This unit of competency is applicable to personnel working with experienced scientific glassblowers, generally in scientific educational institutions.

Industry representatives have provided case studies to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting. These are found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for handblowing operations

1.1. Identify job, appropriate procedure, hazards and safety requirements

1.2. Use personal protective equipment and safety procedures 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 enterprise 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 enterprise procedures

3.3. Monitor, adjust and record annealing operation

3.4. Rectify routine problems

4. Maintain a safe work environment

4.1. Follow established work practices to ensure safety of self and other workers

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 enterprise procedures

5. Maintain records

5.1. Record data as per enterprise requirements

5.2. Maintain equipment logs as per enterprise requirements

5.3. Maintain security and confidentiality of enterprise information

Required skills

Required skills include:

working safely with glass

using tools and equipment to perform basic glassblowing operations

using appropriate glassblowing hand manipulation techniques

cutting, heating, bending, shaping, sealing and related glassworking techniques

techniques for minimising strain

using coefficients of expansion

maintaining safe working pressures

storing glass appropriately

making and grinding components, such as stopcocks than meet specifications

starting up, setting up, shutting down and maintaining equipment in accordance with work instructions

selecting appropriate grades of glass and preparation for use

optimising of equipment operating parameters

maintaining temperature and stress parameters

reporting atypical results and problems to appropriate personnel according to enterprise procedures

recording and communicating of work results

following correct occupational health and safety (OHS) and principles of good laboratory practice (GLP)

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

composition and nature of glass types

function and correct use of apparatus

basic chemical and physical concepts relating to properties and behaviour of glass

safe startup and shutdown procedures

critical material properties and appropriate glassworking parameters

pre-heating procedures

basic theory of re-entry angles and stress points

setup and annealing/conditioning process

relationship of temperature and temporary and permanent stress

pre-annealing, annealing and post-annealing processes

potential quality problems

relevant health, safety and environment requirements

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.

Overview of assessment

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

Assessors should ensure that candidates can:

use basic bench/hand glasswork techniques and equipment to fabricate general glass apparatus

start up, set up and shut down equipment in accordance with work instructions

report atypical results and problems to appropriate personnel.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

Resources may include:

access to a scientific glassblowing facility, appropriate equipment, materials and procedures

a bank of case studies is required where these form part of the assessment method.

Method of assessment

It is strongly recommended that assessment is conducted through observation over time.

The timeframe must allow for adequate assessment of operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions. Where this is not practical additional assessment techniques must be used.

The following assessment methods are suggested:

inspection of glasswork and workplace documentation completed by the candidate

analysis of work outputs over a period of time to ensure accurate and consistent work is obtained within required timelines

feedback from peers and supervisors

use of suitable simulation and/or a range of case studies/scenarios.

In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly.

Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment.

This competency in practice

Industry representatives have provided the case study below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and show its relevance in a workplace setting.

Education

A trainee glassblower has been requested by her/his supervisor to make 100 Pasteur pipettes for a university chemistry practical class the next day. The trainee selects the appropriate glass and type and cuts 50 lengths of glass (two pipettes per length). She/he then proceeds to pull points at the designated markings in the centre of the glass tube using the bench burner. At the conclusion of this operation, the pipettes are cut to the relevant length and then flared at the other end using a specially profiled carbon hand tool. The pipettes are then annealed to eliminate stress caused by the manufacture process. After inspection through a polariscope, the pipettes are delivered to the laboratory for use.

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.

Codes of practice

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:

calibration and maintenance schedules

enterprise recording and reporting procedures

equipment manuals

equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures

industry codes of practice

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

material, production and product specifications

National Environment Protection Measures

OHS national standards and codes of practice

production and laboratory schedules

quality manuals

standard operating procedures (SOPs)

Tools and equipment

Tools and equipment may include:

bench burner, hand torch, micro torch and ribbon burner, gas supplies and gas economiser

dydinium glasses and polariscope

glassworking lathe

annealing oven

measuring and recording equipment

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

mechanical glass cutters and saws

mechanical glass grinding equipment

communication equipment

Quality problems

Quality problems may include:

temperature and strain problems

devitrification

non-uniform thickness of seals or joints

equipment problems

quality problems, such as poor optics, distortion, excessive breakage, non-uniform break pattern, incorrect cross bend, excessive bow, scratches and poor glass shape

loss of utilities

Hazards

Hazards may include:

sharps and broken glassware

heat sources, such as burners and ovens

fluids under pressure (acetylene and oxygen)

glass dust

cuts associated with glass grinders and cutters

manual handling of heavy sample bags and containers

Safe work practices

Safe work practices may include:

use of personal protective equipment, such as heat resistant gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, respirators and safety boots

correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials

handling, and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, and enterprise procedures and regulations

regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas

Occupational health and safety (OHS) and environmental management requirements

OHS and environmental management requirements:

all operations must comply with enterprise OHS and environmental management requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation - these requirements must not be compromised at any time

all operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied

where relevant, users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health

Unit sector

Scientific glassblowing

This unit contains employability skills.