and literature research of data to support an experiment
questioning about procedures that form part of experiments in progress

review of case studies prepared by the candidate, such as:

relating field and laboratory data in an environmental impact statement
preservation of plant species and placement in a herbarium
plant propagation in a variety of controlled environments
maintenance of cultures of protozoans or invertebrates.
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:

PMLTEST408A Undertake environmental field-based monitoring
PMLDATA500B Analyse data and report results.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

equipment and resources for investigating the physiology of plants and animals in the laboratory
enterprise procedures, sampling plans, test methods, equipment manuals
computers and programs for simulated experiments or data analysis.

This competency in practice
A technical officer has been asked to preserve plant specimens and compile a report of classified species using material and data collected during a recent visit to a decommissioned open cut mine site and its adjacent areas. The supervising ecologist has been asked to advise the mine owner about replacement planting to restore the mine site in sympathy with its locality. The technical officer records descriptions of features of each specimen. They use this data to classify the species by referring to the field report, atlases and specimens in the reference herbarium. They then prepare each specimen for drying and preservation in readiness for labelling and cataloguing. To compile the report, the technical officer prepares a map of the area to be regenerated. The map details the topographic features and illustrates possible species which could be planted. To assist the landscape contractors, the technical officer advises where the required species can be purchased and the type of soils required for growth.
A technical officer, who worked for a large aluminium smelter, was asked to examine some grapevine leaves that a local farmer argued were affected by fluoride emissions from the plant. Initially, the leaves were subjected to a detailed microscopic examination using standard procedures developed by the company covering the effect of gaseous pollutants (such as ozone and fluoride) on major natural and/or agricultural plants. The preliminary findings suggested that the leaves were affected by a fungi rather than fluoride. However, given the sensitive nature of the issue, they checked with the supervisor and arranged to send the affected leaves to a nearby university for a second opinion. This additional study also concluded that the impact on the leaves was not due to fluoride.

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
(2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(2)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)