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.
Appropriate documentation
Where reference is made to documentation, it is expected the latest version will be used.
Appropriate documentation may include:
reference standards
Certificates of Verification
measuring instrument Certificates of Approval
test procedures for measuring instruments
organisational test reports
organisational procedures e.g. company quality assurance manual
National Measurement Act
occupational health and safety (OHS) regulations, guidelines and procedures material safety data sheets
equipment manuals and warranty, supplier catalogues and handbooks
Certificates of Approval
Certificates of Approval may include:
any Certificate issued by the Chief Metrologist under Regulation 60 of the National Measurement Regulations approving the pattern of a limited weighing instrument as being suitable for trade
Enforcement action
Enforcement action may include:
formal warnings
infringement notice
formal undertaking
injunction
prosecution
Test equipment
Test equipment may include:
reference standards of measurement
weighing instruments
trolleys
cameras
video and audio recorders
Legislation
Legislation may include:
national measurement legislation
applicable Commonwealth, state and territory OHS legislation
National Measurement Institute policy
National Measurement Institute policy may include:
test procedure variations between a verification, in-service or audit inspection
bulletin
instruction
determination
policy documents
National Test Procedures
National Test Procedures may include:
measuring instrument test procedures
article measurement procedures
any other test procedure prescribed by the National Measurement Institute
OHS and environmental management requirements
OHS and environmental management requirements refer to:
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 and State and Territory Departments of Health
Operating environmental impacts
Operating environmental impacts may include:
vibration
wind
heat
dust
electromagnetic interference
out of level
liquid being measured
Records
Records may include:
test reports
safety procedures
a history of equipment calibration and test results
Trading practices
Trading practices may include:
how a measuring instrument is used
position of measuring instruments
measurement advertising
how the measurement of an article is determined
the type of measurement used to sell an article
the base conditions at which the measurement of an article is determined

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
Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard while inspecting any of the trading practices listed in the Range Statement.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
identify, access and apply test procedures
identify and use suitable reference standards
evaluate and adjust the impact of the operating environment on the performance of the instrument
analyse test results to determine the instrument's suitability for verification (trade use)
identify and implement additional inspection strategies for non-trading practice related breaches of national measurement legislation
recognise and act on non-compliance
maintain the security and confidentiality of data in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements
report results in the required formats and expected timeframe.

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:
MSATMINS404A Inspect a range of pre-packaged products
MSATMINS301A Inspect a range of simple measures
MSATMINS302A Inspect a range of simple measuring instruments
MSATMINS401A Inspect a range of weighing instruments
MSATMINS402A Inspect a range of liquid measuring instruments using volume measures.
Resources may include:
measuring instruments, test equipment and reference standards
computer and relevant software and/or organisation information management system
Certificates of Approval for instruments
relevant legislative and organisational procedures.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
questions to assess understanding of relevant procedures, trader obligations and remedial actions
review of inspection reports prepared by the candidate
feedback from supervisors and peers regarding the candidate's ability to inspect trading practices in accordance with legislative and organisational procedures
observation of the candidate conducting a trading practice inspection.
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.

This competency in practice
Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting.

An inspector is allocated a file to investigate a consumer complaint alleging that a butcher is over charging on purchases of meat. During preparation for the inspection, the inspector notices that the trader was recently issued with an infringement notice for a similar offence. On arrival at the premises, the inspector observes the trading practices visible from outside the premises and develops a trial purchase plan. On entry, the inspector inspects the shop layout, staff actions, operation of the scales, advertising and the method of selling meat. He/she observes some cuts of meat are not being advertised and sold by weight as required by national measurement legislation and eye fillet is being advertised for sale at a price per 100 g without a reference to its price per kilogram. The inspector modifies the purchase plan to include an additional purchase of meat not apparently being sold by weight.
The inspector conducts the trial purchase of two separate cuts of meat. The first cut of meat is weighed on a scale that indicates 0.050 kg without anything on the weigh platter. The second cut is being sold for a set price per item. After paying for the meat, the inspector identifies the site controller, introduces him/herself, explains a trial purchase had been completed and the process for the remainder of the inspection. The inspector weighs the first cut of meat on the same scale used by the butcher during the trial purchase. Before weighing the meat, he/she resets the scale to zero and finds the meat weighs 0.050 kg less than the weight he/she was charged for. The pre-packaged products being offered for sale are found to be correct weight and correctly marked as required by legislation. The inspector records notes of the trial purchase in his/her notebook, then tests the accuracy of the weighing instruments and notes that the scales had been verified last month.
Before leaving the premises, the inspector informs the site controller of the non-compliances: i.e. selling an article with a short fall, using a weighing instrument incorrectly, selling meat other than by reference to its weight and not advertising meat for sale at a price per kilogram. He/she outlines the resulting enforcement actions and consequences for failing to correct the non-compliances.
On returning to the office, the inspector disposes of the trial purchase, files his/her notes and photographs as evidence of the non-compliance and reports the inspection outcomes in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.