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.
All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or enterprise requirements.

Statutory and related enterprise requirements may include
government and enterprise OHS and environmental policies
environmental protection and/or conservation legislation and regulations
consultation (for example, with traditional owners)
waste management policies and legislation
animal care and ethics regulations
specific environmental standards (for example, air, water, noise)
permits and/or licences to undertake field activities (for example, animal trapping).

Environmental field activities may include but not be limited to investigations of
meteorology, geology, hydrology, ecology
water quality, industrial waste streams, air quality, noise and vibration
soils, flora, weeds, native fauna, exotic or pest species, threatened species
land-use, cultural sites.

Clients and stakeholders may include but are not limited to
fee-for-service clients
Commonwealth, State and Local Government Agencies
enterprises with monitoring and/or survey responsibilities
private companies
regulatory authorities
environment protection agencies
developers.

The purpose or objectives of environmental field activities will define/target information needs and may include
part of enterprise environmental management plan
statutory requirements
general environmental monitoring or surveys
research studies.

Drivers and constraints may include
political agendas, social and economic issues
new monitoring protocols
recent environmental impact assessments or audits
media or public concerns
recent judicial decisions
field safety or accident issues
competencies and availability of staff
time available to plan and implement field activities.

Protocols, methodologies, Codes of Practice and procedures may include
field sampling plans, field monitoring or survey plans, industry based sampling and/or monitoring protocols
access to land (for example, Aboriginal reserves)
consultation with traditional owners
safety and accident/injury plans, emergency plans, risk management plans
environmental impact assessment procedures
environmental audits.

Staff field tasks and roles may include
team or project leader, survey coordinator
field sampling officer, field monitoring officer, data management officer
safety and/or environmental officer
field camp supervisor, field assistant or field-hand
driver
any combination of the above.

Field resources may include
sampling equipment
monitoring instruments and associated equipment
survey equipment
first aid and/or survival kits and equipment
navigation and communication equipment (for example, compass, maps, global positioning systems, two-way radio, mobile phone)
transportation systems (for example, vehicles, boats, aircraft).

Enterprise written requirements for field activities may include
fieldwork procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs)
site locations
sampling procedures
availability of required services
equipment and field instrument operating instructions, calibration procedures, instrument fault finding procedures, and general maintenance and repair procedures
field test procedures (validated and authorised)
captured animal welfare and ethics Code of Practice
staff travel arrangements and accommodation conditions
emergency procedures, data quality procedures, and safety and survival aspects.
requirements related to protection of the environment.

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.

In particular, assessors should look to see that the candidate:

demonstrates understanding of the purpose of the activity, including-
information and analysis required
end users of information
significance of outcomes for broader program(s)
communicates effectively and efficiently with clients, stakeholders, and other relevant parties
documents the objectives of field activities accurately and clearly
identifies and interprets policy and statutory requirements accurately
analyses enterprise field procedures and drivers
identifies type, quality and quantity of data needed for defined field activities
reviews literature to identify existing and relevant field protocols
develops and documents enterprise's field monitoring/survey procedures and practices
reviews enterprise databases
develops detailed budgets, work programs, resource requirements and staff training needs
develops data quality procedures
undertakes reconnaissance and evaluation of field sites
develops and documents overall implementation plan
responds effectively to changes or unforeseen circumstance
negotiates effectively with stakeholders on multiple issues and, in general, reaches satisfactory agreements
leads, supports and mentors junior staff.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

general field monitoring and survey protocols
specific field monitoring and survey practices and techniques
correct terminology relevant to defined field activities
design and documentation of field work plans
effective staff training procedures
current developments in field instrumentation, communication equipment and data storage/analysis systems
environmental planning and assessment procedures
emergency planning
data quality procedures
project management
negotiation and conflict resolution techniques
rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in terms of relevant legislation, such as OHS, environmental impact assessment, and environmental protection.

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:

review of the design of monitoring/survey plans, quality assurance procedures, field implementation plan and budget prepared by the candidate
feedback from stakeholders that their input was sought and considered
feedback from staff and supervisors that plans were clear, comprehensive and able to be implemented effectively
oral and written questions to assess underpinning knowledge of statutory and enterprise requirements for field activities, relevant policies, procedures, protocols and Codes of Practice
simulation exercises to assess contingency planning.
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:

PMLORG602B Manage complex projects
PMLTEAM600B Manage and develop teams.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

legislation, regulations, policies, Codes of Practice, enterprise procedures, field protocols.

This competency in practice
A large national industrial company has prepared an environmental management plan (EMP) covering all its national locations. Given that 'monitoring' is a major component of any EMP, the environmental manager has been instructed to prepare an annual plan covering all environmental field activities so that the company has an integrated, standardised and non-overlapping monitoring plan covering all of its locations. The environmental manager establishes a planning team to develop plans and quality assurance procedures covering all environmental field monitoring or survey activities required during the year. The committee produces a strategic implementation plan which is forwarded to the Board for review and approval.
A laboratory supervisor for a large mining company was asked to prepare a proposal outlining the resources necessary to produce an annual State of the Environment (SOE) report covering the mine site and surrounding land. Given that the report and associated field data would become a public document, the supervisor was also asked to prepare quality assurance procedures covering all environmental field activities undertaken by the company as part of the proposal. They began by identifying and documenting all existing and future field activities and analysing the drivers and constraints that could influence this work in the future. The supervisor then clarified which activities would impact on the SOE report and prepared an implementation plan covering the time schedule; resources; budget and management of risks, safety and emergencies along with a detailed description of the data quality requirements and field protocols involved. They circulated the draft proposal to relevant staff for comment. The company management then refined the draft for consideration by the Board.

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
(3)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(3)

Solving problems
(3)

Using technology
(2)