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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Confirm monitoring requirements with supervising staff
  2. Assemble remote-sensing field monitoring system
  3. Organise and establish the remote-sensing monitoring site
  4. Operate and maintain monitoring site
  5. Close down field monitoring activities

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 covering the requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, laboratory safety and occupational clothing, quality management, environmental management and transport emergency procedures

national work health and safety (WHS) standards and codes of practice, national measurement regulations and guidelines, and national environment protection measures

specific codes, guidelines, procedures and methods, such as the principles of good laboratory practice (GLP), Australian Dangerous Goods Code, Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Codes of Practice; and Government policies, such as sustainable development and impact assessment

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); quality and equipment manuals; instrument fault-finding procedures; calibration and maintenance schedules; material safety data sheets (MSDS) and safety procedures; incident/accident/injury report forms; laboratory schedules; workplace recording and reporting procedures; field protocols, procedures, note books and log books; and waste minimisation and safe disposal procedures

standard methods for sampling, remote-sensing/monitoring protocols, data quality procedures and site-specific requirements

Remote-sensing monitoring activities

Remote-sensing monitoring activities include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

meteorology (e.g. temperature, humidity and wind)

geology/mining (e.g. movement of structures, vibration and blast shock waves)

hydrology (e.g. water flow and water depth in catchment)

environmental (e.g. air quality, water quality and noise)

civil engineering (e.g. temperature, displacement and/or hydrostatic pressure on structures and movement of ions in structures)

Instruments and equipment

Instruments and equipment include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

navigation and communication equipment, such as compass, maps, global positioning system (GPS), two-way radio and mobile phone

sampling and autosampling equipment for air, water, stormwater, wastewater and sewage

instruments that measure air pollutants, such as oxides of carbon, oxides of sulphur, oxides of nitrogen, hydrocarbons and particulates (PM10, PM2.5 total suspended), and ozone

instruments that measure water quantity and/or hydrological parameters, such as flow, dissolved oxygen (DO), electrical conductivity, pH, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates and temperature

instruments that measure meteorological parameters, such as pressure, minimum and maximum temperature, wet and dry bulb temperatures, humidity, rainfall, and wind speed and direction

instruments that measure sound pressure levels, such as noise or sound pressure meter

instruments that measure displacement or durability of civil engineering structures and consolidation, such as load cells, inclinometers, pieziometers, strain gauges and accelerometers

Communication and consultation strategies

Communication and consultation strategies include:

face-to-face and/or telephone conversations

meetings and written documents

Purpose of field monitoring activities

Purposes of field monitoring activities include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

single or multiple site monitoring

component of workplace environmental management plan

remote-sensing monitoring of physical/chemical and mechanical/geotechnical parameters

monitoring of consolidation of soils and foundations

monitoring the durability of structures (e.g. roads)

requirement to comply with statutory requirements

requirement to comply with industry sampling/monitoring protocols/codes of practice

Administrative requirements and appropriate approvals

Administrative requirements and appropriate approvals include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

travel requisitions

authority for use of vehicles and equipment

permits

insurance

Site safety and environmental requirements

Site safety and environmental requirements include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as sunscreen, hats, safety glasses, gloves, coveralls and safety boots

'stay with vehicle' and other survival techniques

following a regular communication schedule

using GPS, maps and aerial photos

handling, storing and disposing of all hazardous materials/waste in accordance with MSDS, labels, workplace procedures, codes and regulations

regular cleaning of vehicles and equipment to prevent transfer of pests and contaminants

driving vehicles to minimise soil erosion and damage to fauna and vegetation

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

Performance Evidence

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

organising and safely undertaking defined field-based, remote-sensing monitoring activities on at least two (2) occasions

accurately identifying and interpreting statutory requirements

safely undertaking reconnaissance and evaluating monitoring sites

confirming type, quantity and quality of data needed for defined monitoring activities

safely packaging and transporting supplies, equipment and instruments into the field

identifying and establishing a secure field monitoring site according to defined criteria

assembling, testing and closing down a field-based, remote-sensing monitoring system on-site

performing calibration and pre-use checks and maintaining equipment and systems in accordance with workplace procedures

operating the monitoring system to collect and store reliable data in accordance with workplace and data quality procedures

communicating effectively and efficiently with staff and other relevant parties and negotiating satisfactory agreements

responding effectively to changed or unforeseen circumstances

recognising hazards and risks and following all safety and environmental requirements.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

terminology, protocols and statutory requirements relevant to field-based environmental monitoring activities conducted as part of job role

purpose and objectives of the monitoring activities conducted as part of job role, including:

information and analysis required

end users of information

significance of outcomes for broader programs

operating principles, technical capabilities and limitations of remote-sensing equipment and instruments used

basic fault identification and rectification procedures for field instruments and monitoring system

data quality, data storage, analysis and presentation procedures

workplace and/or legal traceability requirements

hazards and risks associated with field-based, remote-sensing monitoring

field-based work health and safety (WHS) requirements, emergency plans and environmental requirements.