Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the ability to design and supervise complex field surveys for a wide range of environmental systems. This unit covers confirming survey requirements, designing and organising field surveys to achieve their purpose and supervising the field survey according to a defined plan. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
This unit of competency is applicable to technical officers working in the environmental industry sector. All operations must comply with relevant standards, appropriate procedures and/or enterprise requirements. 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 |
||
MSL974007A |
Undertake environmental filed -based monitoring |
|
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. Confirm survey requirements with senior staff |
1.1. Confirm the purpose and objectives of the field survey activities with senior management and the level/detail of information required 1.2. Clarify with all stakeholders the purpose and objectives of the field survey activities within the context of the enterprise's overall environmental program 1.3. Identify and accurately interpret all external statutory requirements and enterprise protocols that relate to the defined field survey activities 1.4. Analyse drivers and constraints that may influence field survey activities 1.5. Document the type, quantity and quality of data needed to meet the defined objectives 1.6. Refine and document the detailed objectives of the field activities with senior management and key stakeholders |
2. Design field survey activities |
2.1. Develop and document details of the field survey methodology and, if appropriate, trial and refine them under field conditions 2.2. Discuss and confirm survey methodology with senior staff and external experts or stakeholders, as appropriate 2.3. Develop work program, including timetable and staff roles and responsibilities for the total field survey and all related activities 2.4. Ensure that work program conforms to enterprise requirements covering risk management, data quality procedures, safety, environmental and emergency requirements 2.5. Document work program, address all administration requirements and obtain appropriate approvals |
3. Identify resources and supervise pre-survey checks |
3.1. Identify and list all resources required to implement the agreed work program 3.2. Arrange collection and checking of all equipment, field instruments, and supplies required for implementation of the work program 3.3. Supervise calibration of all appropriate field instruments 3.4. Arrange correct packaging and transportation of equipment and instruments 3.5. Ensure that all access, transport, communication and emergency systems have been arranged and are suitable for all field locations and activities |
4. Supervise field survey activities |
4.1. Supervise all field survey and associated activities 4.2. Monitor equitable duty rosters covering field surveys activities in consultation with all staff 4.3. Ensure that all data quality procedures are followed 4.4. Ensure that all survey work is performed safely and with minimal impact on the environment |
5. Supervise close down of field activities |
5.1. Arrange for the checking, packaging and transportation of all samples, equipment, and instruments back to base 5.2. Ensure that site is left in accordance with enterprise and environmental requirements 5.3. Monitor dispatch of collected samples for subsequent laboratory analyses 5.4. Ensure before final storage that all equipment and instruments are tested and decontaminated, as necessary 5.5. Ensure all field data is stored appropriately for subsequent analysis 5.6. Report results, any anomalies and recommendations to data analysers, users and/or supervisor |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills |
Required skills include:
|
Required knowledge |
Required knowledge includes:
|
Evidence Guide
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:
|
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:
Resources may include:
|
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 its relevance in a workplace setting. Environmental (1 ) An environmental officer is asked to design and supervise a series of field surveys covering soils, flora, fauna and water quality. Part of the study area is potentially high in nature conservation value with the rest of the area being considered for low density residential development. The aim of the study is to determine which parts of the study area should be set aside for protected open space and, if so, to develop an environmental management plan based on the results of the field surveys. Environmental (2 ) A technical officer is part of a team preparing an environmental impact statement (EIS) for a large industrial site. The technical officer is responsible for supervising all associated field surveys. They need to understand the requirements of the relevant environment protection legislation and local environment department, full details of all field surveys and associated enterprise procedures and how to present data so that it can be efficiently incorporated into the draft EIS. Based on this information the technical officer prepares a detailed work plan, and associated timeline, which identifies all field survey activities and associated resources. They are also careful to identify all quality assurance requirements. The draft EIS report is reviewed closely by management before its release given the level of public interest and the possibility of court action sometime in the future. |
Range Statement
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:
|
Field survey activities |
Field survey activities may include:
|
Clients and stakeholders |
Clients and stakeholders may include:
|
The purpose or objective of the field survey |
The purpose or objective of the field survey may include:
|
Drivers and constraints |
Drivers and constraints may include:
|
Hazards |
Hazards may include:
|
Safety procedures and control measures |
Safety procedures and control measures may include:
|
Administrative requirements and approvals |
Administrative requirements and approvals may include:
|
Field survey resources |
Field survey resources may include:
|
Field instruments and equipment |
Field instruments and equipment may include:
|
Field procedures |
Field procedures may include:
|
Typical problems |
Typical problems may include:
|
Occupational health and safety (OHS ) and environmental management requirements |
OHS and environmental management requirements:
|
Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Testing |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
||