Application
This unit of competency covers the ability to operate handblowing equipment to perform basic glasswork. Personnel may be less experienced workers working under the guidance of an experienced scientific glassblower.
This unit of competency is applicable to personnel working with experienced scientific glassblowers, generally in scientific educational institutions.
While no specific licensing or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication, laboratory operations are governed by relevant legislation, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements. Local requirements should be checked.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Prepare for handblowing operations | 1.1 | Identify job, appropriate procedure, hazards and safety requirements |
1.2 | Use safety equipment, safety procedures and personal protective equipment (PPE) specified for the job and materials to be used | ||
1.3 | Record description of the job to be undertaken, compare with specification and report any variations | ||
1.4 | Select and prepare tools and equipment in accordance with job requirements | ||
1.5 | Identify glass stocks and components required for the job | ||
2 | Follow sequence of operations for glasswork procedure to be performed | 2.1 | Prepare glass stocks and components as required for the job |
2.2 | Check and adjust equipment and tools for the job as applicable | ||
2.3 | Start up equipment using workplace procedures | ||
2.4 | Carry out glasswork procedure using the appropriate standard method | ||
2.5 | Monitor process and rectify routine problems | ||
2.6 | Follow equipment shutdown procedures | ||
3 | Use annealing equipment | 3.1 | Prepare annealing equipment for the job |
3.2 | Start up, operate and shut down annealing equipment using workplace procedures | ||
3.3 | Monitor, adjust and record annealing operation | ||
3.4 | Rectify routine problems | ||
4 | Maintain a safe work environment | 4.1 | Follow established safe work practices to ensure own safety and that of others |
4.2 | Minimise the generation of wastes | ||
4.3 | Ensure the safe disposal of wastes | ||
4.4 | Clean, care for and maintain work area, equipment and tools | ||
4.5 | Report any hazards or incidents according to workplace procedures | ||
5 | Maintain records | 5.1 | Record data in accordance with workplace requirements |
5.2 | Maintain equipment logs in accordance with workplace requirements | ||
5.3 | Maintain security and confidentiality of workplace information |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:
selecting appropriate grades of glass and preparing them for use
safely operating handblowing equipment to produce at least three (3) examples of basic glasswork
using basic bench/hand glasswork techniques and equipment to fabricate at least three (3) items of general glass apparatus involving:
cutting, heating, bending, shaping, sealing and related glassworking techniques
maintaining temperature and stress parameters and safe working pressures
making and grinding at least two (2) components, such as stopcocks, that meet specifications
storing glass appropriately
starting up, setting up, shutting down and maintaining equipment in accordance with work instructions
optimising of equipment operating parameters
reporting atypical results and problems to appropriate personnel according to workplace procedures
completing workplace documentation accurately and communicating work results
maintaining work area, equipment and tools in accordance with workplace procedures.
Evidence of Knowledge
Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:
composition and nature of glass types
basic chemical and physical concepts relating to properties and behaviour of glass
critical material properties and appropriate glassworking parameters
function and correct use of apparatus, safe start-up and shutdown procedures
pre-heating procedures
basic theory of re-entry angles and stress points
set-up and annealing/conditioning process
relationship of temperature and temporary and permanent stress
pre-annealing, annealing and post-annealing processes
potential quality problems, including:
temperature and strain problems
devitrification
non-uniform thickness of seals or joints
equipment problems
poor optics, distortion, excessive breakage, non-uniform break pattern, incorrect cross bend, excessive bow, scratches and poor glass shape
loss of utilities
relevant hazards, work health and safety (WHS) and environment requirements.
Assessment Conditions
Judgement of competence must be based on holistic assessment of the evidence. Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time, rather than a single assessment event. The timeframe must allow for assessment of operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions.
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment. A simulated workplace environment must reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including the environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept in each case).
Holistic assessment methods include:
inspection of glasswork and workplace documentation completed by the candidate
review of candidate’s work outputs over a period of time to assess accuracy, consistency and timeliness
feedback from supervisors and/or customers
observation of the candidate safely operating basic handblowing equipment
oral or written questioning about properties of glass, fabrication techniques, quality problems and safe work procedures.
Access is required to instruments, equipment, materials, workplace documentation, procedures and specifications associated with this unit, including, but not limited to:
a scientific glassblowing facility, appropriate safety equipment, materials and safe work procedures, and fabrication methods
bench burner, hand torch, micro torch and ribbon burner, gas supplies and gas economiser
hand tools, such as carbon paddles and mandrels, range of forceps, glass tubing gauges, angle setting jigs, calipers, glass support rollers, brass shapers, carbon rods, glass knife, stainless steel gauze, vernier calipers and other measuring tools, and strain viewer, dydinium glasses and polariscope
glassworking lathe, mechanical glass cutters and saws, and mechanical glass grinding equipment
annealing oven
measuring and recording equipment.
Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.
The assessor must demonstrate both technical competence and currency.
Technical competence can be demonstrated through:
relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment AND/OR
relevant workplace experience.
Currency can be demonstrated through:
performing the competency being assessed as part of current employment OR
having consulted with a laboratory about performing the competency being assessed within the last twelve months.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
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 laboratory safety; quality and environmental management; and labelling, storage, handling and transport of hazardous materials national work health and safety (WHS) standards and codes of practice specific codes, guidelines and procedures, such as principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); quality and equipment manuals; maintenance schedules; material safety data sheets (MSDS); safety procedures; material, production and product specifications; production and laboratory schedules; workplace recording and reporting procedures; and waste minimisation and safe disposal procedures |
Hazards | Hazards include, but are not limited to, one or more of: glass dust sharps and broken glassware heat sources, such as burners and ovens fluids under pressure (acetylene and oxygen) cuts associated with glass grinders and cutters manual handling of heavy bags and containers |
Safety procedures | Safety procedures include, but are not limited to, one or more of: ensuring access to service shut-off points recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs correct labelling of samples and hazardous materials extracting dust following established manual handling procedures handling and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer instructions, and workplace procedures and regulations regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas using PPE, such as heat resistant gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, respirators and safety boots |
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 accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health, where relevant |
Sectors
Competency Field
Scientific glassblowing