Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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 2243.4-1998 Safety in laboratories - Ionising radiations
AS/NZS 2243.5:2004 Safety in laboratories - Non-ionising radiations - Electromagnetic, sound and ultrasound
Australian Dangerous Goods Code
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Codes of Practice
calibration and maintenance schedules
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
equipment manuals
equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures
licensing requirements
material, production and product specifications
National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) Accreditation programs requirements
national environment protection measures
National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
production and laboratory schedules
quality manuals
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Instruments and equipment used
Instruments and equipment used may include:
soil moisture/density gauges
borehole logging probes
fluid density/level detectors
battery chargers
radiation monitors/dosimeters
motor vehicles
storage areas for nuclear sources
documentation, including user manuals and enterprise safety manuals
radiation warning signs
Hazards and problems
Hazards and problems may include:
jamming of the source rod in the exposed position
incidents during transportation
fire
theft of equipment containing radioactive sources
on-site accidents
keeping other personnel clear of instrument
instrument breakdown
Critical elements for radiation safety
Critical elements for radiation safety include:
time (reduce the exposure time)
distance (maintain greatest distance possible at all times)
shielding (interpose as much radiation shielding between yourself and the radiation source as possible)
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

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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:
perform operations in accordance with standards, codes, procedures and enterprise requirements
safely handle, store and transport instruments keeping other people clear of radiation sources
perform and document radiation surveys
recognise, interpret and report problems to appropriate personnel promptly.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSL924001A Process and interpret data
MSL943002A Participate in laboratory/field workplace safety
MAL974010A Perform mechanical tests.
Resources may include:
appropriate tools, instruments, equipment and materials
enterprise procedures, test methods, equipment and manuals.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
analysis of work completed by the candidate over a period of time to ensure accuracy, consistency and timeliness
observation of candidate using the instruments in a range of work contexts
review of enterprise documentation completed by the candidate
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.
Construction materials testing
Soil moisture density gauges are used extensively for measuring the density of soils, cement treated roadbase, roller compacted concrete and asphalt. They provide a non-destructive means of monitoring compaction operations during construction, so that additional rolling can be provided before the material sets or is covered with another layer. National and state/territory codes of practice regulate the use of equipment that emits ionising radiation. States and territories also have licensing and registration requirements for people involved in owning, storing, transporting or using such equipment.
Soil moisture density gauges are used on construction sites, so they are transported to the test site in motor vehicles. They must be protected from damage and stored safely and securely while not in use. The operator must ensure that bystanders are kept clear to minimise radiation exposure. Owners of gauges are required to have documented procedures and ensure that operators are adequately trained. To ensure the safety and integrity of the gauge, radiation surveys are required at regular intervals. A hand-held radiation meter is used, and the results recorded.