The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. |
Compliance documentation may include: | legislative, organisation and site requirements and proceduresmanufacturer's guidelines and specificationsAustralian standardscode of practice Employment and workplace relations legislationEqual Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation |
Samples may include: | soilsrocksmineralsfossilshydrocarbonsdrill corestream sedimentmine samplesgas or air sampleswater, wastewater, stormwater, sewage, sludgesconstruction materialssolid wastesraw materialsfinal products hazardous materials and/or dangerous goodsatmospheric or airborne contaminants |
Site hazards may include: | solar radiation, dust and noisewildlife, such as snakes, spiders, domestic animalsbiohazards, such as micro-organisms and agents associated with soil, air, waterchemicals, such as acids and hydrocarbonssharps, broken glasswaremanual/handling of heavy sample bags and containerscrushing, entanglement, cuts associated with moving machinery and hand toolsfalling objects, uneven surfaces, heights, slopes, wet surfaces, trenches, confined spacesvehicle handling in rough terrain, boat handling in rough or flowing water |
Safety procedures may include: | use of materials safety data sheets (MSDS)use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, heavy protection, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, faceguards, coveralls, gown, body suits, respirators, safety bootscorrect labelling of hazardous materialshandling and storing hazardous material and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, enterprise procedures and regulationsregular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipmentmachinery guardssignage, barriers, service isolation tags, traffic control, flashing lightslockout and tagout procedures |
Representative sampling may include: | sizefrequencylocation |
Types of samples may include: | grab samplesdisturbed or undisturbed materialscomposite samples, such as time, flow proportioned, horizontal/vertical cross sectionquality control samples, such as controls, background, duplicate, blanks |
Sampling tools and equipment may include: | hand toolscarrying devicesportable power toolsfront-end loader, backhoe, excavator, drill rigshovels, augers, bucketsampling frames, sampling tubes, dip tubes, spears, flexible bladders, syringesaccess valvessample thiefweighted sample bottles, bottles, plastic/metal containers and disposable bucketssterile containers, pipettes, inoculating loops, disposable spoonspumps, stainless steel bailersmechanical gravity separatorhigh specific gravity liquidshand magnetisodynamic magnetic separatorelectrostatic separatorcrusherultrasonic cleanerpanning and hand jigginghydraulic rock splitterdiamond sawsledge hammercrushersscreens |
Sample preparation may include: | marking upsplittingsub-samplingsealingsize reductionspecific gravitymagnetic suspensioncore-cuttingcrushing/grindingsievingrifflingblendinghomogenisationconingquarteringpreparing sub-sample including: stain/polishpetrological and electron microscope/electron microprobes |
Maintenance of integrity of samples could include: | appropriate containers and lids (for example, glass, plastic, amber, opaque)sealing of sample containerspurging of sample lines and boresdecontamination of sampling tools between collection of consecutive samplesuse of appropriate preservatives (for example, sodium azide, toluene or antibiotics)wrapping container in foil or wet newspapertemperature control, which may involve prevention of direct contact between the sample and coolanttransfer of sterile sample into sterile containermonitoring of storage conditionsenterprise/legal traceability through appropriate sample labelling and records |
Minimising environmental impacts may involve: | replacement of soils and vegetationdriving to minimise soil erosion and damage to fauna and vegetationdisposal of surplus, spent or purged materialsrecycling of non-hazardous wastesappropriate disposal of hazardous wastecleaning of vehicles to prevent transfer of pests and contaminants |