Elements and Performance Criteria

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
Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements
Legislation, standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:
federal legislation, such as:
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999
Australian Heritage Council Act 2003
Native Title Act 1993
state/territory government legislation and regulations and local government by-laws, policies, and plans dealing with:
land use, acquisition, planning and protection
environmental protection
cultural/heritage protection
vegetation management
nature conservation and wildlife/plant protection
water and water management
soil conservation
pollution and contaminated sites
fisheries, forestry and mining operations
Australian and international standards, such as:
AS/NZS ISO 14000 Set:2005 Environmental management standards set
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Codes of Practice
Australian Dangerous Goods Code ADG7
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
environmental management plans, policies and procedures
site information about applicable legislative requirements and approval requirements
information about site processes, work schedules
information about emergency preparedness and response
monitoring/inspection procedures and management actions to prevent/control environmental impacts or risks
sampling and in-situ measurement procedures (e.g. water, air, noise and soils)
job hazard analyses
safe work procedures and work method statements
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
Major features of legislation, codes and standards
Major features of legislation, codes and standards may include:
scope of application, objectives and policies
assessment procedures
works approval procedures
permits
regulation of activities
licensing procedures, terms and conditions
environment protection notices, offences and penalties
notification requirements
auditing requirements
powers of investigation
courts, enforcement provisions and sentencing options
Site personnel
Site personnel may include:
enterprise employees
contractors and subcontractors
consultants, such as environmental scientists, planners, engineers and external auditors
suppliers and service providers
government/regulator representatives and inspectors
visitors, members of the public, community representatives and landowners
Reports
Reports may include:
weekly environmental reports
monthly environmental reports
regulatory agency reports as required by permit, approval or licence conditions
Sources of information about changes to legislative requirements
Sources of information about changes to legislative requirements may include:
Environmental Defenders Office (EDO) Network
Australasian Legal Information Institute
industry forums
compliance reports
government/industry newsletters
industry journals
information updates from regulatory authorities
websites
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

Overview of assessment
Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors must be satisfied that the candidate can competently and consistently apply the skills covered in this unit of competency in new and different situations and contexts. Critical aspects of assessment and evidence include:
researching, interpreting and applying relevant environmental legislative requirements, codes and standards to the site, project or program activities
explaining environmental management roles, responsibilities, obligations and compliance requirements to site personnel
writing clear and concise site or project-specific environmental management procedures or work instructions
monitoring and promoting environmental compliance in work area
identifying opportunities for improving compliance in work area
keeping up-to-date with changes in compliance requirements for the site, project or program.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment.
Assessment should emphasise a workplace context and procedures found in the candidate’s workplace.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSS027001A Coordinate environmental management activities
other MSS027000 series units dealing with specific environmental management activities.
The competencies covered by this unit would be demonstrated by an individual working alone or as part of a team.
Resources may include:
site/project history
relevant legislation, codes, standards, enterprise environmental management policies, plans, actions, procedures and checklists
laptop computer and access to enterprise information management system.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of environmental records and reports generated by the candidate
review of environmental information developed by the candidate and provided to site personnel
feedback from peers and managers that the candidate is able to consistently apply relevant environmental compliance requirements to site/project/program activities
oral/written tests involving compliance requirements and environmental management terms, principles and procedures
analysis of case studies/reports of relevant environmental compliance issues
observation of the candidate providing environmental management information and instruction to other personnel.
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.
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.
Guidance information for assessment