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Elements and Performance Criteria
- Confirm groundwater data requirements with supervisor
- Read and interpret available site information, including site plan, bore locations, construction and history of sampling and monitoring
- Confirm the sampling methods, locations, numbers and types of samples, and duration and frequency of sampling from workplace or client’s sampling plan
- Check that all sampling and testing procedures are in accordance with client or workplace requirements, standards and guidelines
- Prepare for groundwater sampling and monitoring
- Liaise with relevant personnel to arrange site access and obtain all clearances and permits
- Read and interpret field sampling procedures and sample preparation methods required for specific laboratory analyses
- Select purging and sampling equipment and sampling conditions to achieve representative samples and preserve sample integrity during collection, storage and transit
- Obtain and prepare all reagents, solutions, standards and blanks for field use
- Select field test equipment and instruments and check operation and calibration 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
- Establish a well or bore for monitoring purposes
- Examine the well or bore area to identify possible hazards
- Check proposed drilling and construction method will not cause contamination and that casing, drilling fluids and any other materials used in the bore are free of contaminants
- Check powered and non-powered tools and sampling equipment are cleaned thoroughly before drilling commences
- Check protective casings and screens are kept in their protective coverings prior to installation
- Monitor process to accurately log samples and prevent their contamination
- Conduct representative sampling of groundwater
- Conduct sufficient measurements to accurately determine water level and bore depth
- Record bore and 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 correctly integrated into the sampling process
- Record all information and label samples in accordance with chain of custody and 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 guidelines
- Conduct field testing of groundwater
- Retrieve samples for designated field tests or locate established locations for in-situ testing
- Set up, calibrate and operate equipment and 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 and procedures
- Record all field observations and data and transfer accurately to workplace information database
- Process and interpret groundwater data
- Check calculated values are consistent with expectations
- Estimate and document uncertainty of measurements in accordance with workplace procedures
- Record and report processed results in accordance with workplace procedures
- Interpret trends in data and results and report out-of-specification or atypical results promptly to relevant 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
- Finalise reporting of results in accordance with workplace requirements
- Maintain a safe work environment
- Rehabilitate sampling site to render it safe and to minimise environmental impact
- Clean and 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