Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.

Samplers usually have access to information, such as
enterprise sampling procedures for specific samples, sites and clients
maps, site plans
material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and safety procedures
enterprise recording and reporting procedures.

Site hazards may include
solar radiation, dust and noise
wildlife, such as snakes, spiders, domestic animals
biohazards, such as micro-organisms and agents associated with soil, air, water
chemicals, such as acids and hydrocarbons
sharps, broken glassware
manual/handling of heavy sample bags and containers
crushing, entanglement, cuts associated with moving machinery and hand tools
falling objects, uneven surfaces, heights, slopes, wet surfaces, trenches, confined spaces
vehicle handling in rough terrain, boat handling in rough or flowing water

Safety procedures may include
use of material safety data sheets (MSDSs)
use of personal protective equipment, such as hard hats, heavy protection, gloves, safety glasses, goggles, faceguards, coveralls, gown, body suits, respirators, safety boots
correct labelling of hazardous materials
handling and storing hazardous material and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, enterprise procedures and regulations
regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment
machinery guards
signage, barriers, service isolation tags, traffic control, flashing lights
lockout and tagout procedures

Types of samples may include
grab samples
disturbed or undisturbed materials
composite samples, such as time, flow proportioned, horizontal/vertical cross section
quality control samples, such as controls, background, duplicate, blanks.

Materials sampled may include
gas or air samples
water, wastewater, stormwater, sewage, sludges
soils
construction materials
solid wastes, such as commercial, industrial, mining
raw materials, start-, middle-, end- of production run samples, final products for a wide range of manufactured items, including food and beverages
hazardous materials and/or dangerous goods

Sampling tools and equipment may include but are not limited to
front-end loader, backhoe, excavator, drill rig
shovels, augers, bucket
sampling frames, sampling tubes, dip tubes, spears, flexible bladders, syringes
access valves
sample thief
weighted sample bottles, bottles, plastic/metal containers and disposable buckets
sterile containers, pipettes, inoculating loops, disposable spoons
pumps, stainless steel bailers

Maintenance of integrity of samples could include
appropriate containers and lids (for example, glass, plastic, amber, opaque)
sealing of sample containers
purging of sample lines and bores
decontamination of sampling tools between collection of consecutive samples
use of appropriate preservatives (for example, sodium azide, toluene or antibiotics)
wrapping container in foil or wet newspaper
temperature control, which may involve prevention of direct contact between the sample and coolant
transfer of sterile sample into sterile container
monitoring of storage conditions
enterprise/legal traceability through appropriate sample labelling and records

Services may include
water supply, gas, electricity
telecommunications
irrigation, stormwater, drainage systems
production plant.

Minimising environmental impacts may involve
replacement of soils and vegetation
driving to minimise soil erosion and damage to fauna and vegetation
disposal of surplus, spent or purged materials
recycling of non-hazardous wastes
appropriate disposal of hazardous waste
cleaning of vehicles to prevent transfer of pests and contaminants.

Health, safety and environment
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
All operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.

The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence.
Critical aspects of competency

Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard. In particular, assessors should look to see that the candidate:

closely follows sampling procedures when collecting a variety of samples at a range of sites
collects samples safely with minimal environmental impact
maintains the integrity and security of samples
demonstrates enterprise and/or legal traceability requirements
liaises with others to access sites and conduct sampling efficiently
recognises limitations and seeks timely advice.

Underpinning knowledge

Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:

key terminology and concepts, such as sample, contamination, traceability, integrity, chain of custody
purpose for which the samples have been collected
the function of key sampling equipment/materials and principles of operation
hazards, risks and enterprise safety procedures associated with routine sampling undertaken
enterprise procedures dealing with-
sampling
waste management, clean up and spillage
handling, transport and storage of dangerous goods
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.

Assessment context and methods
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.

The following assessment methods are suggested:

review of sampling documentation completed by the candidate
review of the quality of samples collected by the candidate
observation of the candidate collecting a variety of samples
feedback from supervisors and clients that sampling plans were followed.
oral/written questioning about sampling and safety procedures
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. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.

Interdependent assessment of unit

This unit of competency may be assessed with:

PMLTEST200A Conduct routine site measurements.

Resource implications

Resources may include:

variety of sample types
sampling procedures
a selection of sampling containers, equipment and documentation.

This competency in practice
A laboratory assistant takes daily tar samples from the company's retort which is used to heat tar to reduce its moisture content. The purpose of this sampling program and subsequent testing is to ensure that the water content of the hot tar is at a safe level before the tar is transferred to a road tanker and used for road construction. Serious accidents can occur during the transfer or use of tar as high water content can cause an explosion due to escape of steam. One day, the retort operator was running behind schedule and tried to convince the laboratory assistant that the water content of the tar was the same as yesterday and didn't need to be tested. The laboratory assistant was able to explain that a high water content could lead to a serious explosion and burns for the operator.
A new field assistant was collecting samples of environmental run-off during wet weather. To successfully complete the activity, the assistant made sure that they included a sample thief, pipette, or similar to extract the sample; a container with a secure lid, and an indelible marker to write on the label. In addition, the assistant remembered to take sealable, waterproof plastic bags in which to put the containers once the samples were collected and a spare bag to protect the field notebook from rain damage.
A production operator has been given the task of collecting samples of the recent batches of blended products, prior to drumming and customer delivery. In addition, the operator is required to sample the bulk raw materials stored on site, and the drummed blend ingredients, including some powdered pigments.
The operator knows that the lab needs the blend samples first and after putting on chemical gloves and safety glasses, accesses each sample point on each of the blend tanks. Because the products are under pressure in the tank manifold, it is important to guard against splashes. Some of the products are flammable hydrocarbons, so the operator ensures that static leads are connected from the tank to the sample vessel during pouring. To sample the drummed product, a sample thief is used and again, safety glasses and chemical gloves are important. The pigments present a dust hazard when being sampled, so the operator applies a protective mask over their nose and mouth, to prevent ingestion while they use a small purpose-built shovel to empty the contents into the sample container.

The seven key competencies represent generic skills considered for effective work participation. The bracketed numbering against each of the key competencies indicates the performance level required in this unit. These are stand-alone levels and do not correspond to levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
Level (1) represents the competence to undertake tasks effectively
Level (2) represents the competence to manage tasks
Level (3) represents the competence to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Communicating ideas and information
(1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
(1)

Planning and organising activities
(1)

Working with others and in teams
(1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
(1)

Solving problems
(1)

Using technology
(1)