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.

Policy, legislation, regulations, standards, may include
government policy (for example, sustainable development, impact assessment)
environmental protection or conservation legislation
specific environmental standards (for example, air, water, noise, industrial effluent)
Australian Standards, National Environmental Protection Measures (NEPM).

Codes of Practice, field protocols and field procedures may include
industry Codes of Practice or protocols
remote-sensing monitoring protocols
data quality procedures.
Remote-sensing monitoring activities may include but are not limited to meteorology, geology/mining, hydrology, air quality, water quality, noise and vibrations.

Communication and/or consultation strategies may include
face-to-face
telephone
written documents
meetings.

Purpose of field monitoring activities may include
single or multiple site monitoring
component of enterprise environmental management plan
remote-sensing monitoring of physical/chemical parameters
requirement to comply with statutory requirements
requirement to comply with industry sampling/monitoring protocols/Codes of Practice.

Related plans and procedures may include
risk assessments
safety and accident/injury plans
emergency plans and procedures, access to nearest medical services
environmental impact assessment procedures
pollution prevention procedures
first aid and survival procedures.

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 appropriate approvals may include
travel requisitions
authority for use of vehicles and equipment
permits
insurance.

Instruments and equipment may include but are not limited to
navigation and communication equipment (for example, compass, maps, global positioning system, two-way radio, mobile phone)
sampling and autosampling equipment for air, water, stormwater, wastewater, sewage
instruments to measure air pollutants (for example, oxides of carbon, oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons, particulates (PM10, PM2.5 total suspended, ozone)
instruments to measure water quantity and/or hydrological parameters (for example, flow, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates, temperature)
instruments to measure meteorological parameters (for example, pressure, minimum and maximum temperature, wet and dry bulb temperatures, humidity, rainfall, wind speed and direction)
instruments to measure sound pressure levels (for example, noise or sound pressure meter).

Enterprise procedures for field activities may include
field note books or log books
standard operating procedures (SOPs), fieldwork procedures, remote-sensing monitoring procedures
equipment operating manuals, calibration procedures, instrument fault finding procedures, general maintenance and repair procedures
requirements related to protection of the environment
incident/accident/injury report forms.

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, assessors should look to see that the candidate:

demonstrates understanding of purpose and objectives of the monitoring, including-
information and analysis required
end users of information
significance of outcomes for broader program(s)
communicates effectively and efficiently with staff and other relevant parties
identifies and interprets statutory requirements accurately
confirms type, quantity and quality of data needed for defined monitoring activity
demonstrates ability to assemble test, operate and close down a field-based, remote-sensing monitoring system under laboratory/field conditions
undertakes reconnaissance and evaluates monitoring sites
identifies and establishes a secure field monitoring site according to defined criteria
demonstrates ability to appropriately package and transport supplies, equipment and instruments into the field
negotiates with staff and stakeholders and reaches satisfactory agreements, where possible
responds effectively to changed or unforeseen circumstances.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

correct terminology relevant to field monitoring activities
field monitoring aims and objectives
remote-sensing monitoring protocols
statutory requirements regarding monitoring activities
technical capabilities and limitations of remote-sensing equipment and instruments
fundamentals of field-based, remote-sensing monitoring systems
fundamentals of field instrument fault identification and rectification procedures
automatic and manual sampling and calibration procedures
data storage, analysis and presentation procedures
data quality procedures
field safety requirements and emergency plans
environmental requirements regarding field activities
enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements
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 data and results obtained by candidate
feedback from supervisors and peers

observation of work carried out under laboratory conditions with a focus on:

automatic and manual sampling and instrument calibration procedures
assembling, checking and operation remote-sensing monitoring systems
recording, storing, analysing and presenting basic monitoring data

observation of work carried out in the field with a focus on:

identification of monitoring site according to defined criteria
identification and recording of required services and security requirements for the site
identification and recording of potential environmental impacts associated with construction and operation of a defined monitoring site

simulation exercises with a focus on:

accident and emergency situations
basic environmental impact assessment of a field site
loss of communication system and implementation of alternative procedures
demonstration of calibration, use, and general maintenance of monitoring equipment
oral and/or written questions to assess underpinning knowledge.
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:

vehicles, monitoring and communication equipment, consumables, manuals
work program, enterprise procedures, Codes of Practice, field protocols.

This competency in practice
A report by an environmental consultant indicates that a major regional city requires two remote-sensing air quality monitoring stations to adequately meet its air quality monitoring objectives. In conjunction with senior staff, a senior technical officer is instructed to relocate the existing monitoring station in the central business district, as it does not meet the new Australian Standard for locationing and siting of such a monitoring station and to develop a new station in an outer suburban area.
The two remote-sensing monitoring stations must meet all siting and location standards; operate unsupervised for up to seven days; produce data in a form suitable for direct inclusion into the Territory's State of Environment Report; and meet all statutory and enterprise requirements. The technical officer is required to clearly identify and document the above requirements; negotiate with all relevant authorities regarding siting, supply of services, access and security; as well as design, assemble and establish the remote-sensing monitoring system. On-going operation, maintenance and annual evaluation are also the responsibility of the senior technical officer in conjunction with senior staff.

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
(3)

Working with others and in teams
(2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(2)

Solving problems
(2)

Using technology
(3)