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.

This unit of competency includes the ability to apply workplace procedures relating to
ordering, purchase and receipt of stocks
verification of temperature control for delivered and stored stocks (for example, reagents containing enzymes)
organisation of compatible batch or lot numbers
storage of stocks, stock control, rotation of stock
quality control testing, monitoring of use by dates of standards and shelf life of reagents (for example, DNA, enzymes, antibodies, radioisotopes and vitamins)
reporting non-conformance.

Information sources and documentation may include
Australian Standards, such as
AS 2508 Safe storage and handling information cards
AS 1940 Storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids
AS 3780 Storage and handling of corrosive substances
AS 4452 Storage and handling of toxic substances
AS 4332 Storage and handling of gases in cylinders
AS 2243 Safety in laboratories
enterprise OHS manual and quality manual
Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs)
internal/external stock orders and overdue actions
workplace procedures for cleaning
customer database and supplier catalogues.

Records could include
stock usage
orders, progress of orders
equipment servicing and repairs
current inventories
QC sampling, testing and stock rotation.

Communication could require the use of equipment or systems, such as
telephone, fax, email, mail
online information systems, inventories, print records, databases, catalogues
filing systems
Auslan.

Communication could involve
suppliers
freight companies
internal customers
external customers.

Hazards may include
electric shock
chemicals, such as acids and hydrocarbons
microbiological organisms associated with blood and blood products
radioisotopes
sharps, such as broken glassware
disturbance or interruption of services
manual handling of heavy boxes
fluids under pressure, industrial gas bottles.

Safety procedures may include
use of personal protective equipment, such as hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, coveralls, safety boots
ensuring access to service shut-off points
handling and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, enterprise procedures and regulations
regular cleaning of equipment and work areas.

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 potential 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, the assessor should look to see that the candidate:

confirms customer requirements with senior personnel where there is doubt
accesses online databases and/or catalogues efficiently
interprets labelling information (lot number, batch, date) and MSDSs correctly
applies procedures for safe handling, storage and transport of stocks
uses required safety and manual handling equipment and procedures
performs QC sampling and testing and rotates stock in accordance with SOPs
follows workplace procedures for predicting and/or determining demand for stock
maintains stock at prescribed levels for their work area, through regular inspections, timely ordering of replacement items and follow up of late orders
copes with peak and seasonal variations in stock usage and production conditions
follows workplace procedures for researching, ordering and receipt of stock
completes and records all documentation accurately
demonstrates effective and appropriate communication and interpersonal skills when dealing with customers and suppliers.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

technical terminology relating to ordering and storage of stocks
laboratory stock, product and service information
common usage and International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) name for relevant chemical reagents, (if applicable)
types of chemical reactions and rationale for recommended storage systems
enterprise procedures and quality system requirements for stock control
Codes of Practice and regulations concerning the handling, storage and transport of the stock involved
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 documentation for orders prepared by the candidate
examination of stock records maintained by the candidate
observation of the candidate handling stock and conducting QC sampling and testing
feedback from the laboratory manager, quality manager, customer service manager, supervisor, customers and peers
explanation by the candidate of the labelling and storage requirements of a selection of stock items.
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:

stocks of materials and equipment
stock order forms and documentation
sampling and testing equipment.

This competency in practice
Neglected chemicals may deteriorate on the shelf and turn into a completely different entity. Not only can this change in identity damage a chemical manufacturing process, it can also present an immediate hazard. For example, this occurred in a storeroom where stored ether built up high levels of peroxides. When it was used in an extraction process to make a starting material in a manufacturing process, the peroxides were concentrated and exploded. The company was fortunate that loss of life didn't occur. The company revised enterprise procedures to ensure that in the future, redundant or outdated stocks are identified and removed.
The staff in a confectionary company laboratory use enzyme based methods to routinely analyse sugars (glucose, fructose, sucrose and lactose) in products. Although the enzymes are stored as directed by the manufacturer, typically at -2 0? C in the dark, they do not retain their activity indefinitely. To avoid using inactive enzyme in an analytical procedure and obtaining a reduced or false negative result, several features of each enzyme preparation are routinely noted. These include the date of purchase, the number of times the enzyme has been thawed and refrozen and its initial activity. Periodically, the enzyme activity is verified and stock is discarded where its activity has fallen to a less than acceptable value. These practices ensure that the analytical methods that use enzymes are performed with functional reagents and give accurate results.

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
(2)

Planning and organising activities
(2)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(2)