Elements and Performance Criteria

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
Australian Heritage Council Act 2003
Native Title Act 1993
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 and wildlife/plant protection
water and water management
soil conservation
pollution and contaminated sites
fisheries, forestry and mining operations
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS 3550 series Water analysis
AS/NZS 3580 series Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air
AS/NZS 2922 Guide for the siting of sampling units (air monitoring)
AS 1055 series Acoustics - Description and measurement of environmental noise
AS IEC 61672.1:2004 Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - Specifications
AS IEC 61672.2:2004 Electroacoustics - Sound level meters - Pattern evaluation tests
AS IEC 60942:2004 Electroacoustics - Sound calibrators
AS/NZS 4323.3:2001 Stationary source emissions - Determination of odour concentration by dynamic olfactometry
environmental management plans, and site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements
information about site processes and work schedules
monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks
sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soils)
Environmental monitoring instruments
Environmental monitoring instrumentsmay include:
water quality measuring instruments, such as:
specific meters or multi-probes for measuring water parameters, such as dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates and temperature
field test kits to determine water parameters, such as dissolved gases, chemical anions and cations, heavy metals, E. coli and biological oxygen demand (BOD)
portable colorimeters and field microscopes
air monitoring instruments, such as:
air sampling pumps, flow meters and sampling trains
continuous gas monitors
tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM)
portable gas monitors and analysers
weather stations
odour monitoring instruments, such as dynamic olfactometers
noise monitoring instruments, such as:
type 1 and type 2 portable sound level meters
integrating and non-integrating sound level meters
noise dose meters
statistical analysers
sound monitoring stations
data loggers, recorders, telemetry equipment and global positioning system (GPS)
radiation instruments and survey meters, such as:
Geiger-Muller (beta and gamma)
scintillation (alpha, beta and gamma)
Environmental management plans
Environmental management plans provide a framework for managing all environmental aspects, impacts, risks and obligations relevant to a site, project or significant work activity. They may include:
an aim, vision and enterprise policy statement
roles and responsibilities
potential environmental issues
actions to avoid, remedy and mitigate the issues
procedures and forms to minimise and manage specific environmental impacts and risks
quality management plans
communication and training requirements
monitoring schedules, sampling/test procedures, and analysis and notification requirements (e.g. exceedance values and quality triggers)
auditing and reporting requirements
Environmental monitoring programs
Environmental monitoring programsmay include surveys, sampling and measurements for:
establishing baseline or quality parameters
determining trends in parameters
investigating causes for changes in parameters
identifying and quantifying contamination at specific locations
identifying sources of possible/actual contamination
determining the effectiveness of environmental management plans, actions and control measures
determining the effectiveness of remediation activities
Specifications and features of instruments
Specifications and features of instrumentsmay include:
types of sampling and/or measurements to be performed
parameters or analytes of interest
detector type, sensitivity and detection limits
response time
linearity
estimated uncertainty for each range
single or multi-probe functions
ease of interfacing with data loggers and computers
power and battery requirements
size, weight, robustness and portability
instrument operating conditions
Adult learning principles
Adult learning principles may include:
explaining aims and objectives of training program
linking learning with everyday work tasks
using a logical sequence of learning activities
presenting new information in manageable chunks
providing opportunities to practise new skills and solve common problems
reinforcing important points
using a range of questions to check understanding
providing regular, constructive feedback
Regular instrument checks and minor maintenance
Regular instrument checks and minor maintenance may include:
cleaning
battery checks and replacement
zero, span and range checks
use of one or more references to check calibration/response in each range
adjustment of calibration if authorised to do so
simple fault-finding using instrument manual, error codes and recommended remedial actions
Required records
Required records may include details of:
purchase records, warranties and service agreements for instruments
instrument calibration status
instrument inspection (faults, servicing and repairs)
instrument use (operator, time/date, location)
instrument maintenance schedule and records
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

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:
selecting monitoring instruments that will enable the enterprise to successfully implement its environmental management plan
maintaining sufficient numbers of fully functioning instruments to satisfy the enterprise’s predictable requirements
training instrument operators to use monitoring instruments safely and reliably
maintaining accurate and complete records.
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:
MSS027000 series units dealing with coordination of specific environmental management activities (e.g. water, air and noise).
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
environmental management plans
environmental monitoring specifications, manuals and instruments
enterprise procedures for procurement of equipment and materials.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of records of instrument selection, use and maintenance generated by the candidate
feedback from peers and manager that working instruments are available when required
review of instrument training materials/records generated by candidate
oral/written tests and calculations involving environmental parameters; set-up, calibration and basic maintenance of environmental monitoring instruments
observation of the candidate checking, using and maintaining monitoring instruments and/or instructing others in their use.
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