Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge to prepare trial batches of materials for evaluation. Materials can include soil, minerals and manufactured products, such as concrete, asphalt, food, plastics, paint and other industrial chemicals.
This unit applies to laboratory assistants working in all industry sectors. It describes work conducted by laboratory assistants, generally working under the guidance of a senior technician or laboratory supervisor/manager.
No licensing or certification requirements exist at the time of publication. However, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements for laboratory operations exist, so local requirements should be checked. Relevant legislation, industry standards and codes of practice within Australia must also be applied.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Prepare for trial batch mixing | 1.1 | Identify the job, materials, appropriate procedures and safety requirements |
1.2 | Record description of the job to be undertaken, compare with specification and report any variations | ||
1.3 | Select and prepare tools, equipment and materials in accordance with job requirements | ||
1.4 | Confirm the properties and quantities of materials to be used | ||
1.5 | Confirm that the required materials are available and ready for use | ||
2 | Mix trial batch for evaluation | 2.1 | Measure out quantities of materials ready for mixing |
2.2 | Mix the materials according to established procedures | ||
2.3 | Discharge the mixture ready for inspection and testing according to established procedures | ||
2.4 | Record details of the mix and any observations according to established procedures | ||
3 | Evaluate properties of the mixture by inspection and standard test methods | 3.1 | Obtain representative samples of the mix for testing |
3.2 | Use established procedures and metrology concepts to perform specified tests and calculations | ||
3.3 | Handle and transport samples in accordance with established procedures | ||
3.4 | Label samples and record details in accordance with established procedures | ||
4 | Clean equipment and dispose of materials | 4.1 | Clean mixing, measuring, sampling and testing equipment after use |
4.2 | Return unused materials to storage | ||
4.3 | Dispose of excess materials safely and ethically | ||
5 | Maintain records | 5.1 | Record data in accordance with established procedures |
5.2 | Maintain equipment records in accordance with established procedures | ||
5.3 | Maintain confidentiality of workplace information | ||
6 | Maintain a safe work environment | 6.1 | Use established safe work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of other laboratory personnel |
6.2 | Minimise the generation of wastes and environmental impacts | ||
6.3 | Ensure safe disposal of laboratory and hazardous wastes | ||
6.4 | Clean, care for and store equipment and reagents as required | ||
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Numeracy skills to:
accurately measure, calculate and record batch quantities, concentrations and other relevant parameters
perform simple calculations for:
proportion, ratio and percentage for batch quantities
concentrations.
Other foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit.
Competency Field
Testing