Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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.
Prescribed performance criteria for instruments
Prescribed performance criteria for instruments may include:
design is in accordance with the appropriate Certificates of Approval
performance meets the criteria described in the Certificates of Approval, National Test Procedure and legislation
Appropriate documentation
Where reference is made to documentation, it is expected the latest version will be used.
Appropriate documentation may include:
reference standards
Certificates of Verification
Certificates of Approval for limited weighing instruments
test procedures for verifying limited weighing instruments
organisational test reports
organisational procedures e.g. company quality assurance manual
National Measurement Act
occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations, guidelines and procedures material data safety sheets
equipment manuals and warranty, supplier catalogues and handbooks
Certificates of Approval
Certificates of Approval may include:
any Certificate issued by the Chief Metrologist under Regulation 60 of the National Measurement Regulations approving the pattern of a limited weighing instrument as being suitable for trade
Test equipment
Test equipment may include:
reference standards of measurement
Legislation
Legislation may include:
national measurement legislation
applicable Commonwealth, state and territory OHS legislation
National Measurement Institute policy
National Measurement Institute policy may include:
accepted test procedure variations
bulletin
instruction
determination
National Test Procedures for weighing instruments
National Test Procedures for weighing instruments may include those for:
non-automatic weighing machines
automatic Class Y(a) Catchweighers
automatic Class Y(b) Catchweighers
any other test procedure prescribed by the National Measurement Institute
OHS and environmental management requirements
OHS and environmental management requirements refer to:
all operations must comply with enterprise occupational health safety 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 and State and Territory Departments of Health
Operating environmental impacts
Operating environmental impacts may include:
vibration
wind
humidity
heat
dust
electromagnetic interference
out of level
Records
Records may include:
test reports
safety procedures
a history of equipment calibration and test results
Weighing instruments
Verifiers may be licensed to test and mark specific classes of instruments from the following list.
Weighing instruments may include:
non-automatic weighing machines tested without substitution loads
automatic Class Y(a) Catchweighers
automatic Class Y(b) Catchweighers
any other instruments prescribed by the National Measurement Institute

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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 for one class of weighing instrument listed in the Range Statement.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
identify, access and apply test procedures
identify and use suitable reference standards
install and repair weighing instruments to meet statutory requirements
evaluate and adjust the impact of the operating environment on the performance of the instrument
analyse test results to determine the instrument's suitability for verification (trade use)
maintain the security and confidentiality of data in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements
report results in the required formats and expected timeframe.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSATMREF301A Use and maintain reference standards.
Resources may include:
limited weighing instruments, test equipment and reference standards
computer and relevant software and/or organisation information management system
Certificates of Approval for instruments
relevant legislative and organisational procedures.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
questions to assess understanding of relevant procedures and remedial actions
review of verification reports prepared by the candidate
feedback from supervisors and peers regarding the candidate's ability to verify the performance of weighing instruments in accordance with legislative and organisational 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. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

A retail butcher uses a digital weighing instrument to sell meat with a gross retail cost of $500,000 annually and where the price per kilogram ranges from 5.99/kg to $68/kg. As the profit margin of the butcher's business depends on the product received and sold, the butcher contracts a scale repair company to test his buying and selling scales for accuracy.The scale repairer arrives at the butcher's premises with a trolley load of equipment. After their introductions, the butcher enquires as to what all the gear on the trolley is for. The repairer explains that it is all part of the equipment needed to satisfy the licensing requirements of national Trade Measurement.
The repairer advises that for this job he needs masses which have a suitable capacity and accuracy for the scale, that have been tested and are still within their expiry period. Not only does he need 15kg for the capacity of the instrument but also smaller masses down to 0.2g to test the scale correctly according to the National Test Procedures that he has brought with him. To keep up to date with new scales, he also has a laptop with internet access to download the latest Certificate of Approval for the instrument from the National Measurement Institute website. Regardless of how accurate the scale is, it can't be used for trade (i.e. buying or selling) unless it is approved for trade use by the National Measurement Institute. He also has the paper work required by national Trade Measurement to issue depending on whether the instrument complies and can be certified or not. Finally, he explains that he has tools in case the scales need adjustment if they are outside the maximum permissible errors set down by the National Measurement Institute.
The scale repairer inspects the scales for compliance with the Certificates of Approval and tests them. He finds the selling scale is approved for trade use but is incorrect and the buying scale, while weighing correctly, is not approved.The repairer fixes the selling scale, marks it with a certification mark and issues a certification form. The buyingscale cannot be certified because it is not an approved type and the repairer issues a notice of non-compliance advising the butcher that it can no longer be used for trade. Before leaving the butcher shop, the repairer completes his paper work and submits it to national Trade Measurement within the specified 14 days.