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.

This unit of competency includes the following types of reference documentation
AS ISO/IEC 17025 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
Australian and international standards (for example, AS 2243 Safety in laboratories, ISO 9001-3 Quality and Food Standards)
guidelines (for example, ANZFA, infection control, OGTR guidelines for working with genetically altered organisms)
Codes of Practice (for example, Australian Dangerous Goods Code)
testing procedures and specific method collections for industry sectors (for example, AOAC Methods of Analysis).

This unit of competency includes the following types of workplace documentation
workplace procedures, SOPs and operating manuals
test procedures
sampling procedures (sampling, preparation, labelling, storage, transport and disposal)
evaluation of materials or products
instructions for equipment installation, commissioning, calibration and maintenance
safety requirements for equipment, materials or products
cleaning, hygiene, personal hygiene requirements
methods for extraction or manufacture of a product
risk evaluation, monitoring or control procedures
compliance/non-compliance reports
quality system and continued improvement processes
incident and accident/injury reports
permits
schematics/work flows/laboratory layouts
instructions to comply with new legislation, standards, guidelines and codes
stock records/inventory
training program contents
waste minimisation and disposal.

This unit of competency includes the use of items of equipment and systems, such as
online information systems, databases, record and filing systems
computer equipment.

This unit of competency may include communication with
supervisors and managers (laboratory, quality and customer service)
other laboratory or production personnel
members of the public, customers and suppliers
external auditors, regulation and licensing/accreditation authorities (for example, NATA).

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. Candidates must be able to:

analyse, draft and amend enterprise documentation in accordance with specifications
complete documentation in a clear and concise manner that is easily understood by others and in accordance with enterprise requirements/ specifications.

In particular the assessor should look to see that the candidate:

recognises problems in systems and documentation
uses internal and external information sources efficiently
critically analyses information
prepares documentation that is accurate, free from editorial errors and omissions, and in accordance with requirements
prepares documentation that is easily understood by the intended audience
obtains and include relevant feedback on draft documentation
communicates information and developments in the appropriate manner
completes the preparation and distribution of documents in the given time.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain workplace procedures relating to:

documentation development and tracking
records management and maintenance
quality systems and continuous improvement
organisational structure, delegations and responsibilities
communication protocols and reporting.

Competency includes the ability to apply the following knowledge when drafting documentation:

accurate scientific, technical and workplace terminology
OHS, environmental and other relevant legislative requirements, regulations, codes
enterprise standard operating procedures (SOPs)
technical developments in the sector (current methodologies, ranges and interpretations)
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.
An awareness of the laboratory's business goals and key performance indicators is also required as a basis for developing documentation.

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:

examination of a range of relevant enterprise documentation developed by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisors that enterprise procedures were followed and that the documentation is accurate and user friendly.
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:

PMLOHS601A Implement and monitor OHS and environmental management systems
PMLORG601B Maintain registration and statutory or legal compliance in work/functional area
PMLQUAL600B Maintain quality system and continuous improvement processes within work/functional area.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

information directories and databases
enterprise documents and procedures.

This competency in practice
A water sample thought to contain cadmium had been logged for analysis. Later that day, the technician designated to perform the analysis advised the laboratory supervisor that the procedures had not yet been revised to suit the newly installed analytical equipment. The supervisor created a draft procedure document for the revised procedure and passed it, with an explanation of the reasons for the change, to the appropriate personnel for authorisation. The draft document was approved and the supervisor issued the revised procedures as a control document. The supervisor notified all relevant personnel of the change, removed the old procedures, replaced it with the new document and entered the change in the document control register.
After two senior technicians in the laboratory of a food processing company HACCP team, they suggested extensive changes to the way the laboratory functioned so that it better supported the HACCP system. The technicians reviewed the existing HACCP documentation and legislation and revised the laboratory documentation that was relevant to the HACCP system. They also organised inhouse training to provide each member of the laboratory team with the knowledge and skills essential for successful implementation of this system. Overall, the adoption of a HACCP plan by the company proceeded with relatively few problems, in part because of the involvement of the laboratory staff and the training provided by the company.

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
(3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(3)

Planning and organising activities
(2)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)