Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 1:13 AM AWST

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Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site

Unit of competency
National Code
MSS024003A
State Code
D7757
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
18/07/2011
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
04/08/2014
Field of Education
050999 - Environmental Studies, N.e.c.
Original Release Date
04/08/2014
Nominal Hours
140
Description
This unit of competency covers the ability to ‘read the landscape’ in terms of the physical and biological components of the environment and the ecological linkages in operation at a site. Personnel are required to apply basic principles of geomorphology, hydrology and ecology in a systematic, scientific appraisal of site condition. This requires sufficient knowledge of chemistry, physics, geology and biology to support a scientific approach to field ecology.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Prepare for site inspection
  • 1.1 Obtain and use maps, photos and related documentation to gain a preliminary understanding of site features
  • 1.2 Collect site-specific or regional data on expected flora, fauna, soils and climate
  • 1.3 Review site history and previous environmental or ecological studies, if available
  • 1.4 Review all emergency plans, risk assessments, and safety and environmental management requirements associated with the field activities
  • 1.5 Review legislative and planning instruments applicable to current and future site usage
  • 1.6 Confirm site access requirements and identify potential site hazards
2 Conduct initial site survey
  • 2.1 Sketch, map and/or photograph the site
  • 2.2 Observe and record the surface geology and geomorphology of the site
  • 2.3 Observe and record hydrology of the site
  • 2.4 Observe and record the major flora of the site
  • 2.5 Observe and record evidence of site fauna
  • 2.6 Observe and record infrastructure and other modifications to the site
  • 2.7 Consider the potential for presence of cultural and indigenous heritage items and record, as necessary
  • 2.8 Check for evidence of illegal or inappropriate activities
3 Make an initial assessment of site condition
  • 3.1 Use geomorphological and hydrological observations to describe surface condition and infer potential future impacts
  • 3.2 Make inferences on apparent ecological health of the site to plan for an initial ecological study of the site
  • 3.3 Determine the physical, chemical and biological parameters that would need to be measured and/or sampled during subsequent ecological appraisal of the site
4 Prepare for field study
  • 4.1 Identify and describe the biological and chemical components of interest, sampling areas and field techniques to be used
  • 4.2 Identify, obtain and check required equipment and materials required for field study
  • 4.3 Securely stow all field equipment in vehicle to prevent damage in transit
  • 4.4 Safely transport all field equipment to site and prepare it for use
5 Perform a basic ecological field study of the site
  • 5.1 Perform ecological sampling for abundance and diversity parameters using the general techniques of transects and quadrats
  • 5.2 Record appropriate descriptions of the habitat structure
  • 5.3 Perform sampling for simple population, demographic and age structure parameters
  • 5.4 Perform simple sampling and measurements on abiotic components
  • 5.5 Perform simple targeted species sampling
  • 5.6 Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, policy, codes of practice and accepted enterprise procedures
6 Finalise field study
  • 6.1 Ensure all samples and data are stored safely
  • 6.2 Rehabilitate sampling sites to render them safe and minimise environmental impacts
  • 6.3 Clean all equipment, containers, work area and vehicles according to enterprise procedures
  • 6.4 Pack and safely transport all samples, equipment and supplies back to home base
  • 6.5 Ensure dispatch of collected samples for subsequent analysis, as necessary
  • 6.6 Check serviceability of all equipment before storage
7 Process and present field data
  • 7.1 Summarise field data using simple calculations, graphs, tables and/or maps
  • 7.2 Provide reports that include simple conclusions and interpretations based on raw or summarised data
8 Maintain a safe work environment
  • 8.1 Use defined safe work practices and personal protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of others
  • 8.2 Minimise the generation of waste
  • 8.3 Ensure the safe collection of all hazardous wastes for appropriate disposal
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
Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements
Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:
federal legislation, such as:
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:
land use, acquisition, planning and protection
environmental protection
cultural/heritage protection
vegetation management
nature conservation, wildlife/plant protection, prevention of cruelty to animals and quarantine
water and water management
soil conservation
pollution and contaminated sites
fisheries, forestry and mining operations
codes of practice dealing with the care and use of animals for scientific purposes
national environment protection measures
government policy (e.g. sustainable development and impact assessment)
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS ISO 14050:1999 Environmental management - Vocabulary
AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental management basic set
AS/NZS 2031:2001 Selection of containers and preservation of water samples for microbiological analysis
AS 1726:1993 Geotechnical site investigations
enterprise sampling and monitoring protocols
equipment manuals and warranties, supplier catalogue and handbooks
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
site-specific requirements
specific environmental standards
Ecological principles and concepts
Ecological principles and concepts may include:
ecosphere, biome and major ecosystem types
ecological niche and biogeography
trophic dynamics, autotrophs, heterotrophs and detrivores, and food webs
distribution and abundance of organisms, populations and communities, and biodiversity
abiotic and biotic components and their interrelationships and dependencies
energy and material flows and cycles, including biogeochemical cycles
population ecology:
distribution, abundance and dispersion
growth rates and age structures
migration and dispersal in space and time
behavioural ecology (communication and learning, aggression and territoriality, and social group dynamics)
community ecology (ecological interactions):
intra/interspecific competition
concepts of coexistence, adaptive and competitive, including mimicry, coevolution, parasitism, mutualism, commensalism and predator/prey systems
species diversity in time and space
Earth science principles and concepts
Earth science principles and concepts may include:
geology:
earth structure and plate tectonics
classification of rocks (e.g. igneous, sedimentary, volcanic and stratigraphy)
weathering
geomorphology:
erosion and mass wasting
transportation and deposition, and sedimentation
fluvial, aeolian, hillslope and weathering processes
soil science:
soil classification
soil formation and soil profiles
pedology
edapology
Hydrolgical principles and concepts
Hydrolgical principles and concepts may include:
the hydrologic cycle:
run-off
infiltration
subsurface flow
water quality
ecohydrology
hydrogeology
water resources
hydrologic measurement:
surface flows (stream gauging)
groundwater (infiltration and flow)
precipitation and evaporation
Enterprise procedures for field activities
Enterprise procedures for field activities may include:
field notebooks or log books
standard operating procedures covering fieldwork, sampling and testing
equipment operating manuals, calibration procedures, instrument fault-finding procedures and general maintenance and repair procedures
emergency, first aid and survival procedures
requirements related to protection of the environment
incident/accident/injury report forms
Equipment
Equipment may include:
navigation and communication equipment (e.g. compass, maps, global positioning system (GPS), two-way radio and mobile phone)
survey equipment
sampling equipment and containers, and animal cages
parameter specific meter or multi-probes (e.g. dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates and temperature)
field test kits to determine such parameters as dissolved gases, chemical anions and cations, heavy metals, E. coli and biological oxygen demand (BOD)
portable colourimeters and field microscopes
filters and sieves
soil monitoring kits
data loggers
first aid equipment
Field monitoring activities and skills
Field monitoring activities and skills may include:
sample collection, preservation, labelling, storage, and transportation according to enterprise procedures
correct use and calibration of field instruments according to written instructions
correct and accurate performance of field tests for specific parameters
clear and accurate recording of data
safe operation of motor vehicles and boats
Hazards
Hazards may include:
solar radiation, dust and noise
personnel getting lost
accidents, emergencies and incidents, such as snake, insect or animal bites
exposure to severe weather conditions
manual handling of heavy objects
vehicle and boat handling in rough/remote conditions
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
Overview of assessment
Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:
applying relevant aspects of environmental legislative and planning framework to site appraisal
researching, reviewing and summarising site environmental history
identifying key aspects of emergency, safety or environmental management plans that relate to a defined field activity
applying a working knowledge of relevant terminology, concepts and principles in geology, geomorphology, hydrology and ecology to provide a scientific, systematic appraisal of site environmental condition
planning and performing an ecological study and obtaining relevant, reliable data
demonstrating correct use of field instruments and/or equipment under laboratory and field conditions, including field calibration
applying sampling, testing and data quality procedures to accurately perform field tests
recording and reporting appraisal of site condition
working safely.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSL974007A Undertake environmental field-based monitoring
field-based environmental monitoring units, such as:MSS024009A Assist with assessing and monitoring stormwater systems or MSS025013A Assist with assessing and monitoring wetlands
MSS024004A Process and present environmental data.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
access to suitable sites and a vehicle
vehicles, survey equipment, sampling/monitoring equipment, cameras, consumables and manuals
work program, enterprise procedures, codes of practice and field protocols
information, such as maps and flora/fauna keys.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of data, results and site reports prepared by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisors that the candidate consistently follows enterprise procedures, survey, sampling/measurement methods, and works safely
oral/written questioning associated with appraisal of environmental site condition
observation of the candidate conducting site appraisals
review of records 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.
Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.
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.
Guidance information for assessment
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
BAK93 MSS024003 Apply an understanding of environmental principles to a site Unit of competency