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:
calibration and maintenance schedules
enterprise recording and reporting procedures
equipment manuals
equipment startup, operation and shutdown procedures
industry codes of practice
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
material, production and product specifications
national environment protection measures
occupational health and safety (OHS) national standards and codes of practice
production and laboratory schedules
quality manuals
standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Tools and equipment
Tools and equipment may include:
leak detection equipment
pumps and lubricants
pressure measuring equipment
bench, handlamp and ribbon burners, gas supplies and gas economisers
glass working lathes
annealing ovens
measuring and recording equipment
hand tools, such as carbon paddles and mandrels, range of forceps, glass tubing gauges, angle setting jigs, calipers, glass support rollers, brass shapers, carbon rods, glass knife, stainless steel gauze, vernier calipers and other measuring tools, and strain viewer
mechanical glass cutters and saws
mechanical glass grinding equipment
Vacuum apparatus
Vacuum apparatus includes items, such as:
manometers
vacuum traps
vacuum manifolds
vacuum distillation apparatus
gas handling systems
Maintenance procedures
Maintenance procedures may include:
cleaning and maintaining work area, equipment and tools
checking and maintaining gas manifolds, cylinders and pumps
ensuring safety of vacuum and related equipment
evaluating and troubleshoot high vacuum systems
evaluating and restoring efficiency of systems
Hazards
Hazards may include:
sharps and broken glassware
residues on used glassware, such as mercury
heat sources, such as burners and ovens
fluids under pressure (acetylene and oxygen)
glass dust
cuts associated with glass grinders and cutters
manual handling of heavy sample bags and containers
Safety practices
Safety practices may include:
use of personal protective equipment, such as heat resistant gloves, safety glasses, goggles, face guards, coveralls, respirators and safety boots
correct labelling of reagents and hazardous materials
handling, and storing hazardous materials and equipment in accordance with labels, MSDS, manufacturer's instructions, and enterprise procedures and regulations
regular cleaning and/or decontamination of equipment and work areas
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:
prepare and interpret blueprints, drawings, sketches, designs and customer requirements
apply theoretical concepts and practical principles to construct, modify and maintain vacuum systems
evaluate and make recommendations for modifications to vacuum systems
modify high vacuum systems to meet new requirements
use appropriate procedures to monitor and maintain high vacuum systems
use advanced bench/hand glasswork techniques and equipment to fabricate glass apparatus
follow enterprise procedures to document and communicate work details.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
It is strongly recommended that assessment is conducted through observation over time. The timeframe must allow for adequate assessment of operation under all normal and a range of abnormal conditions. Where this is not practical additional assessment techniques must be used.
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
MSL965001A Design and manufacture glass apparatus and glass systems
MSL965002A Perform glass coating, grinding and finishing operations.
Resources may include:
access to a scientific glassblowing facility, appropriate equipment, materials and procedures which will allow for appropriate and realistic simulation
access to more than one workplace or simulated learning environment if the primary workplace or learning environment is unable to provide a suitable range of equipment.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
inspection of examples of glasswork and workplace documentation completed by the candidate
analysis of the candidate's work records over a period of time to ensure accurate and consistent work is obtained within required timelines
feedback from peers and supervisors
oral/written questioning.
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 to show its relevance in a workplace setting.
Education
A major research organisation has requested assistance with the design and construction of an ultra high vacuum line to work in conjunction with a recently purchased mass spectrometer. The scientific glassblower identifies the location of the backing pump, vapour jet pump, turbo-molecular pump and getter pumps. After finalising the design, they manufacture the main components in the glassblowing workshop. They then take the portable glassblowing station, including hand torch, gas supplies and hand tools to the research laboratory and proceed to link these components with various sizes of glass tubing and transition glass/metal vacuum flanges. Having completed the vacuum system, the glassblower assists with checking all joints and seals under vacuum conditions and undertakes any repairs and modifications. Finally they dispose of all waste appropriately and return the equipment to the workshop.