Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
This unit describes the skills and knowledge to provide general preventive care for cultural material. As such, the unit focuses only on environmental monitoring, condition assessment and the overall implementation of disaster preparedness measures. Basic treatments and limited 'hands-on' work with collection items is found in the unit CULMS010A Contribute to the preservation of cultural material.
This unit describes the skills and knowledge to provide general preventive care for cultural material. As such, the unit focuses only on environmental monitoring, condition assessment and the overall implementation of disaster preparedness measures. Basic treatments and limited 'hands-on' work with collection items is found in the unit CULMS010A Contribute to the preservation of cultural material
Application of the Unit
Not applicable.
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not applicable.
Pre-Requisites
Not applicable.
Employability Skills Information
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Not applicable.
Elements and Performance Criteria
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Elements and Performance Criteria |
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Element |
Performance Criteria |
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1 |
Monitor the environment |
1.1 |
Monitor environmental conditions at regular intervals in accordance with needs of the collection and identify agents of deterioration affecting the collection |
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1.2 |
Respond appropriately to changes in the environment to protect cultural material |
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1.3 |
Adjust/control environmental conditions within scope of own responsibility or report to relevant colleagues |
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2 |
Assess condition of cultural material |
2.1 |
Examine and assess the condition of items in the appropriate location using techniques within the scope of own expertise that meet conservation guidelines |
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2.2 |
Create or review documentation and accurately record current condition of item, including evidence of change, damage or degradation |
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2.3 |
Apply a general knowledge of deterioration patterns to collection monitoring |
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2.4 |
Identify the need for and obtain appropriate expert advice where necessary |
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2.5 |
Discuss condition of material and conservation needs with experts in a manner which reflects sound general knowledge of issues to be considered |
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3 |
Implement preventive conservation activities |
3.1 |
Undertake preventive conservation activities in accordance with organisation's policies and procedures |
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3.2 |
Use best practice guidelines, cultural protocols and relevant specialist conservation advice to guide all activities |
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3.3 |
Follow health, safety and environmental requirements at all times |
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3.4 |
Identify the need for assistance and consult with a specialist conservator in relation to issues which arise in collection care |
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3.5 |
Accurately document details of preventive conservation activities undertaken in accordance with organisational procedures |
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Required Skills and Knowledge
Not applicable.
Evidence Guide
The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence. It is essential for assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the assessment guidelines of the relevant Training Package.
Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:
general knowledge of the scope and nature of routine preventive conservation activities relevant to the collection/industry sector
correct and safe implementation of activities
knowledge of agents of deterioration and their impact on collections
Context of assessment and consistency of performance
The assessment context must provide for:
project or work activities that allow the candidate to monitor an actual collection and undertake basic preventive conservation activities
use of industry-current methods and equipment
Relationships to other units
This unit has linkages to other units in this and other Training Packages, e.g. Visual Arts Craft and Design, and combined assessment and/or training with those units may be appropriate, for example:
CULMS003A - Move/store cultural material
CULMS011A - Develop a disaster preparedness plan
Method of assessment
Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:
direct observation of the candidate engaged in preventive conservation activities
review of condition reports prepared or updated by the candidate
inspection of an area or storage system which the candidate has adapted to improve environment
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of procedures, safety and environmental issues, agents of deterioration
review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups [e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling].
Essential skills and knowledge
Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:
roles and responsibilities for care of cultural material, including limitations on roles of unqualified personnel
sources of expert assistance on collection care
industry code of practice/ethics and terminology used
the role of preventive conservation and distinctions between preservation, conservation and restoration
general knowledge of factors contributing to deterioration (relevant to the collection/industry sector)
cultural considerations and protocols for the handling, storage and display of cultural material
methods of protecting cultural material from damage and/or potential hazards (relevant to the collection/industry sector)
current best practice guidelines for collection care in the relevant work context
techniques for handling and examination of cultural material
basic principles and methods of using equipment, tools and materials for routine collection care
requirements for safe work and manual handling
literacy skills sufficient to interpret conservation guidelines and to document condition of collection and any preventive conservation actions taken
Specific resource requirements
Assessment of this unit requires access to:
relevant policies and procedures manuals
cultural material in an appropriate environment so that both material and environment may be assessed
equipment, tools and materials for preventive conservation activities
Generic employability skills
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.
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.
How can communication of ideas and information be applied ? - (2 )
Discussing information about condition of cultural material with conservator
How can information be collected , analysed and organised ? - (2 )
Reviewing documentation and assessing cultural material
How are activities planned and organised ? - (2 )
Organising maintenance schedules
How can team work be applied ? - (2 )
Consulting with the conservator
How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques be applied ? - (1 )
Analysing results of environmental monitoring
How can problem solving skills be applied ? - (2 )
Adapting a storage area to improve the environment, within resource limitations
How can the use of technology be applied ? - (1 )
Using tools and equipment
The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence. It is essential for assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the assessment guidelines of the relevant Training Package.
Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:
general knowledge of the scope and nature of routine preventive conservation activities relevant to the collection/industry sector
correct and safe implementation of activities
knowledge of agents of deterioration and their impact on collections
Context of assessment and consistency of performance
The assessment context must provide for:
project or work activities that allow the candidate to monitor an actual collection and undertake basic preventive conservation activities
use of industry-current methods and equipment
Relationships to other units
This unit has linkages to other units in this and other Training Packages, e.g. Visual Arts Craft and Design, and combined assessment and/or training with those units may be appropriate, for example:
CULMS003A - Move/store cultural material
CULMS011A - Develop a disaster preparedness plan
Method of assessment
Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:
direct observation of the candidate engaged in preventive conservation activities
review of condition reports prepared or updated by the candidate
inspection of an area or storage system which the candidate has adapted to improve environment
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of procedures, safety and environmental issues, agents of deterioration
review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular groups [e.g. people with disabilities, and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English, remote communities and those with interrupted schooling].
Essential skills and knowledge
Assessment must include evidence of the following knowledge and skills:
roles and responsibilities for care of cultural material, including limitations on roles of unqualified personnel
sources of expert assistance on collection care
industry code of practice/ethics and terminology used
the role of preventive conservation and distinctions between preservation, conservation and restoration
general knowledge of factors contributing to deterioration (relevant to the collection/industry sector)
cultural considerations and protocols for the handling, storage and display of cultural material
methods of protecting cultural material from damage and/or potential hazards (relevant to the collection/industry sector)
current best practice guidelines for collection care in the relevant work context
techniques for handling and examination of cultural material
basic principles and methods of using equipment, tools and materials for routine collection care
requirements for safe work and manual handling
literacy skills sufficient to interpret conservation guidelines and to document condition of collection and any preventive conservation actions taken
Specific resource requirements
Assessment of this unit requires access to:
relevant policies and procedures manuals
cultural material in an appropriate environment so that both material and environment may be assessed
equipment, tools and materials for preventive conservation activities
Generic employability skills
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.
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.
How can communication of ideas and information be applied ? - (2 )
Discussing information about condition of cultural material with conservator
How can information be collected , analysed and organised ? - (2 )
Reviewing documentation and assessing cultural material
How are activities planned and organised ? - (2 )
Organising maintenance schedules
How can team work be applied ? - (2 )
Consulting with the conservator
How can the use of mathematical ideas and techniques be applied ? - (1 )
Analysing results of environmental monitoring
How can problem solving skills be applied ? - (2 )
Adapting a storage area to improve the environment, within resource limitations
How can the use of technology be applied ? - (1 )
Using tools and equipment
Range Statement
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
The following variables may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the trainee, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts. If bold italicised text is shown in Performance Criteria, details of the text are provided in the Range Statement.
Preventive conservation is defined as 'Action taken to retard or prevent deterioration of, or damage to, cultural material by control of its environment'.
Cultural material is defined as 'objects , collections , artworks , specimens , structures or sites '. Examples include :
archaeological material
books and manuscripts
cultural sites/buildings
ethnographic material
flora and fauna
film/audiovisual material
furniture
photographs
technological/industry items
textiles
works on paper/canvas
Preventive conservation activities are those related to overall care of the collection and do not include any hands -on treatments . Activities may include :
monitoring and documentation/recording
relocation
protective storage/boxing
implementation of the disaster preparedness plan
re-formatting (creation of surrogates to reduce use of original)
integrated pest management
framing and un-framing
non-interventive actions to combat agents of deterioration
Appropriate location may be :
in display area
workshop
laboratory
studio
darkroom
in situ, e.g. outdoors
storage room
during transport
Environmental conditions (and changes ) may relate to :
temperature
relative humidity
lighting
pollution
pests
Condition of cultural material may be assessed by :
observation
measurement and comparison of known areas of deterioration, eg cracks, areas of loss
instrumental examination, e.g. microscope, magnifying glass, UV/IR light, raking light
comparison with existing condition report, including photographic images
Deterioration patterns may be linked to :
light, temperature, relative humidity, climate, pollution
materials used for storage and display
pests
nature and location of the building or site
influence of human activities
security considerations
transport and packing
inherent vice (items are made of incompatible materials)
deterioration of item prior to arrival, e.g. archeological collections
Cultural protocols may relate to :
who can handle the cultural material
where an item may be handled
when an item may be handled
consultation on potential treatments
storage requirements
appearance of the item
relationship between item and other material in the collection
methods and approaches to display
Health , safety and environmental requirements may relate to :
use of chemicals or other toxic substances
storage of chemicals
provision and use of safety equipment
safe manual handling
safe use of tools and equipment
reporting of OH&S issues, including events and near misses
impact on other parts of the collection
toxic and hazardous materials in a collection
condition/stability of item (dirt, mould, dust and pesticides)
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
The following variables may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the trainee, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts. If bold italicised text is shown in Performance Criteria, details of the text are provided in the Range Statement.
Preventive conservation is defined as 'Action taken to retard or prevent deterioration of, or damage to, cultural material by control of its environment'.
Cultural material is defined as 'objects , collections , artworks , specimens , structures or sites '. Examples include :
archaeological material
books and manuscripts
cultural sites/buildings
ethnographic material
flora and fauna
film/audiovisual material
furniture
photographs
technological/industry items
textiles
works on paper/canvas
Preventive conservation activities are those related to overall care of the collection and do not include any hands -on treatments . Activities may include :
monitoring and documentation/recording
relocation
protective storage/boxing
implementation of the disaster preparedness plan
re-formatting (creation of surrogates to reduce use of original)
integrated pest management
framing and un-framing
non-interventive actions to combat agents of deterioration
Appropriate location may be :
in display area
workshop
laboratory
studio
darkroom
in situ, e.g. outdoors
storage room
during transport
Environmental conditions (and changes ) may relate to :
temperature
relative humidity
lighting
pollution
pests
Condition of cultural material may be assessed by :
observation
measurement and comparison of known areas of deterioration, eg cracks, areas of loss
instrumental examination, e.g. microscope, magnifying glass, UV/IR light, raking light
comparison with existing condition report, including photographic images
Deterioration patterns may be linked to :
light, temperature, relative humidity, climate, pollution
materials used for storage and display
pests
nature and location of the building or site
influence of human activities
security considerations
transport and packing
inherent vice (items are made of incompatible materials)
deterioration of item prior to arrival, e.g. archeological collections
Cultural protocols may relate to :
who can handle the cultural material
where an item may be handled
when an item may be handled
consultation on potential treatments
storage requirements
appearance of the item
relationship between item and other material in the collection
methods and approaches to display
Health , safety and environmental requirements may relate to :
use of chemicals or other toxic substances
storage of chemicals
provision and use of safety equipment
safe manual handling
safe use of tools and equipment
reporting of OH&S issues, including events and near misses
impact on other parts of the collection
toxic and hazardous materials in a collection
condition/stability of item (dirt, mould, dust and pesticides)
Unit Sector(s)
Not applicable.
