Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 8:18 AM AWST
22/07/2026 8:18 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Perform sampling and testing of air
Perform sampling and testing of air
Unit of competency
National Code
MSS025009A
MSS025009A
State Code
D7704
D7704
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
25/10/2011
Field of Education
010701 - Atmospheric Sciences
Original Release Date
25/10/2011
Nominal Hours
80
Description
This unit of competency covers the ability to collect and test gaseous and particulate components in ambient, indoor and occupational air. Personnel will normally work within an existing sampling or monitoring plan. They will continually monitor levels of risk, apply specified safe working procedures and use prescribed safety equipment. Note that sampling and testing of odours is covered in MSS025010A Assist with odour source assessment and MSS025011A Assist with odour field assessment.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Confirm air sampling and testing requirements with supervisor
- 1.1 Review available site information, such as site plan, sampling/testing locations and history of sampling/testing
- 1.2 Confirm the scope and purpose of air sampling/testing and data requirements
- 1.3 Confirm sampling methods, locations, numbers and types of samples, and duration/frequency of sampling from enterprise or client’s sampling plan
- 1.4 Check that all air sampling/testing procedures are in accordance with client or enterprise requirements, relevant standards and guidelines
2 Prepare for air sampling and testing
- 2.1 Identify site and sampling/testing hazards and review enterprise safety procedures
- 2.2 Liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access and obtain all clearances and/or permits, as necessary
- 2.3 Review field sampling procedures and sample preparation methods required for specific laboratory tests
- 2.4 Select sampling equipment and conditions to achieve representative samples and preserve sample integrity during collection, storage and transit
- 2.5 Ensure all reagents, solutions, standards and blanks (as appropriate) are obtained and/or ready for field use
- 2.6 Select field test equipment/instruments and check operation and calibration, as required, in accordance with procedures and manufacturer instructions
- 2.7 Assemble, check, stow all sampling equipment, field test equipment, materials, containers and safety equipment
- 2.8 Arrange suitable transport to, from and around site, as required
3 Conduct sampling of air
- 3.1 Locate sampling sites and, if required, services at the site
- 3.2 Conduct representative sampling in accordance with sampling plan and defined procedures for field and/or laboratory testing
- 3.3 Ensure all controls, blanks and replicate samples are properly integrated into the sampling process
- 3.4 Record all information and label samples in accordance with traceability requirements
- 3.5 Record environmental conditions and any atypical observations made during sampling that may impact on sample representativeness or integrity
- 3.6 Transport all samples back to base according to enterprise procedures and relevant guidelines
4 Conduct field and laboratory testing of air
- 4.1 Take sufficient measurements of all samples and standards, if appropriate, to obtain reliable data
- 4.2 Obtain sample or subsample for designated field test or locate established locations for in-situ testing
- 4.3 Set up, check/calibrate and operate equipment, instruments, reagents, gases and in accordance with test methods/procedures and manufacturer instructions
- 4.4 Perform tests, procedures and any observations in accordance with specified methods/procedures
- 4.5 Record all field/laboratory observations and results and ensure that they are accurately transferred to enterprise information management system
5 Process and interpret air data
- 5.1 Review test data noting atypical observations
- 5.2 Ensure calculated values are consistent with expectations
- 5.3 Estimate and document uncertainty of measurement in accordance with enterprise procedures, if required
- 5.4 Record processed results in accordance with enterprise procedures
- 5.5 Interpret trends in data and/or results and report out-of-specification or atypical results promptly to appropriate personnel
- 5.6 Determine if obvious procedure or equipment problems have led to atypical data or results
- 5.7 Compare results with established air quality standards, statutory environmental quality concentration limits or similar, if relevant
- 5.8 Finalise reporting of results in accordance with enterprise requirements
6 Maintain a safe work environment
- 6.1 Rehabilitate sampling site to render it safe and to minimise environmental impact
- 6.2 Clean all equipment, containers, work area and vehicles according to enterprise procedures
- 6.3 Check serviceability of all equipment before storage
- 6.4 Use defined safe work practices and personal protective equipment to ensure personal safety and that of others
- 6.5 Minimise the generation of wastes and environment impacts
- 6.6 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
pollution and contaminated sites
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 2365 series Methods for the sampling and analysis of indoor air
AS 2986 series Workplace air quality
AS/NZS 3580 series Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air
AS/NZS 2922 Guide for the siting of sampling units (air monitoring)
National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) (Ambient Air Quality)
enterprise sampling and monitoring protocols
equipment manuals and warranties, supplier catalogue and handbooks
government policy (e.g. environmental protection and impact assessment)
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
site-specific requirements
Ambient air parameters
Ambient air parameters may include:
inorganic gases:
CO and CO2
NOx,
SOx
acid gases
hydrogen sulfide
ozone
fluorides
organic gases:
methane and non-methane hydrocarbons
poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
organic oxidants and other photochemical smog compounds (e.g. poly-aromatic nitrates (PANs))
air toxics:
benzene, toluene and xylenes
formaldehyde
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH marker)
particulates:
deposited matter
suspended matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1)
particulate fluorides
lead
Indoor air parameters
Indoor air parameters may include:
inorganic gases, such as:
CO and CO2
NOx
radon
organic gases such as:
formaldehyde
poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
organic oxidants and other photochemical smog compounds e.g. poly-aromatic nitrates (PANs)
particulates such as:
PM10, PM2.5, and PM1
microorganisms and spores
Occupational (workplace) air parameters
Occupational (workplace) air parameters may include:
chemicals listed in the ‘Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment’. Concentration levels for action are:
peak
short term exposure limit (STEL)
time weighted average (TWA)
Sampling equipment
Sampling equipment may include:
gas sample bags
gas sample bottles/containers
gas pipettes
gas syringes
air sampling pumps
sampling manifolds
passive diffusion samplers
impingers (with absorption solutions)
solid adsorbents
colour detection tubes
coated and uncoated filters
sampling trains in continuous gas monitors
pitot tubes
high volume samplers
dichotomous samplers
gas flow meters
Testing equipment
Testing equipment may include:
continuous gas monitors:
ultraviolet (UV) absorption (e.g. ozone)
chemiluminescence (e.g. NOx)
pulsed fluorescence (e.g. (SOx)
non-dispersive infrared (e.g. CO)
flame ionisation detection (FID) (e.g. methane)
photo ionisation detection (PID)
integrating nephelometer methodologies (e.g. suspended particulates)
oxygen sensors (e.g. zirconia)
gas chromatographs
mass spectrometers
atomic absorption spectrophotometers
infrared spectrophotometers
UV-visible spectrophotometers
tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM)
beta gauges
particle counters
portable (handheld) gas monitors
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
Additional equipment
Additional equipment may include:
navigation and communication equipment (e.g. compass, maps, GPS, two-way radio and mobile phone)
electric generators and power leads
calibration gases
data loggers
first aid equipment
Hazards
Hazards may include:
solar radiation, dust and noise
exposure to toxic gases
electrical hazards
accidents, emergencies and incidents, such as snake, insect or animal bites
exposure to severe weather conditions
manual handling of heavy objects
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 consumables, 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
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
pollution and contaminated sites
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 2365 series Methods for the sampling and analysis of indoor air
AS 2986 series Workplace air quality
AS/NZS 3580 series Methods for sampling and analysis of ambient air
AS/NZS 2922 Guide for the siting of sampling units (air monitoring)
National Environment Protection Measure (NEPM) (Ambient Air Quality)
enterprise sampling and monitoring protocols
equipment manuals and warranties, supplier catalogue and handbooks
government policy (e.g. environmental protection and impact assessment)
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
site-specific requirements
Ambient air parameters
Ambient air parameters may include:
inorganic gases:
CO and CO2
NOx,
SOx
acid gases
hydrogen sulfide
ozone
fluorides
organic gases:
methane and non-methane hydrocarbons
poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
organic oxidants and other photochemical smog compounds (e.g. poly-aromatic nitrates (PANs))
air toxics:
benzene, toluene and xylenes
formaldehyde
Benzo(a)pyrene (PAH marker)
particulates:
deposited matter
suspended matter (PM10, PM2.5 and PM1)
particulate fluorides
lead
Indoor air parameters
Indoor air parameters may include:
inorganic gases, such as:
CO and CO2
NOx
radon
organic gases such as:
formaldehyde
poly-aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
organic oxidants and other photochemical smog compounds e.g. poly-aromatic nitrates (PANs)
particulates such as:
PM10, PM2.5, and PM1
microorganisms and spores
Occupational (workplace) air parameters
Occupational (workplace) air parameters may include:
chemicals listed in the ‘Adopted National Exposure Standards for Atmospheric Contaminants in the Occupational Environment’. Concentration levels for action are:
peak
short term exposure limit (STEL)
time weighted average (TWA)
Sampling equipment
Sampling equipment may include:
gas sample bags
gas sample bottles/containers
gas pipettes
gas syringes
air sampling pumps
sampling manifolds
passive diffusion samplers
impingers (with absorption solutions)
solid adsorbents
colour detection tubes
coated and uncoated filters
sampling trains in continuous gas monitors
pitot tubes
high volume samplers
dichotomous samplers
gas flow meters
Testing equipment
Testing equipment may include:
continuous gas monitors:
ultraviolet (UV) absorption (e.g. ozone)
chemiluminescence (e.g. NOx)
pulsed fluorescence (e.g. (SOx)
non-dispersive infrared (e.g. CO)
flame ionisation detection (FID) (e.g. methane)
photo ionisation detection (PID)
integrating nephelometer methodologies (e.g. suspended particulates)
oxygen sensors (e.g. zirconia)
gas chromatographs
mass spectrometers
atomic absorption spectrophotometers
infrared spectrophotometers
UV-visible spectrophotometers
tapered element oscillating microbalance (TEOM)
beta gauges
particle counters
portable (handheld) gas monitors
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
Additional equipment
Additional equipment may include:
navigation and communication equipment (e.g. compass, maps, GPS, two-way radio and mobile phone)
electric generators and power leads
calibration gases
data loggers
first aid equipment
Hazards
Hazards may include:
solar radiation, dust and noise
exposure to toxic gases
electrical hazards
accidents, emergencies and incidents, such as snake, insect or animal bites
exposure to severe weather conditions
manual handling of heavy objects
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 consumables, 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:
demonstrating an understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework relevant to air quality
using air quality measurement terminology accurately
interpreting and applying site air sampling/monitoring plans and procedures
collecting reliable, representative air samples in accordance with methods/procedures
operating, maintaining and calibrating air quality measurement instrumentation to produce consistently valid and accurate results
interpreting gross features of data, identifying atypical results as out-of-normal range or an artefact and making relevant conclusions
calculating results using appropriate units/precision
providing accurate, complete records of sampling and testing observations, data and results
working safely and follow relevant legislative requirements for the disposal of waste and the preservation of the environment.
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:
MSL974003A Perform chemical tests and procedures
MSL974009A Undertake field-based remote sensing
MSS025016A Perform sampling and testing of stationary emissions.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
vehicles, survey equipment, air sampling/monitoring equipment, cameras, consumables and manuals
work program, enterprise procedures, codes of practice, maps and field protocols.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
inspection of air samples collected by the candidate
review of air quality measurements, test results, calculations and observations produced by the candidate
review of sampling/testing records completed by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisors about the candidate’s ability to consistently apply enterprise procedures and work safely
oral and written questioning to check the candidate’s understanding of the principles of air quality sampling/testing, operation of air sampling equipment, test instruments and processing of data
observation of the candidate performing a range of air sampling and testing tasks.
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
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:
demonstrating an understanding of the legislative and regulatory framework relevant to air quality
using air quality measurement terminology accurately
interpreting and applying site air sampling/monitoring plans and procedures
collecting reliable, representative air samples in accordance with methods/procedures
operating, maintaining and calibrating air quality measurement instrumentation to produce consistently valid and accurate results
interpreting gross features of data, identifying atypical results as out-of-normal range or an artefact and making relevant conclusions
calculating results using appropriate units/precision
providing accurate, complete records of sampling and testing observations, data and results
working safely and follow relevant legislative requirements for the disposal of waste and the preservation of the environment.
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:
MSL974003A Perform chemical tests and procedures
MSL974009A Undertake field-based remote sensing
MSS025016A Perform sampling and testing of stationary emissions.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
vehicles, survey equipment, air sampling/monitoring equipment, cameras, consumables and manuals
work program, enterprise procedures, codes of practice, maps and field protocols.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
inspection of air samples collected by the candidate
review of air quality measurements, test results, calculations and observations produced by the candidate
review of sampling/testing records completed by the candidate
feedback from peers and supervisors about the candidate’s ability to consistently apply enterprise procedures and work safely
oral and written questioning to check the candidate’s understanding of the principles of air quality sampling/testing, operation of air sampling equipment, test instruments and processing of data
observation of the candidate performing a range of air sampling and testing tasks.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK75 | MSS025009 | Perform sampling and testing of air | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D549 | MSS70211 | Graduate Certificate In Environmental Management | Qualification |
| D551 | MSS40211 | Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology | Qualification |
| D553 | MSS50211 | Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology | Qualification |