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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Ensure safe work practices
  2. Plan work schedule
  3. Organise experiments and demonstrations
  4. Manage resources

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

Australian and international standards, guidelines and codes covering safety in laboratories; occupational protective equipment; labelling of workplace substances; storage, handling and transport of dangerous goods; environmental management; physical containment levels and facility types

national WHS standards, animal welfare legislation and codes of practice, and permits for wildlife capture and handling

gene technology regulations

principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

Hazards

Hazards associated with practical science classes and demonstrations include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

electric shock

microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, and human or animal tissue and fluids

solar radiation, dust and noise, and exposure to extreme weather conditions

snake, insect and animal bites

chemicals, such as acids, heavy metals, pesticides and hydrocarbons

radiation, such as alpha, beta, gamma and X-ray

aerosols from broken centrifuge tubes and pipetting

sharps, broken glassware and hand tools

cryogenics, such as dry ice and liquid nitrogen

fluids under pressure, such as steam, hydrogen in gas liquid chromatography and acetylene in atomic absorption spectrometry

sources of ignition, high temperature processes and flammable liquids

disturbance or interruption of services

occupational overuse syndrome

slips, trips and falls, manual handling, working at heights and working in confined spaces, crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery or falling objects

vehicle and boat handling

Risk control measures

Risk control measures include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

ensuring access to service shut-off points

recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs

labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials

using PPE, such as hats, hearing protection, gloves, safety glasses, coveralls, gowns, body suits, respirators and safety boots

handling and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, material safety data sheets (MSDS) and manufacturer's instructions

applying containment procedures through the use of appropriate equipment, such as biohazard containers, laminar flow cabinets, Class I, II and III biohazard cabinets, and Class PCII and PCIII physical containment facilities

cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using workplace procedures

following established manual handling procedures

identifying and reporting operating problems or equipment malfunctions

reporting abnormal emissions, discharges and airborne contaminants, such as noise, light, solids, liquids, water/wastewater, gases, smoke, vapour, fumes, odour and particulates to appropriate personnel

Risk assessment

Risk assessment includes:

identifying and analysing the risk, and considering potential consequences in terms of exposure and hazard and likelihood of each

assessing the effectiveness of existing controls

determining level of risk, comparing with pre-established criteria for tolerance (or as low as reasonably achievable) and ranking of risks requiring control

Typical materials

Typical materials include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

live flora and fauna, such as plant specimens

animals, such as rats, bacteria, algae, insects and fungi

blood and blood products, human or animal tissue and fluids

distilled water, reagents, chemicals, disinfectants, detergents, agar media and plates

consumable items, such as syringes, pipette tips and weigh boats

oils/lubricants, fuels, industrial gases and cryogenics, such as dry ice and liquid nitrogen

equipment spares, such as fuses, bulbs and batteries

teaching aids, such as textbooks and videos

reference samples and standards

Typical equipment

Typical equipment includes, but is not limited to, one or more of:

analytical instruments, such as ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) and atomic absorption spectrometers (AAS), gas chromatography (GC) and high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC)

containment equipment, such as fume hoods, biohazard containers and biological safety cabinets, and animal cages

general equipment, such as autoclaves, ultrasonic cleaners, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, ovens, microwave ovens, incubators, gas cylinders and muffle furnaces

specialised equipment, such as microtomes and tissue processors, cell counters and staining machines, light and fluorescence microscopes, pH meters and ion selective electrodes

bench equipment, such as thermometers, balances, blenders, centrifuges and separating equipment, water baths, hotplates, mantles, burners, glassware (burettes, pipettes), plastic ware, glass, plastic and quartz cuvettes

teaching aids, such as technology players and computers

Incidents and emergencies

Incidents and emergencies include one or more of:

workplace injury and accidents

biological and chemical spills

leakage of radioactivity

fire, bomb and security threats

Contingencies

Contingencies include one or more of:

new information

urgent requests

modified activities

changed situations

late instructions

substitution of materials or equipment

Sources of materials and equipment

Sources of materials and equipment include one or more of:

land and sea-based field trips

botanic gardens and parks

abattoirs

commercial suppliers

blood banks

Resource management

Resource management includes one or more of:

preparation of operational plans, schedules and budgets

handling of petty cash and reconciliation of bank statements, and use of a workplace credit card

contacting suppliers and completing order requisition forms

WHS and environmental management requirements

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

· complying with WHS and environmental management requirements at all times, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation. These requirements must not be compromised at any time

· applying standard precautions relating to the potentially hazardous nature of samples

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health, where relevant

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

managing the day-to-day running of science teaching laboratories and preparing practical experiments, demonstrations and field trips

working with teaching staff and students to assess risks, develop and implement controls and monitor their effectiveness

working with teaching staff and students to ensure all practical activities are performed safely (through demonstrations and monitoring of practical activities)

developing operational plans, work schedules, job cards and budgets

clarifying and designing practical activities and assessing resource needs

preparing laboratory experiments and demonstrations on time with the correct materials and equipment

managing contingencies and resources within level of responsibility

maintaining the laboratory fit for purpose

obtaining stocks of materials and equipment using workplace procedures

organising quotes and bookings using workplace procedures

working effectively with students and staff who may have diverse work styles, cultures and perspectives.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

principles of risk assessment, risk management and hierarchy of control

principles of small scale budgeting, operational planning and efficient resource use

scientific terminology and technical details of sampling, testing, equipment and instrumentation used in the education program’s practical activities

relevant legislation, regulations and codes governing practical activities

workplace procedures for the purchase, handling, storage and transport of materials and equipment

relevant work health and safety (WHS) and environment requirements.