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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan geotechnical investigation
   • Identify the job, consult with stakeholders and obtain relevant information, including the purpose and scope of the investigation
   • Conduct desktop study of existing site information
   • Inspect the site to determine the characteristics of the project
   • Design inspection, sampling and testing program in accordance with specifications
   • Select human and physical resources required for the job
   • Identify site hazards and conduct risk assessment
   • Organise site induction for support personnel, as required
   • Brief support personnel on job-specific requirements
   • Ensure ongoing liaison with stakeholders during project
2. Establish on-site operations
   • Consult with project personnel to determine methods of communication, roles, responsibilities and expectations of each party, including identification of potential problems and conflicts
   • Arrange deployment of personnel and resources to site
   • Arrange for the physical location of services, as required, and reconcile test locations
3. Coordinate geotechnical sampling and testing
   • Ensure sampling and testing is conducted in accordance with project requirements
   • Ensure test data and observations are recorded in accordance with workplace practices
   • Review the progress of sampling and testing against the project schedule and provide any feedback to client as required
   • Review samples and field data and schedule testing as required
   • Ensure the finalisation of site operations according to project brief or relevant standard
4. Analyse project data and report to client
   • Report test results to site superintendent at specified intervals
   • Analyse project data and provide regular reports to the client using the agreed format
5. Maintain workplace records
   • Ensure site results are documented in accordance with workplace practices
   • Maintain security and confidentiality of workplace information
   • Prepare and issue a final project report in accordance with client requirements
6. Promote a safe work environment
   • Promote the use of safe work procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE)
   • Minimise environmental impacts of testing/sampling and generation of waste
   • Promote the collection and disposal of all waste in accordance with workplace procedures

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 quality and environmental management national work health and safety (WHS) standards and codes of practice, national measurement regulations and guidelines, and environmental legislation and regulations standard methods for sampling and testing construction materials, such as soils, aggregates, concrete and asphalt specific codes, guidelines, procedures and methods, such as: AustRoads test methods, and State/Territory Road Authority test methods National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) documents regarding construction materials testing (Field application document) workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); quality and equipment manuals; calibration and maintenance schedules; material safety data sheets (MSDS) and safety procedures; material, production and product specifications; production and laboratory schedules; workplace recording and reporting procedures; waste minimisation and safe disposal procedures; maps and site plans sampling and testing procedures for specific sites, clients and samples
Common site problems	Common site problems include, but are not limited to, one or more of: caving in of excavation walls drilling difficulties not knowing the requirements of the design engineer not understanding the nature of the item being designed (e.g. retaining wall, piled structure and earthworks) sample loss during retrieval knowing when to stop a hole, or what and when to test and sample misidentification of samples and sampling locations equipment breakdown and breakage environmental problems and issues, including site access, inclement weather, traffic, wildlife, vegetation and construction activities
Site hazards	Site hazards include, but are not limited to, one or more of: solar radiation, dust and noise manual handling of heavy materials and equipment working in/on trenches, confined spaces, wet and uneven surfaces, heights and slopes vehicular and pedestrian traffic underground services, such as gas and electricity working close to earth moving equipment, trucks and overhead loads
Safe work procedures	Safe work procedures include, but are not limited to, one or more of: locating site services before investigations commence use of signage, barriers, flashing lights and traffic control use of PPE, such as hard hats, hearing protection, gloves, goggles, coveralls and safety boots use of material safety data sheets (MSDS) use of machinery guards recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs/barriers handling and storing hazardous material and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer instructions, and workplace procedures and regulations labelling of samples, reagents and hazardous materials regularly cleaning equipment and vehicles following established manual handling procedures
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

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Performance Evidence

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

supervising and directing at least two (2) geotechnical site investigations

confirming the scope of the investigation and liaising with site personnel

conducting desktop studies of existing site information, interpreting maps, site plans and drawings

identifying/securing resources and briefing support personnel about investigation activities

designing inspection, sampling and testing programs in accordance with specifications

identifying and locating site services, sampling and testing sites

coordinating geotechnical activities on-site to ensure safety of personnel and minimise environmental impacts

ensuring the collection of reliable site data

observing, interpreting and reporting site features and geotechnical conditions

accurately identifying soil, rock and fill materials

interpreting data in the field, analysing the results and providing reliable advice to clients

recognising and rectifying obvious errors or unexpected results and troubleshooting common problems

seeking advice about problems beyond technical competence from appropriate personnel

using computer software to create/maintain databases and produce detailed investigation reports

maintaining accurate and complete records

working safely, and monitoring and promoting site safety.

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Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

purposes and principles of geotechnical site investigations supervised and directed as part of job role

principles of planning and project management

identification and classification of materials

engineering properties of soil and rock materials

representative sampling and testing methods (both in situ and laboratory) conducted as part of geotechnical site investigations relevant to job role

uses of engineering materials in civil construction

civil construction techniques relevant to job role

common site problems and corrective actions

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

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