Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 11:58 AM AWST
22/07/2026 11:58 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.
Work and communicate effectively as an environmental technician
Work and communicate effectively as an environmental technician
Unit of competency
National Code
MSS024001A
MSS024001A
State Code
D7755
D7755
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
14/09/2011
Field of Education
120505 - Work Practices Programmes
Original Release Date
14/09/2011
Nominal Hours
35
Description
This unit of competency covers the induction of an employee into an enterprise to undertake environmental technical work. It includes working within Australia’s framework for environmental management and the culture of the enterprise, and the need to interact effectively with a large range of people in many industry and community settings.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Work within Australia’s environmental management framework
- 1.1 Demonstrate broad knowledge of how governments, legislation, policies, codes of practice and Australian standards provide a framework of environmental protection measures in Australia
- 1.2 Perform all work activities in accordance with relevant environmental management requirements, including sustainable energy principles and work practices
2 Work within enterprise structure and culture
- 2.1 Demonstrate broad knowledge of enterprise business goals, ethics, products and/or environmental services
- 2.2 Identify key enterprise sites and/or functions and personnel
3 Work in accordance with enterprise agreements and legislative requirements
- 3.1 Locate key workplace information and apply it correctly
- 3.2 Follow enterprise policy and procedures relating to employment, security, confidentiality and reporting lines
4 Provide environmental technical services
- 4.1 Identify workplace roles and responsibilities of personnel working within the environmental function
- 4.2 Identify typical tasks and calendar of events in work area
- 4.3 Recognise and locate the equipment and resources required for everyday work
- 4.4 Interpret work instructions correctly and seek clarification, if necessary
- 4.5 Follow work instructions to perform environmental/technical tasks safely and efficiently
- 4.6 Maintain own work area, equipment and materials in a safe and organised manner according to enterprise policy and procedures
- 4.7 Recognise and locate the equipment and resources required for everyday work
- 4.8 Interpret work instructions correctly and seek clarification, if necessary
- 4.9 Follow work instructions to perform environmental/technical tasks safely and efficiently
- 4.10 Maintain own work area, equipment and materials in a safe and organised manner according to enterprise policy and procedures
5 Organise daily work efficiently
- 5.1 Assess and prioritise workload according to level of responsibility
- 5.2 Advise supervisor if additional resources or support are required to improve performance
- 5.3 Undertake duties in a positive manner to enhance workplace cooperation and efficiency
6 Communicate/liaise effectively with customers, contractors and stakeholders
- 6.1 Listen actively and use appropriate language when communicating with other people
- 6.2 Respond appropriately to verbal and written messages
- 6.3 Record and convey information so that it is clearly understood
- 6.4 Respect the values, concerns and diverse views of people involved in, or impacted by, enterprise activities
- 6.5 Resolve conflict through meaningful negotiation and compromise, where necessary
- 6.6 Redirect inquiries or disputes beyond own area of responsibility to relevant personnel for action
- 6.7 Adhere to site agreements and protocols in order to maintain credibility and trust
7 Accept responsibility for quality of own work
- 7.1 Monitor and adjust work practices to ensure that the quality of outputs is maintained
- 7.2 Identify and report opportunities for improvements in procedures, processes and equipment in work area
8 Identify own learning needs
- 8.1 Identify career options and training opportunities in the enterprise
- 8.2 Consult appropriate personnel to identify own learning needs for future work requirements and career aspirations
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
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:
international conventions, such as World Heritage Listing, RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Significance
federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations and plans dealing with land use, cultural/heritage sites, vegetation management, biodiversity management, water management, pollution and contaminated sites
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set
Australian Dangerous Goods Code ADG7
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
enterprise environmental management plans and procedures for specific sites and/or activities (e.g. sampling, monitoring, construction and mining)
Business ethics
Business ethics may include:
following enterprise policy and procedures
behaving honestly and openly
respecting others and treating them with courtesy and impartiality
working diligently and responsibly
ensuring confidentiality of information, including client identification, data and results
Enterprise sites
Enterprise sites may include:
head office functions
supplier services and consultancy services
production or processing plants
survey/catchment/construction/mining sites
laboratories
Key functions
Key functions may include:
consultancy services
policy
inspection/auditing and compliance
community liaison
production
packaging, warehouse and distribution
quality assurance
purchasing, sales and marketing
human resources (personnel, training and employee relations)
Sources of workplace information
Sources of workplace information may include:
noticeboards, public address or paging systems
standard operating procedures, manuals, work instructions, signs and notices
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
telephone or contract details, email systems and websites
emergency exits, routes and collection points
enterprise recording and reporting procedures, quality manuals, equipment and operating/technical manuals
sampling and test methods (validated and authorised)
schematics, workflows, site layouts and production and laboratory schedules
Enterprise agreements, policies and procedures
Enterprise agreements, policies and procedures may include:
industrial awards, enterprise bargaining agreements and individual contracts
emergencies, accidents and incidents
incident and accident/injury reports
health, safety and environment
quality assurance
customer services
Legislative requirements
Legislative requirements may include:
environmental protection
OHS
workers compensation
equal employment, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment
ethics, copyright, intellectual property and privacy
Sustainable energy principles and work practices
Sustainable energy principles and work practices may include:
examining work practices that involve excessive use of electricity, gas and/or water
switching off equipment when not in use
regularly cleaning filters
recycling and reusing materials wherever feasible
minimising waste
Environmental technical services
Environmental technical services may include:
routine site sampling of water, air, soil and noise
packaging, labelling, storing and transporting samples
routine site measurements that involve a narrow range of variables and/or easily recognised acceptable ranges
straightforward field surveys
entering of data into enterprise databases, checking of data quality and reporting results
cleaning of equipment and/or vehicles
housekeeping of work areas
Equipment and resources
Equipment and resources will vary according to:
the scope and nature of the enterprise’s environmental/technical functions and services, location and products
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
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:
international conventions, such as World Heritage Listing, RAMSAR Convention on Wetlands of International Significance
federal legislation, such as the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
state/territory government legislation and local government by-laws, policies, regulations and plans dealing with land use, cultural/heritage sites, vegetation management, biodiversity management, water management, pollution and contaminated sites
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set
Australian Dangerous Goods Code ADG7
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
enterprise environmental management plans and procedures for specific sites and/or activities (e.g. sampling, monitoring, construction and mining)
Business ethics
Business ethics may include:
following enterprise policy and procedures
behaving honestly and openly
respecting others and treating them with courtesy and impartiality
working diligently and responsibly
ensuring confidentiality of information, including client identification, data and results
Enterprise sites
Enterprise sites may include:
head office functions
supplier services and consultancy services
production or processing plants
survey/catchment/construction/mining sites
laboratories
Key functions
Key functions may include:
consultancy services
policy
inspection/auditing and compliance
community liaison
production
packaging, warehouse and distribution
quality assurance
purchasing, sales and marketing
human resources (personnel, training and employee relations)
Sources of workplace information
Sources of workplace information may include:
noticeboards, public address or paging systems
standard operating procedures, manuals, work instructions, signs and notices
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
telephone or contract details, email systems and websites
emergency exits, routes and collection points
enterprise recording and reporting procedures, quality manuals, equipment and operating/technical manuals
sampling and test methods (validated and authorised)
schematics, workflows, site layouts and production and laboratory schedules
Enterprise agreements, policies and procedures
Enterprise agreements, policies and procedures may include:
industrial awards, enterprise bargaining agreements and individual contracts
emergencies, accidents and incidents
incident and accident/injury reports
health, safety and environment
quality assurance
customer services
Legislative requirements
Legislative requirements may include:
environmental protection
OHS
workers compensation
equal employment, anti-discrimination and anti-harassment
ethics, copyright, intellectual property and privacy
Sustainable energy principles and work practices
Sustainable energy principles and work practices may include:
examining work practices that involve excessive use of electricity, gas and/or water
switching off equipment when not in use
regularly cleaning filters
recycling and reusing materials wherever feasible
minimising waste
Environmental technical services
Environmental technical services may include:
routine site sampling of water, air, soil and noise
packaging, labelling, storing and transporting samples
routine site measurements that involve a narrow range of variables and/or easily recognised acceptable ranges
straightforward field surveys
entering of data into enterprise databases, checking of data quality and reporting results
cleaning of equipment and/or vehicles
housekeeping of work areas
Equipment and resources
Equipment and resources will vary according to:
the scope and nature of the enterprise’s environmental/technical functions and services, location and products
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
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
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:
following workplace procedures to complete environmental/technical tasks within the required timeframe
efficiently organising own daily work
accepting responsibility for quality of own work.
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:
MSS024004A Process and present environmental data
MSL952001A Collect routine site samples.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
relevant documentation, such as enterprise procedures, legal/regulatory requirements and codes of practice
relevant equipment and materials
organisational charts and flow diagrams showing links between enterprise functions and/or production processes
employment, training and career information.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
observation of candidate performing a range of environmental/technical tasks
feedback from peers and supervisors
oral or written questioning to check underpinning knowledge of Australia’s environmental management framework and enterprise procedures
review of workplace documentation completed by the candidate.
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
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:
following workplace procedures to complete environmental/technical tasks within the required timeframe
efficiently organising own daily work
accepting responsibility for quality of own work.
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:
MSS024004A Process and present environmental data
MSL952001A Collect routine site samples.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
relevant documentation, such as enterprise procedures, legal/regulatory requirements and codes of practice
relevant equipment and materials
organisational charts and flow diagrams showing links between enterprise functions and/or production processes
employment, training and career information.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
observation of candidate performing a range of environmental/technical tasks
feedback from peers and supervisors
oral or written questioning to check underpinning knowledge of Australia’s environmental management framework and enterprise procedures
review of workplace documentation completed by the candidate.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| BAK95 | MSS024001 | Work and communicate effectively as an environmental technician | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D551 | MSS40211 | Certificate IV in Environmental Monitoring and Technology | Qualification |
| D553 | MSS50211 | Diploma of Environmental Monitoring and Technology | Qualification |