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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: Australian and international standards, such as: AS ISO 1000-1998 The international system of units (SI) and its application AS ISO 17025-2005 General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories set Australian code of good manufacturing practice for medicinal products (GMP) calibration and maintenance schedules enterprise recording and reporting procedures equipment manuals equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures MSDS and safety procedures material, production and product specifications national measurement regulations and guidelines principles of good laboratory practice (GLP) production and laboratory schedules quality manuals standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
Concepts of metrology | Concepts of metrology may include: that all measurements are estimates measurements belong to a population of measurements of the measured parameters repeatability precision accuracy significant figures sources of error uncertainty traceability |
Preparation of samples | Preparation of samples may include: sub-sampling or splitting using procedures, such as riffling, coning and quartering, manual and mechanical splitters diluting samples physical treatments, such as ashing, dissolving, filtration, sieving, centrifugation and comminution moulding, casting or cutting specimens |
Typical tests carried out by laboratory/field assistants | Typical tests carried out by laboratory/field assistants may include: visual/optical tests of appearance, colour, texture, identity, turbidity, refractive index (alcohol content and Baume/Brix) physical tests: density, specific gravity and compacted density moisture content and water activity particle size, particle shape and size distribution chemical tests: gravimetric colorimetric electrical conductivity (EC) and pH specific ions using dipsticks and kits nutrients (e.g. nitrates and orthophosphates) using basic kits ashes, including sulphated ashes biological/environmental tests: pH, oxygen reduction potential (ORP), dissolved oxygen (DO) and (EC) E coli using test kits surface hygiene/presence of microbes packaging tests: tearing resistance, bursting strength and impact resistance permeability and/or leakage mechanical tests: Emerson class concrete slump |
Measurements | Measurements may include: simple ground surveys meteorological parameters, such as wind direction/strength, rainfall, maximum/minimum temperature, humidity and solar radiation simple background radiation survey production/process parameters, such as temperature, flow and pressure gas levels in a confined space |
Common measuring equipment | Common measuring equipment may include: dimension apparatus DO and EC analogue and digital meters and charts/recorders basic chemical and biological test kits dipsticks and site test kits (e.g. HACK) timing devices temperature measuring devices, such as thermometers and thermocouples |
Hazards | Hazards may include: electric shock biohazards, such as microbiological organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water, blood and blood products, and human or animal tissue and fluids solar radiation, dust and noise chemicals, such as sulphuric acid, fluorides and hydrocarbons aerosols sharps, broken glassware and hand tools flammable liquids dry ice and liquid nitrogen fluids under pressure sources of ignition occupational overuse syndrome, slips, trips and falls manual handling, working at heights and working in confined spaces crushing, entanglement and cuts associated with moving machinery or falling objects |
Enterprise controls to address hazards | Enterprise controls to address hazards may include: use of MSDS use of signage, barriers and service isolation tags use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, hearing protection, sunscreen lotion, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, gowns, body suits, respirators and safety boots use of appropriate equipment, such as biohazard containers and cabinets and laminar flow cabinets recognising and observing hazard warnings and safety signs labelling of samples, reagents, aliquoted samples and hazardous materials handling and storage of all hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labelling, MSDS and manufacturer's instructions, and enterprise procedures and regulations cleaning and decontaminating equipment and work areas regularly using recommended procedures following established manual handling procedures for tasks involving manual handling |
Minimising environmental impacts | Minimising environmental impacts may involve: recycling of non-hazardous waste, such as chemicals, batteries, plastic, metals and glass appropriate disposal of hazardous waste correct disposal of excess sample/test material correct storage and handling of hazardous chemicals |
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 |