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.
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
Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements
Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS 1940-2004 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
AS 2252 Biological safety cabinets
AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set
AS/NZS 4452:1997 The storage and handling of toxic substances
AS/NZS 4501 Set:2008 Occupational clothing set
AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set
HB 9-1994 Occupational personal protection
Australian Dangerous Goods Code
animal welfare legislation and codes of practice
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Import Guidelines
gene technology regulations
Guide to physical containment levels and facility types
National Code of Practice for the labelling of workplace substances (NOHSC:2012 (1994))
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
permits for wildlife capture and handling
principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)
Staff
Staff may include:
curator
conservator
design exhibition project officer
project manager
Requirements of a display plan
Requirements of a display plan may include:
purpose (public display or part of a collection for research purposes)
length of time (permanent or temporary)
accessibility (static or interactive)
type (diorama, live or preserved specimens and additions to existing showcase)
two- or three-dimensional
exclusion of pests
specific features of the specimen to be demonstrated
lighting that is sympathetic to the conservation of the specimen
security (particularly for valuable, vulnerable or irreplaceable specimens)
user friendliness for both visitors and maintenance staff
Collection
Collection may include:
collecting live specimens from the wild
accessing specimens from existing collections in the base or other institutions
netting, trapping and light traps
use of euthanasia techniques, such as shooting, stunning, anaesthetics, gases and chemicals
Hazards
Hazards may include:
electric shock
microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, animal tissue and fluids
solar radiation, dust and noise
chemicals, such as preservatives and stains
sharps, broken glassware and hand tools
flammable liquids and gases
cryogenics, such as dry ice and liquid nitrogen
disturbance or interruption of services
slips, trips and falls
manual handling and working at heights
crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery or falling objects
pedestrian and vehicular traffic
vehicle and boat handling
Hazard control measures
Hazard control measures may include:
ensuring access to service shut-off points
recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs
using material safety data sheets (MSDS)
labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials
handling and storage of all hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, MSDS and manufacturer's instructions
identifying and reporting operating problems or equipment malfunctions
cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using recommended procedures
using personal protective equipment, such as hearing protection, sunscreen lotion, gloves, safety glasses, face guards, coveralls, gowns and safety boots
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
following established procedures for handling animals
Identification
Identification may include:
collection access number
tags and labels on existing specimens
use of field guides, keys and taxonomic charts
collaboration with experts
Suitability of specimen
Suitability of specimen may include:
whole or part
sex, age and breeding condition
type and characteristics
level of preservation
whether dead or alive
inclusion of features for identification, such as flowers, fruit, roots and leaves
Data to be recorded
Data to be recorded may include:
collection information, such as location, time, date, collector, behaviour, environment, depth, altitude, weather and habitat
reference photographs of the environment in the field
reference drawings to characterise colour and shape
identification number, collection access number, collection database and catalogue details
ossification of bird skulls
characteristics of the specimen:
standard measurements (mass, length and size)
plumage characteristics (age, pattern and colour)
flesh characteristics (skin tone, naked flesh texture and internal organs)
sex
X-rays and scans
manual or electronic data
Samples
Samples may include:
DNA
tissue
bone fragments
stomach contents
Preparation for preservation
Preparation for preservation may include:
treatment of the specimen (dissection, mounting, pinning, use of backing boards, fixing, staining, colour retention, latex injection and vascular preservation)
preparation of the display (painting, making of wet boxes, choice of vessel and storage fluid, planning of mould sections and lay up)
maceration of tissue from skeletons by sand, invertebrates, cold or warm water, enzymes, physical removal or chemical treatment
Preservation
Preservation may include:
temporary (freezing)
wet (whole mounts in formalin and tissue staining)
dry (freeze drying, air drying, pressing, taxidermy, including exhibition quality mounts, study skins, tanning and plastination techniques, such as dry mounting of seeds, bird skins, pin mounted invertebrates and pressing of plants)
skeletal (maceration, degreasing, bleaching, articulation and mounting or sectioning (e.g. whale skeletons))
mould and cast (alignate, plaster, stone plaster, polyester, latex, silicone, Vinamould, gelatine, urethane elastomers, glass and carbon fibre (e.g. fish, amphibians and reptiles))
embedding (encapsulation in clear plastic or resin, can be wet or dry techniques)
Detailing of specimens
Detailing of specimens may include:
cleaning
touch up
addition of false eyes
Conservation
Conservation involves minimisation of deterioration which can be caused by:
pests
light
humidity
Occupational health and safety (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

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
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
select appropriate collection, preservation and display techniques to suit particular display requirements
recognise, identify and collect suitable animal and plant specimens
store and transport specimens safely while maintaining their wellbeing, viability and/or integrity, as appropriate
comply with all legislative, regulatory and enterprise requirements
preserve and prepare animal and plant specimens for a range of display purposes
complete a variety of displays that meet client and security requirements (could be part of a team)
keep records to provide chain of custody of specimens and samples through collection, storage, preservation and display.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSL975017A Perform laboratory-based ecological techniques.
Resources may include:
standard laboratory equipped with appropriate equipment and reagents
enterprise procedures for the collection, storage, preservation, mounting and documentation of specimens and preparation of displays.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of display plans prepared by the candidate (or as part of a team)
examination of animal and plant display material prepared by the candidate
observation of the candidate collecting, preserving and mounting specimens
oral and written tests for relevant knowledge.
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.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
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.

This competency in practice
Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.
Education
A laboratory technician at a university botany school is required to prepare display material for a practical class to study cycads. They look up the procedures manual and discuss the requirements of the class with the lecturing staff and then arrange to visit the botanic gardens and collect the required specimens with the curator. The specimens are identified, collected and labelled, transported back to the laboratory in water in a refrigerated van and displayed for the practical class to use the next day.
Museum
An exhibition project officer in a museum works in a team to design and create a display as part of an exhibition about spiders. It is decided that a display of live funnel web spiders in a perspex showcase would capture public interest. The project officer designs and makes the showcase taking note of the need to provide for the environmental, feeding and security requirements of the specimens, the safety and information needs of the public, and the display's visual appeal and accuracy of the spider habitat. They liaise with a nearby reptile park to obtain the spiders for the duration of the display and prepare the necessary documentation.