This unit applies across a wide range of job roles in organisations responsible for the care of cultural material, including museums, libraries, galleries or other cultural centres. Supervisors, managers or individuals working autonomously under general guidance may undertake this preventive conservation role depending on the size and structure of the organisation.

The unit does not include treatments or 'hands-on' work with collection items. Those skills are covered in CULMS010B Contribute to the preservation of cultural material.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1

Monitor the environment

1.1

Monitor environmental conditions at regular intervals in accordance with needs of the collection and identify agents of deterioration affecting the collection

1.2

Respond appropriately to changes in the environment to protect cultural material

1.3

Adjust /control environmental conditions within scope of own responsibility or report to relevant colleagues

2

Assess condition of cultural material

2.1

Examine and assess the condition of cultural material in the appropriate location using techniques within the scope of own expertise that meet conservation guidelines

2.2

Create or review documentation and accurately record current condition of item, including evidence of change, damage or degradation

2.3

Apply a general knowledge of deterioration patterns to collection monitoring

2.4

Identify the need for and obtain appropriate expert advice where necessary

2.5

Discuss condition of cultural material and conservation needs with experts in a manner which reflects sound general knowledge of issues to be considered

3

Implement preventive conservation activities

3.1

Undertake preventive conservationactivities in accordance with organisation's policies and procedures

3.2

Use best practice guidelines, cultural protocols and relevant specialist conservation advice to guide all activities

3.3

Follow health, safety and environmental requirements at all times

3.4

Identify the need for assistance and consult with a specialist conservator in relation to issues which arise in collection care

3.5

Accurately document details of preventive conservation activities undertaken in accordance with organisational procedures

Required skills

planning and organisational skills to monitor and implement an appropriate range of preventive conservation activities

communication skills to liaise with experts on potentially complex preventive conservation issues

literacy skills to interpret conservation guidelines and to document condition of collection and any preventive conservation actions taken.

Required knowledge

roles and responsibilities for care of cultural material, including limitations on roles of unqualified personnel

sources of expert assistance on collection care

industry code of practice/ethics and terminology used

role of preventive conservation and distinctions between preservation, conservation and restoration

factors contributing to deterioration (relevant to the collection/industry sector)

cultural considerations and protocols for the handling, storage and display of cultural material

methods of protecting cultural material from damage and/or potential hazards (relevant to the collection/industry sector)

current best practice guidelines for collection care in the relevant work context

techniques for handling and examining cultural material

basic principles and methods for using equipment, tools and materials for routine collection care

requirements for safe work and manual handling.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

general knowledge of the scope and nature of routine preventive conservation activities relevant to the collection/industry sector

correct and safe implementation of activities for an actual collection

knowledge of agents of deterioration and their impact on collections.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

use of current industry methods and equipment

access to relevant policies and procedures manuals

access to cultural material in an appropriate environment so that both material and environment may be assessed by the candidate

access to equipment, tools and materials for preventive conservation activities.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate

direct observation of the candidate engaged in preventive conservation activities

review of condition reports prepared or updated by the candidate

inspection of an area or storage system which the candidate has adapted to improve environment

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of procedures, safety and environmental issues, agents of deterioration.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

CULMS003B Move/store cultural material

CULMS011B Develop a disaster preparedness plan.

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.

Environmental conditions (and changes) may relate to:

temperature

relative humidity

lighting

pollution

pests

Cultural material is defined as 'objects, collections, artworks, specimens, structures or sites and includes:

archaeological material

books and manuscripts

cultural sites/buildings

ethnographic material

flora and fauna

film/audiovisual material

furniture

photographs

technological/industry items

textiles

works on paper/canvas

Condition of cultural material may be assessed by:

observation

measurement and comparison of known areas of deterioration e.g. cracks, areas of loss

instrumental examination e.g. microscope, magnifying glass, UV/IR light, raking light

comparison with existing condition report, including photographic images

Appropriate location may be:

in display area

workshop

laboratory

studio

darkroom

in situ e.g. outdoors

storage room

during transport

Deterioration patterns may be linked to:

light, temperature, relative humidity, climate, pollution

materials used for storage and display

pests

nature and location of the building or site

influence of human activities

security considerations

transport and packing

inherent vice (items are made of incompatible materials)

deterioration of item prior to arrival, e.g. archaeological collections

Preventive conservation activities are those related to overall care of the collection and do not include any hands-on treatments. Activities may include:

monitoring and documentation/recording

relocation

protective storage/boxing

implementation of the disaster preparedness plan

re-formatting (creation of surrogates to reduce use of original)

integrated pest management

framing and un-framing

non-interventional actions to combat agents of deterioration

Cultural protocols may relate to:

who can handle the cultural material

where an item may be handled

when an item may be handled

consultation on potential treatments

storage requirements

appearance of the item

relationship between item and other material in the collection

methods and approaches to display

Health, safety and environmental requirements may relate to:

use of chemicals or other toxic substances

storage of chemicals

provision and use of safety equipment

safe manual handling

safe use of tools and equipment

reporting of occupational health and safety issues, including events and near misses

impact on other parts of the collection

toxic and hazardous materials in a collection

condition/stability of item (dirt, mould, dust and pesticides)

Preventive Conservation

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary for the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged, will assist in identifying Employability Skills requirements.