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 enterprise field survey requirements may include
existing plans covering environmental field activities
policies and statutory requirements
environmental protection and conservation legislation
consultation (for example, with traditional owners)
Codes of Practice, field protocols
environmental standards (for example, air, water, noise)
data quality assurance procedures.

Field survey activities may include but not be limited to
meteorology, geology, soils, hydrology, geomorphology, water quality, noise, vegetation, wildlife, climate, land uses, land resources, agriculture, forestry, mining, conservation, recreation.

Clients and stakeholders may include but not be limited to
Commonwealth, State and Local Government agencies
organisation with monitoring and/or survey responsibilities
regulatory authorities
private companies
developers.

The purpose or objectives of field survey activities will define/target information, collection needs and may include
part of enterprise environmental management plan
statutory requirements
environmental impact assessment for major development
environment audit
pollution control activity
general environmental and ecological surveys
research studies.

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

Field survey protocols, Codes of Practice, permits, plans and methodologies may include
field survey plans
fieldwork procedures, standard operating procedures (SOPs)
industry based protocols
permits for wildlife capture and handling
permits for access to land (for example, Aboriginal reserves)
consultation with traditional owners
animal welfare codes and ethics committee approval
safety and accident/injury plans
emergency plans
risk-management plans
environmental impact assessment procedures
environmental audits.

Hazards may include
solar radiation, dust, noise
personnel getting lost
accidents, emergencies, incidents, such as snake, insect or animal bites
exposure to severe weather conditions
manual handling of heavy objects
power tools, generators, moving machinery
vehicle and boat handling in rough/remote conditions.

Safety procedures and control measures may include
use of personal protective equipment, such as sunscreen, hat, safety glasses, gloves, coveralls, safety boots
'stay with vehicle' and other survival techniques
regular communication schedule
GPS, maps, aerial photos
handling, storage and disposal of all hazardous materials/waste in accordance with MSDS, labels, enterprise procedures, codes and regulations.
Administrative requirements and approvals may include: travel requisitions, authority for use of vehicles and equipment, insurance, permits.

Field survey resources may include
staff with appropriate competencies
transport systems (for example, vehicles, boats, aircraft)
navigation and communication equipment
sampling and monitoring equipment
standard and specialised monitoring equipment
survey equipment
general field monitoring and/or field testing equipment
first aid and/or survival kits and equipment
consumables.

Field instruments and equipment may include
samplers (for example, air, surface and groundwater, bottom sediments, soils, animals)
meters (for example, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, pH, turbidity, liquid flow, light, rainfall, humidity, temperature, oxides of carbon, oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, particulates, ozone, hydrocarbons)
associated information, such as equipment operating manuals, field instrument operating instructions, calibration procedures, instrument fault-finding procedures, general maintenance and repair procedures, first aid and survival manuals.

Field procedures may include
sampling
field testing (validated and authorised)
animal trapping (and release), tagging, keeping
emergency response, safety and survival aspects
data collection, analysis, reporting
protection of the environment.

Typical problems may include
unexpected restriction on access to site(s)
seasonal conditions
equipment failure or loss
communication failure/difficulties
unforseen environment impacts
contact with hazardous wastes.

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 and objectives of the activity including-
information and analysis required
end users of information
significance of outcomes for broader program(s)

demonstrates understanding of the rights and responsibilities of employers and employees in terms of the following:

enterprise legal requirements regarding field survey activities
enterprise data quality procedures
enterprise field safety procedures
risk-management requirements
enterprise field emergency plans
enterprise environmental requirements
field survey protocols
communicates effectively with senior staff and stakeholders
can modify existing field survey protocols
supervises junior staff, where appropriate
develops, documents and supervises field survey work program
manages day-to-day field surveys and associated activities
adapts field activities to suit changing circumstances
completes field survey planning and documentation clearly and accurately within specified time frame
accurately communicates to all relevant staff their specific activities as part of the total field survey work program
negotiates effectively with staff and stakeholders and resolves conflict(s), where possible.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

field survey protocols
specific field survey practices and techniques
correct terminology relevant to the defined field survey activity
selection and application of appropriate field survey practices
data quality procedures
field survey activities, such as-
identification and use of equipment and instruments
survey principles and practices
field safety, environmental and emergency requirements
data recording, storage
sample collection, preservation, labelling, packaging, storage, transportation
environmental planning and assessment procedures
current developments in field instrumentation, survey equipment and communication systems
project management
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.

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 environmental field survey plan designed by candidate

observation of fieldwork performed by candidate with a focus on:

field survey practices and procedures
accurate data recording and reporting
safety, emergency and environmental impact assessment associated with survey activities
communication techniques
general pre-survey site reconnaissance
feedback from peers and supervisors that relevant enterprise procedures were clearly and accurately followed
feedback from stakeholders that consultation and outcomes met their needs, where appropriate
oral and written questions to assess underpinning knowledge
simulation exercises to observe general field survey preparation, accident situations and emergency responses.
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:

PMLMAIN502A Maintain instruments and equipment.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

legislation, regulations, Codes of Practice, enterprise procedures, field protocols
vehicles, survey equipment, sampling/monitoring equipment, consumables, manuals.

This competency in practice
An environmental officer is asked to design and supervise a series of field surveys covering soils, flora, fauna and water quality. Part of the study area is potentially high in nature conservation value with the rest of the area being considered for low density residential development. The aim of the study is to determine which parts of the study area should be set aside for protected open space and, if so, to develop an environmental management plan based on the results of the field surveys.
A technical officer is part of a team preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for a large industrial site. The technical officer is responsible for supervising all associated field surveys. They need to understand the requirements of the relevant environment protection legislation and local environment department, full details of all field surveys and associated enterprise procedures and how to present data so that it can be efficiently incorporated into the draft EIS. Based on this information the technical officer prepares a detailed workplan, and associated time-line, which identifies all field survey activities and associated resources. They are also careful to identify all quality assurance requirements. The draft EIS report is reviewed closely by management before its release given the level of public interest and the possibility of court action sometime in the future.

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
(2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(3)

Planning and organising activities
(3)

Working with others and in teams
(3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)