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:
calibration and maintenance schedules
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
equipment manuals
equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures
industry codes of practice
material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
material, production and product specifications
national environment protection measures
OHS national standards and codes of practice
production and laboratory schedules
quality manuals
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Tools, materials and equipment
Tools, materials and equipment may include:
bench burner, hand torch and ribbon burners, gas supplies and gas economisers
glassworking lathes
annealing ovens
measuring and recording equipment
hand tools, such as carbon paddles and mandrels, range of forceps, glass tubing gauges, angle setting jigs, calipers, glass support rollers, brass shapers, carbon rods, glass knife, stainless steel gauze, vernier calipers and other measuring tools, and strain viewer
mechanical glass cutters and saws
mechanical glass grinding equipment
special formula glasses
glass to glass and glass to metal seals
Hazards
Hazards may include:
sharps and broken glassware
residues on used glassware, such as mercury
heat sources, such as burners and ovens
fluids under pressure (acetylene and oxygen)
glass dust
cuts associated with glass grinders and cutters
manual handling of heavy equipment and containers
Safety practices
Safety practices may include:
use of personal protective equipment, such as heat resistant gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, respirators and safety boots
correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials
handling, and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, and enterprise procedures and regulations
regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas
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:
design and manufacture glass apparatus systems
interpret a brief, including design requirements and cost
prepare apparatus and system designs
incorporate appropriate design factors relevant to use requirements of apparatus
select appropriate grades of glass and components and prepare for use
apply basic theoretical knowledge of chemistry and physics and make relevant design conclusions
identify atypical situations and take appropriate action
communicate problems to either supervisor or outside service technician
record and report work results
follow correct OHS and principles of GLP.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
It is strongly recommended that assessment is conducted through observation over time. The timeframe must allow for adequate assessment of operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions. Where this is not practical additional assessment techniques must be used.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSL965002A Perform glass coating, grinding and finishing operations
MSL965003A Construct, modify and maintain high vacuum systems.
Resources may include:
access to a scientific glassblowing facility, appropriate equipment, materials and procedures
access to more than one workplace or simulated learning environment if the primary workplace or learning environment is unable to provide a suitable range of equipment.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
inspection of examples of glasswork and workplace documentation completed by the candidate
analysis of the candidate's work records over a period of time to ensure accurate and consistent work is obtained within required timelines
feedback from peers and supervisors
oral/written questioning.
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 study below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.
Manufacturing
A scientific glassblower, who works for a town gas company, has been requested by the research laboratory to design and manufacture a complex gas extraction train. The equipment will be used to burn town gas under a range of conditions and analyse the exhaust gases by bubbling them through a number of gas extraction bottles. The apparatus will be used around the plant and therefore it must be portable, small and contained within a safety box in the event that there is an explosion in the apparatus. After scoping the general design with the research staff, the glassblower prepared a detailed design with particular emphasis on the size and the technical requirements associated with the need for metal electrodes in glass and metal to glass seals. They also analysed the risks of an explosive air/gas mixture developing in the apparatus and the use of hazardous chemicals in the gas bubbling/extraction bottles. The glassblower selected the glass, prepared the glassblowing tools and equipment and constructed the apparatus according to the detailed design. They carefully performed the annealing operation given the complexity of the apparatus. They then liaised with the workshop staff who were building the box to contain the apparatus. Finally, the whole system was checked under operational conditions and handed over to the research staff.