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.
Prescribed performance criteria for
instruments
Prescribed performance criteria for instruments may include:
design is in accordance with the appropriate Certificates of Approval
performance meets the criteria described in the Certificates of Approval, National Test Procedure and legislation
Appropriate documentation
Where reference is made to documentation, it is expected the latest version will be used.
Appropriate documentation may include:
reference standards
Certificates of Verification
Certificates of Approval for limited weighing instruments
test procedures for verifying limited weighing instruments
organisational test reports
organisational procedures e.g. company quality assurance manual
National Measurement Act
occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations, guidelines and procedures and material safety data sheets (MSDS)
equipment manuals and warranty, supplier catalogues and handbooks
Certificates of Approval
Certificates of Approval may include:
any Certificate issued by the Chief Metrologist under Regulation 60 of the National Measurement Regulations approving the pattern of a limited weighing instrument as being suitable for trade
Enforcement action
Enforcement action may include:
formal warnings
infringement notice
formal undertaking
injunction
prosecution
Test equipment
Test equipment may include:
reference standards of measurement
Legislation
Legislation may include:
national measurement legislation
applicable Commonwealth, state and territory OHS legislation
National Measurement Institute policy
National Measurement Institute policy may include:
test procedure variations between a verification, in-service or audit inspection
bulletin
instruction
determination
National Test Procedures for limited weighing instruments
National Test Procedures for limited weighing instruments may include:
non-automatic weighing machines tested without substitution loads
automatic Class Y(a) Catchweighers
automatic Class Y(b) Catchweighers
any other test procedure prescribed by the National Measurement Institute
OHS and environmental management requirements
OHS and environmental management requirements refers to:
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 and State and Territory Departments of Health
Operating environmental impacts
Operating environmental impacts may include:
vibration
wind
heat
dust
electromagnetic interference
out of level
Records
Records may include:
test reports
safety procedures
a history of equipment calibration and test results
Weighing instruments

Inspectors may be required to test and mark classes of instruments from the following list.
Weighing instruments may include:
non-automatic weighing machines tested without substitution loads
automatic Class Y(a) Catchweighers
automatic Class Y(b) Catchweighers
any other test procedure prescribed by the National Measurement Institute

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
Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard for any class of weighing instrument listed in the Range Statement.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
identify, access and apply test procedures
identify and use suitable reference standards
evaluate and adjust the impact of the operating environment on the performance of the instrument
analyse test results to determine the instrument's suitability for verification (trade use)
identify the scope of a verifier performance audit and assess results with expected outcomes
audit the performance of verifiers of weighing instruments
identify and implement additional inspection strategies for non-instrument related breaches of national measurement legislation
recognise and act on non-compliance
maintain the security and confidentiality of data in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements
report results in the required formats and expected timeframe.

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:
MSATMREF301A Use and maintain reference standards.
Resources may include:
limited weighing instruments, test equipment and reference standards
computer and relevant software and/or organisation information management system
Certificates of Approval for instruments
relevant legislative and organisational procedures.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
questions to assess understanding of relevant procedures, licensing requirements, trader obligations and remedial actions
review of inspection reports and verifier performance audit reports prepared by the candidate
feedback from supervisors and peers regarding the candidate's ability to verify the performance of instruments in accordance with legislative and organisational procedures
observation of the candidate conducting an inspection.
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.

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.

An inspector has been allocated a task of verifying a digital weighing instrument at a butcher's premises. In preparation for this visit, the inspector accesses the organisation's database to establish the type of instrument to be tested and any previous history of the instrument or trader. The equipment required for this inspection is identified, accessed and stowed in the vehicle securely and safely. Particular attention is made to ensure the integrity of the reference standards is maintained and that they are still current according to their verification certificate. On arrival at the butcher's premises, the inspector introduces him/herself to the manager and explains the purpose of the visit and the process involved. During this discussion the inspector explains that he/she will inspect the instrument for compliance with its Certificate of Approval, assess the instrument's operating environment for factors that may impact on its performance and conduct the visual and performance tests in accordance with the National Test Procedure. If it complies with these requirements, he/she will mark the instrument as being acceptable for trade use and complete all the required inspection documentation.
During the inspection the inspector finds that the instrument has a tare capacity greater than that stated in the Certificate of Approval and the weighing performance of the instrument exceeds the maximum permissible error stated in the national measurement regulations. As a result, the inspector removes the previous verification mark from the instrument and issues the butcher a warning that the instrument cannot be used for trade until it has been corrected and verified again. Before leaving the premises, the inspector examines a sample of prepacked articles and the trading practices used by the trader for compliance with trade measurement legislation.