Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
Hydrometric instruments and equipment may include:
sensors
transducers
samplers
data loggers
telemetry
power supplies
float wells
weirs and flumes
gauge boards
Documentation may include:
job specifications and work plans
maps and plans
survey data
notice of entry procedures
quarantine procedures
mines regulations
organisational procedures and manuals
instrument and systems manufacturers' manuals
standards relevant to the installation tasks including:
AS 3778 for water measurement installations
World Meteorological Organisation / Bureau of Meteorology guidelines for siting of meteorological sensors and systems
documentation of best practice methodology where standards not applicable or available
Assignment instruments and equipment may include:
personal protective equipment
hand and power tools
portable power supplies
computer equipment
pumping equipment
test equipment
communications equipment
signage
4WD vehicles
surveying equipment:
pegs
staffs
levels
GPS
electronic data management systems
water velocity measurement devices:
mechanical current meters
acoustic-Doppler current meters and profiles
Organisational standards and safe work practices may include reference to:
by-laws and organisational policies
standard operating procedures
environment protection standards and requirements
occupational health and safety standards and requirements, including use of personal protective equipment
safe handling of hazardous substances
appropriate use of road and worksite signage
survey of sections
procedures for discharge measurement in open channels using mechanical current meters:
waded gaugings
flood gaugings by cableways
travellers or boats
procedures for discharge measurement in open channels using:
acoustic-Doppler current meters or profilers waded gaugings
flood gaugings by staffed cableway
unstaffed traveller waybridge or boat
Routine maintenance may include:
using appropriate cleaning agents and materials to remove surface dirt and contaminants
applying lubricants in accordance with work instructions and manufacturers' specifications
performing annual or other routine and scheduled inspections of physical surroundings of the monitoring installation to identify external impacts (adverse or otherwise) on data quality and monitoring system performance
performing preventative maintenance management systems
maintaining instrument/system management databases and record systems to assist with planning outages or alternative monitoring systems
replacing components in accordance with work instructions and manufacturers' specifications
conducting minor repairs
conducting calibrations
conducting appropriate vegetation management in gauging sections, around meteorological monitoring sites to maintain constant environmental factors affecting the monitoring site
Store and protect instruments by a range of processes including:
stowing instruments and equipment securely and in appropriate containers for storage and transport
protecting instruments and equipment, as appropriate, from extremes of:
heat
moisture
electromagnetic radiation
shock
vibration

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.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The candidate should demonstrate, in accordance with standard organisational and industry procedures, the ability to install, operate and maintain hydrometric instruments and equipment in sound order and to organisational standards including:
interpreting and applying complex technical information and applications related to the installation and maintenance of a range of hydrometric instruments and equipment
conducting accurate and reliable tests of a range of hydrometric instruments and equipment and make adjustments to maintain accuracy
installing and maintaining a range of hydrometric instruments and equipment in a range of sites and conditions and under conditions of extreme weather and high risk
analysing risks in a range of locations and conditions and working safely in routine and extreme conditions
identifying, reporting and solving potential and current problems, and taking immediate action to address high risk conditions
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Access to the workplace and resources including:
documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation
workplace specific equipment and technology
supervision and experienced team members to provide observations, feedback and third party reports
enterprise operating procedures and work allocation
relevant codes, standards, and government regulations
Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.
Validity and sufficiency of evidence require that:
competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace
where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice
a decision of competence should only be made when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts
all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence
where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time
assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit
In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.