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, policies, strategies, 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/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set
national strategies, such as:
National Water Quality Management Strategy
National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development
National Greenhouse Strategy
environmental management plans, and site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements
information about site processes and work schedules
information about emergency preparedness and response
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 soil)
job hazard analyses, safe work procedures, work method statements and material safety data sheets (MSDS)
enterprise procedures for the receipt of requests for information and release of information data and results
enterprise procedures for the confidentiality and security of enterprise information
Environmental information
Environmental information may include:
details of legislation, regulations, guidelines, standards, codes of practice, licence conditions, approvals and permits
enterprise environmental management plans, policies, strategies, procedures, required actions
site/project initial advice statements and risk/impact assessments
records of site consultations with interested parties
site/project environmental reports (e.g. weekly/monthly monitoring of air, water and noise)
flora and fauna survey results
environmental data sets, such as
satellite imagery and remote sensing data
geophysical, geochemical, geological, hydrological and meteorological data
ecological data, such as distribution of vegetation, fauna and pests
social science data, such as demographic and census information
land use data, zoning and property classifications
historical records and photographs
enterprise information about sites/projects/programs for stakeholders and interested parties
entries for enterprise website
cost, quantities and time estimation
contractual variations and claims
notification of environmental issues and problems
internal environmental audit/inspection findings
environmental training records
Customers
Customers may include:
internal customers, such as site environmental officer, environmental manager, construction manager, operations manager and project manager
external customers, such as regulatory authorities, government departments, suppliers, contractors, consulting engineers, scientists, planners and community groups
Sources of information
Sources of information may include:
enterprise intranet/information management system
contractors providing environmental services
government departments and agencies (e.g. environment, climate change, agriculture and mining)
regulatory authorities
utility authorities/companies (e.g. water, gas and electricity)
land title office and Valuer General
local government records
Geoscience Australia
Australian Social Science Data Archive
internet, library/archive collections, annual reports and community newsletters
media reports (e.g. TV, video, audio and photographs)
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 by this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:
following enterprise procedures for providing environmental information to customers
locating and supplying accurate, reliable information that meets the customer’s needs
providing authorised information using language, style and format that is readily understood
communicating information within the expected timeframe and confirming the client’s understanding.
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:
MSS025003A Report environmental data
environmental monitoring units, such as the MSS024000A and MSS025000A series units of competency.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
site/project/program history
relevant legislation, codes, standards, enterprise environmental management policies, plans, strategies, procedures and checklists
access to a computer, internet, data sets, enterprise information management system and reports.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of environmental information provided by the candidate to a range of customers
feedback from supervisor and customers that the candidate consistently provides timely information which meets their needs
oral/written tests involving environmental management terms, principles, legislative/regulatory requirements, enterprise environmental management plans, policies and procedures.
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