Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the ability to check the serviceability and calibration of laboratory/field instruments and equipment and perform routine maintenance, such as cleaning and replacement of consumables and minor components. Personnel are also required to perform basic troubleshooting and repairs consistent with warranty and service agreements. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
This unit of competency is applicable to technical assistants, instrument operators and technical officers working in all industry sectors. Industry representatives have provided case studies to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting. These can be found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'. |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not applicable.
Pre-Requisites
Prerequisite units |
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Employability Skills Information
Employability skills |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency. |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Perform serviceability checks |
1.1. Perform pre-/after-use checks in accordance with appropriate enterprise and manufacturer's procedures 1.2. Identify faulty or unsafe components and equipment 1.3. Troubleshoot basic faults or report the need for major maintenance and/or repairs 1.4. Complete instrument/equipment logbooks to enterprise requirements |
2. Conduct routine maintenance safely |
2.1. Identify maintenance procedures, records and safety requirements 2.2. Plan/adjust maintenance schedules in accordance with operational requirements 2.3. Identify and replace or repair damaged/worn/spent components or items 2.4. Clean equipment and instruments using recommended cleaning agents and techniques 2.5. Store equipment and instruments in accordance with enterprise/manufacturer's requirements 2.6. Update maintenance records in accordance with enterprise procedures 2.7. Arrange for reordering of consumable stocks and equipment components as necessary |
3. Perform calibration/ qualification checks |
3.1. Operate equipment/instrument in accordance with enterprise/manufacturer's procedures 3.2. Check calibration/qualification using specified standards and/or procedures 3.3. Record all calibration/qualification data accurately and legibly 3.4. Document calibration status and report out of calibration equipment/instruments 3.5. Quarantine out of calibration items |
4. Arrange instrument servicing where appropriate |
4.1. Assess instrument repair status, and determine if local repair/maintenance is possible and economical 4.2. Contact and arrange repair/maintenance of equipment from accredited service agent or other appropriate personnel in accordance with enterprise procedures |
Required Skills and Knowledge
Required skills |
Required skills include:
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Required knowledge |
Required knowledge includes:
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Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE |
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit |
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
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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 relevant:
Resources may include:
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Method of assessment |
The following assessment methods are suggested:
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 studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show their relevance in a workplace setting. Manufacturing Starting materials used in manufacturing are often white powders. Infrared spectroscopy is used to positively identify many materials. Two compounds are one and the same if their spectra match in all respects (the position and relative intensity of the absorption bands). For example, if the spectra of a white powder matches the spectra of caffeine, the technician can be sure that the white powder is caffeine, provided that the spectrometer has been correctly maintained and calibrated. The technician routinely checks this using a standard polystyrene film. Food processing Technicians in a NATA certified laboratory must do regular checks to ensure that laboratory equipment, such as balances, refractometers and spectrometers are calibrated and in working order. Balances are routinely checked using calibrated masses and appropriate documented methods to ensure that they are weighing within the correct tolerances. If the balance is out of specification, the technician follows appropriate procedures to correct this and/or notifies the manufacturer to arrange for the balance to be serviced. Food processing A technical assistant in the quality control laboratory of a fruit canning company is required to maintain and operate a range of equipment, including a pH meter. Canned pears, for example, are routinely checked for pH to ensure safe heat processing. While checking the calibration of the pH meter with the standard buffer solutions, the assistant identified that stable pH readings could not be obtained. On closer inspection, they found that the pH probe was damaged and reported the problem to the supervisor. The probe was replaced and the meter was re-checked in readiness for routine testing. Biomedical Technical assistants are quite often involved in routine collections and culturing of cells. Bacterial cells are often cultured and grown to large populations in order to provide material from which to extract biological materials. A quick method of determining when the cell growth has yielded enough cells is to determine the absorbance of the cell culture by measuring absorbance at 600 nm. An absorbance of 1 to 1.5 will give a good cell harvest. This method relies on the assistant being able to perform calibration checks on an ultraviolet-visible (UV-VIS) spectrometer. |
Range Statement
RANGE STATEMENT |
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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. |
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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:
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Laboratory equipment and instruments |
Laboratory equipment and instruments may include:
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Basic repairs |
Basic repairs may include:
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Calibration status /qualification checks |
Calibration status/qualification checks may include:
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Hazards |
Hazards may include:
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Safety procedures |
Safety procedures may include:
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Occupational health and safety (OHS ) and environmental management requirements |
OHS and environmental management requirements:
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Maintenance |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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