Elements and Performance Criteria
- Confirm groundwater data requirements with supervisor
- Confirm the scope and purpose of sampling/monitoring data requirements.
- Review available site information, such as site plan, bore locations, construction and history of sampling/monitoring.
- Confirm the sampling methods, locations, numbers and types of samples, and duration/frequency of sampling from workplace or client’s sampling plan.
- Check that all sampling/testing procedures are in accordance with client or workplace requirements, relevant standards and guidelines.
- Prepare for groundwater sampling and monitoring
- Identify site and sampling hazards and review workplace safety procedures.
- Liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access and obtain all clearances and/or permits, as necessary.
- Review field sampling procedures and sample preparation methods required for specific laboratory analyses.
- Select purging/sampling equipment and sampling conditions to achieve representative samples and preserve sample integrity during collection, storage and transit.
- Ensure all reagents, solutions, standards and blanks (as appropriate) are obtained and/or prepared ready for field use.
- Select field test equipment/instruments and check operation and calibration, as required, in accordance with methods/procedures and manufacturer instructions.
- Assemble and stow all sampling equipment, field test equipment, materials, containers and safety equipment.
- Arrange suitable transport to, from and around site as required.
- Liaise with drillers during establishment of wells and bores
- Confirm location of well or bore and groundwater monitoring requirements using site sampling and monitoring plan.
- Examine the drilling/construction area to identify possible hazards.
- Ensure proposed drilling/construction method will not cause contamination and that casing, drilling fluids and any other materials used in the bore are free of contaminants.
- Ensure drilling and sampling equipment is cleaned thoroughly before drilling commences.
- Ensure protective casings and screens are kept in their protective coverings prior to installation.
- Monitor drilling to accurately log samples as required and prevent their contamination.
- Conduct representative sampling of groundwater
- Locate sampling locations and services at the site and identify possible hazards.
- Conduct sufficient measurements to accurately determine water level and bore depth, as required.
- Record bore/environmental conditions and any atypical observations made during sampling that may impact on sample representativeness or integrity.
- Conduct purging in accordance with defined procedure or method, collect the waste and decontaminate the equipment used.
- Collect required representative samples and ensure all controls, blanks and replicate samples are properly integrated into the sampling process.
- Record all information and label samples in accordance with chain of custody/traceability requirements.
- Filter and prepare samples to preserve their integrity for subsequent analysis.
- Secure and transport all samples back to base in accordance with workplace procedures and relevant guidelines.
- Conduct field testing of groundwater
- Assemble required monitoring instruments, equipment, and reagents and conduct pre-use checks in accordance with manufacturer instructions.
- Retrieve samples for designated field tests or locate established locations for in-situ testing.
- Set up, calibrate and operate equipment/instruments in accordance with test methods/procedures and manufacturer instructions.
- Take sufficient measurements of groundwater field parameters to obtain reliable data and in accordance with specified methods/procedures.
- Record all field observations/data and ensure that they are accurately transferred to workplace information database.
- Process and interpret groundwater data
- Review test data noting atypical observations.
- Ensure calculated values are consistent with expectations.
- Estimate and document uncertainty of measurements in accordance with workplace procedures, if required.
- Record and report processed results in accordance with workplace procedures.
- Interpret trends in data and/or results and report out-of-specification or atypical results promptly to appropriate personnel.
- Determine if obvious procedure or equipment problems have led to atypical data or results.
- Compare results with established groundwater quality standards, statutory environmental quality concentration limits or similar, if relevant.
- Finalise reporting of results in accordance with workplace requirements.
- Maintain a safe work environment
- Use defined safe work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of others.
- Rehabilitate sampling site to render it safe and to minimise environmental impact.
- Clean/decontaminate all equipment, containers, work area and vehicles according to workplace procedures.
- Check serviceability of all equipment before storage.
- Minimise the generation of wastes and environment impacts.
- Liaise with relevant personnel for the safe collection of all hazardous wastes for appropriate disposal.