Elements and Performance Criteria

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.

Compliance may include:
meeting relevant laws, bylaws and regulations or best practice or codes of practice to support compliance in environmental performance and sustainability at each level as required (such as Environmental Protection or Biodiversity Conservation Act):
international
commonwealth
state/territory
industry
organisation.
Sources may include:
organisation specifications
regulatory sources
relevant stakeholders
resource use.
Purchasing strategies mayinclude:
influencing suppliers to take up environmental sustainability approaches
researching and participating in programs such as a supply chain program to purchase sustainable products.
Stakeholders, key personnel and specialists may include:
individuals and groups both inside and outside the organisation who have direct or indirect interest in the organisation’s conduct, actions, products and services, including:
customers
employees at all levels of the organisation
government
investors
local community
other organisations
suppliers
key personnel within the organisation, and specialists outside the organisation who may have particular technical expertise.
Techniques and tools may include:
examination of invoices from suppliers
examination of relevant information and data
measurements made under different conditions
others as appropriate to the specific industry context.
Environmental and resource efficiency improvement plans may include:
addressing environmental and resource sustainability initiatives such as environmental management systems, action plans, green office programs, surveys and audits
applying the waste management hierarchy in the workplace
determining organisation’s most appropriate waste treatment including waste to landfill, recycling, reuse, recoverable resources and wastewater treatment
initiating and/or maintaining appropriate organisational procedures for operational energy consumption, including stationary energy and nonstationary (transport)
preventing and minimising risks, and maximising opportunities such as:
improving resource/energy efficiency
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
reducing use of nonrenewable resources
referencing standards, guidelines and approaches such as:
ecological footprinting
Energy Efficiency Opportunities Bill 2005
Global Reporting Initiative
green office program - a cultural change program
green purchasing
Greenhouse Challenge Plus (Australian government initiative)
ISO 14001:1996 Environmental management systems life cycle analyses
product stewardship
supply chain management
sustainability covenants/compacts
triple bottom line reporting.
Suggestions may include ideas that help to:
prevent and minimise risks and maximise opportunities such as:
usage of solar or renewable energies where appropriate
reducing emissions of greenhouse gases
reducing use of nonrenewable resources
making more efficient use of resources, energy and water
maximising opportunities to reuse, recycle and reclaim materials
identifying strategies to offset or mitigate environmental impacts:
purchasing carbon credits
energy conservation
reducing chemical use
reducing material consumption
expressing purchasing power through the selection of suppliers with improved environmental performance e.g. purchasing renewable energy
eliminating the use of hazardous and toxic materials.
Environmental assets may include:
assets of the natural environment such as:
biological assets (produced or natural)
land
water areas with their ecosystems
subsoil, and
air.

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
Evidence of the following is essential:

knowledge of relevant compliance requirements within work area
developing plans to make improvements
planning and organising work group activities in relation to measuring current use and devising strategies to improve usage
monitoring resource use and improvements for environmental performance relative to work area and supervision
ensuring appropriate action is taken within work area in relation to environmental/sustainability compliance and potential hazards
implementing new approaches to work area in an effort to resolve and improve environmental and resource efficiency issues and reporting as required.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:

access to an actual workplace or simulated environment
access to a range of environment/sustainability legislation, standards, guidelines and procedural requirements relevant to specific work area, daily responsibilities and supervision
access to a range of information, workplace documentation and resources such as compliance obligations, organisation plans, work supervision and responsibilities
access to reports from other parties involved in the process of identifying and implementing improvements
evidence is relevant to the particular workplace role, including work area, staff, stakeholders, equipment, systems and documentation.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used t assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
response to case studies
review of reports of activities of work group in relation to measuring resource use and developing improvement strategies
review of work plans outlining approaches to improved practices with documented benchmarks
analysis of the way in which advice is sought and suggestions are made about improvements
observation over time and in a range of situations in relation to review of overall work area and staff, to assess and measure resource use, hazards and compliance
review of checklists to identify and assess resource usage at the beginning and end of the unit; reports on meetings around procedures and improvement processes and monitoring within the workplace; lists of environmental hazards/risks or inefficiencies or opportunities for improvements identified in the workplace
analysis of implementation of programs such as a green office program, supply chain program for purchasing sustainable products, or an environmental management framework
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of environmental and energy efficiency issues, systems and procedures specific to industry practice.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.