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.

Business ethics may include
following enterprise policy and procedures
behaving honestly and openly
respecting others and treating them with courtesy and impartiality
working diligently and responsibly
ensuring confidentiality of information, including client identification and test results.

Enterprise sites may include
laboratories
head office functions
production or processing plants
supplier services and consultancy services.

Key functions may include
production
packaging, warehouse and distribution
quality assurance
purchasing, sales and marketing
human resources (personnel, training, employee relations).

Sources of workplace information could include
notice boards, public address or paging systems
standard operating procedures (SOPs), manuals, work instructions, signs and notices
material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
telephone or contract details, email systems, websites
emergency exits, routes and collection points.

Workplace agreements, policies and procedures could include
industrial awards, enterprise bargaining agreements and individual contracts
emergencies, accidents and incidents
health, safety environment quality assurance
good laboratory practice (GLP), good manufacturing practice (GMP)
customer services.

Legislative requirements could involve
occupational health and safety
workers compensation
equal employment, anti-discrimination, anti-harassment
ethics, copy right, intellectual property, privacy
environmental protection.

Sustainable energy principles and work practices may include
examining work practices that involve excessive use of electricity, gas and/or water
switching off equipment when not in use
regularly cleaning filters
recycling and reusing materials wherever feasible
minimising waste.

Scientific and technical support may include
routine site sampling of raw materials and products
packaging, labelling, storing and transporting samples
visual inspection of products and packaging
routine site measurements that take a short time and involve a narrow range of variables or easily recognised control limits
cleaning of equipment
housekeeping of work areas.
Equipment and resources will vary according to the scope and nature of the enterprise's products, and scientific/technical functions and services.

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:

uses personal protective clothing, equipment (PPE) and containment facilities as required
follows work instructions to complete tasks within the required timeframe
works ethically
works efficiently when alone and with others
complies with legislative and enterprise requirements in everyday work
maintains the required quality of work outputs.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

enterprise objectives, product and service range
enterprise structure and reporting lines
role of quality assurance and/or scientific/technical services in the enterprise
own role, rights, responsibilities, key tasks
workplace procedures that govern personal work, health, safety and environment
basic ethical values and principles, such as respect for the law, responsibility, courtesy, diligence and confidentiality
use and names of equipment, materials and other resources relevant to work function
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.

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:

observation of candidate performing a range of scientific/technical tasks
feedback from peers and supervisors
oral or written questioning to check underpinning knowledge
review of workplace documentation completed by the candidate.
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:

PMLDATA200A Record and present data
PMLSAMP200A Collect routine site samples
PMLTEST200A Conduct routine site measurements.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

relevant documentation, such as enterprise SOPs, legal/regulatory requirements, Codes of Practice
organisational charts, flow diagrams showing links between enterprise functions and/or production processes
employment, training and career information.

This competency in practice
At the start of an induction program, the supervisor asks two new laboratory assistants to introduce themselves to all the staff individually and find out about three major tasks that each person regularly performs. In addition, they watch the company's induction video, complete the necessary paperwork and are assigned a locker and safety equipment. At the end of the day, they report back to the supervisor. On Day 2, the supervisor assigns them to an experienced technician and asks them to shadow him/her. At the end of the day the new assistants are asked to describe two tests they have observed and outline some of the major safety issues involved with each one. On Day 3, they begin bench work by helping to conduct routine tests, such as titrations of industrial waste water samples under guidance of a technician.

A laboratory assistant was required to complete the company's induction program during their first week of employment. The assistant completed the following activities:

met with all laboratory staff and discussed their roles and duties
prepared their own organisational flow chart for the laboratory and recorded the contact details and key function of each staff member
talked to the laboratory manager about the company's products and services and the laboratory's role in quality assurance
read through the induction booklet's summary of key company policies, procedures, emergency and risk management plans
talked to the safety officer about OHS risks in the laboratory and the location of key safety equipment and information
prepared a plan of the layout of the company site with location of key buildings and services
shadowed several technicians to observe their daily routines
prepared a weekly workplan in conjunction with the supervisor.

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
(1)

Planning and organising activities
(1)

Working with others and in teams
(1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(1)

Using technology
(1)