Modification History
Unit Descriptor
This unit of competency covers the ability to plan and complete tasks individually or in a team context. The tasks involve established routines and procedures using allocated resources with access to readily available guidelines and advice. Work plans may need to be modified with supervisor agreement to suit changing conditions and priorities.
This unit of competency is based on, and equivalent to, the units PMLORG300A Follow established work plan and PMLTEAM300A Work efficiently as part of a team in PML99.
This unit of competency has no prerequisites.
This unit of competency is applicable to laboratory or technical assistants/officers and instrument operators working in all industry sectors covered by this Training Package.
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 are found at the end of this unit of competency under the section This competency in practice.
Application of the Unit
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Pre-Requisites
Employability Skills Information
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.
Performance Criteria describe the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the element.
Elements and Performance Criteria
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Elements and Performance Criteria |
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Element |
Performance Criteria |
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1 |
Plan and organise daily work activities |
1.1 |
Clarify allocated work activities and required resources if necessary |
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1.2 |
Prioritise work activities as directed |
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1.3 |
Break down work activities into small achievable components and efficient sequences |
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1.4 |
Review work plan in response to new information, urgent requests, changed situations or instructions from appropriate personnel |
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1.5 |
Update work plan and communicate changes to appropriate personnel |
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2 |
Complete allocated work |
2.1 |
Locate relevant workplace procedures for required tasks |
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2.2 |
Undertake task(s) following prescribed and routine work related sequences |
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2.3 |
Seek assistance from relevant personnel when difficulties cannot be handled |
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2.4 |
Record completion of activities to confirm outputs in accordance with plan |
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3 |
Identify and resolve work problems |
3.1 |
Recognise problems or opportunities for improved work performance |
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3.2 |
Apply agreed problem solving strategies to consider possible causes and solutions |
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3.3 |
Identify and access appropriate sources of help |
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3.4 |
Consider available alternatives and keep them open before agreeing on the most appropriate action. |
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4 |
Work in a team environment |
4.1 |
Cooperate with team members to negotiate and achieve agreed outcomes, timelines and priorities |
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4.2 |
Recognise personal abilities and limitations when undertaking team tasks |
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4.3 |
Confirm personal role and responsibility within the team for particular outputs |
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4.4 |
Demonstrate sensitivity to the diversity of other team members' backgrounds and beliefs |
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5 |
Update knowledge and skills as required |
5.1 |
Recognise own strengths and weaknesses and take advantage of skill development opportunities. |
Required Skills and Knowledge
Evidence Guide
The Evidence Guide describes the underpinning knowledge and skills that must be demonstrated to prove competence.
Critical aspects of competency
Competency must be demonstrated in the ability to perform consistently at the required standard. In particular, assessors should look to see that the candidate:
conducts work based on ethical values and principles
clarifies tasks and recognises resource needs
follows relevant procedures
recognises potential disruptions or changed circumstances and modifies work plan in conjunction with relevant personnel
compensates for a variety of working environments (indoor, outdoor and night)
seeks assistance from relevant personnel when difficulties arise
achieves quality outcomes within timelines
works effectively with team members who may have diverse work styles, cultures and perspectives
promotes cooperation and good relations in the team.
Underpinning knowledge
Competency includes the ability to apply and explain:
enterprise procedures covering:
customer service
quality
OHS and environmental legislative requirements
technical work that the candidate routinely performs
workplace agreements and employment conditions, such as:
workers compensation
industrial awards enterprise agreements
equal employment opportunity
anti discrimination and anti-harassment
ethical background relevant to the nature of the work, such as:
use of animals for research
genetic modification, gene therapy, cloning, stem cells
in vitro fertilisation
forensic testing of populations
importance of commercial confidentiality
problem solving strategies
interpersonal communication and conflict resolution techniques
relevant health, safety and environment requirements.
Assessment context and methods
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment.
The following assessment methods are suggested:
review of a flowchart prepared by the candidate to show efficient sequencing of tasks
observation of the candidate performing a range of technical tasks over sufficient time to demonstrate their handling of a variety of contingencies
review of documents detailing completed tasks, such as completed job cards, a report or suggestions for quality improvement
feedback from peers and team members
feedback from supervisors
written or oral questions to partly assess the candidate's ability to handle a range of contingencies and working in a team environment.
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. Questioning techniques should suit the language and literacy levels of the candidate.
Interdependent assessment of unit
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
PMLOHS302A Participate in laboratory /field workplace safety
PMLCOM300B Communicate with other people
technical units related to the tasks undertaken.
Resource implications
Resources may include:
enterprise procedures, equipment and materials for relevant technical tasks.
This competency in practice
Manufacturing
A plastic processing plant had to halt production because of a suspect raw material. The plant manager immediately requested the polymer testing laboratory to test and identify all batches of polypropylene additives and colouring agents. The laboratory team of three assistants and one technical officer allocated the workload amongst themselves to conduct the twelve different tests within a period of four hours to identify the 'out of specification' materials and report them to the production supervisor. All laboratory assistants had to reschedule their workplan, perform the required tests and assist each other to solve the production problem.
Biomedical
As part of a routine sequence, a technical officer is required to perform a series of tasks, including the calibration of instruments required for testing of blood samples. These tasks are to be completed within a specified timeframe to meet the output requirements of the enterprise. During the calibration of one of the instruments, the technician experiences difficulties that required expert technical assistance. The problem is referred to the appropriate person and is quickly resolved. Consequently, the officer is able to complete all necessary tasks within the prescribed timeframe and the required output is maintained.
Food processing
Each of the technical assistants working in the laboratory of a food processing company was dedicated to performing specific analyses. As a result, they often alternated between periods of inactivity and excessive workload (the latter case had the potential to compromise their health and safety and the accuracy of their food analyses). One of the contributing factors to the periods of intense activity was the need to quickly prepare standard solutions and reagents. The team discussed this problem and agreed that while it was not appropriate for each assistant to become competent to perform every analytical procedure, it was feasible for each person to be able to prepare solutions and reagents used by others. The team developed a central register in which impending shortages of these materials was noted. Each assistant referred to this register when no other work was due and prepared the materials on a 'first in, first out' basis unless a task was given a priority rating. The team found that this strategy more evenly distributed the workload over their shift, improved safety in the laboratory and reduced the risk of error.
Key Competencies
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. These are stand-alone levels and do not correspond to levels in the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
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.
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Collecting, analysing and organising information |
Communicating ideas and information |
Planning and organising activities |
Working with others and in teams |
Using mathematical ideas and techniques |
Solving problems |
Using technology |
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Level 1 |
Level 1 |
Level 2 |
Level 2 |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
Level 1 |
Range Statement
The range of variables relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.
Where reference is made to industry Codes of Practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used.
All work is performed ethically and professionally and includes:
following enterprise policy and procedures, regulations and legislation
behaving honestly and openly
respecting others and treating them with courtesy and impartiality
working diligently and responsibly
ensuring confidentiality of information, including client identification and test results
ensuring proprietary rights, intellectual property and copyright are protected
clarifying personal values and ethics and analysing how they impinge on actions in the workplace.
Workplace activities may include but are not limited to performing:
set up and pre-use checks of laboratory equipment
calibration status checks
sampling and testing following standard procedures
maintenance and cleaning tasks.
Workplace procedures may include:
standard operating procedures SOPs
job cards, batch cards, production schedules
job descriptions
methods, recipes, procedures and protocols.
Problem solving may include:
accessing relevant documentation
identifying inputs and outputs
sequencing a process
identifying and rectifying a problem step
obtaining timely help
implementing preventative strategies wherever possible.
Each team member assists the rest of the team to organise and manage its workload. The team may:
be ongoing with responsibility for particular services or functions, or project based
have a mixture of full and part-time employees and contractors, laboratory, construction and production personnel
be separated by distance and work at sites outside laboratory facilities.
The team operate within:
small, medium and large contexts
internal and external environments
enterprise guidelines covering access and equity principles and practices, licensing requirements, industrial awards, enterprise bargaining agreements, Codes of Practice
agreed responsibility and accountability requirements
appropriate goals, objectives
given resource parameters.
The work tasks of individual team members will vary according to the size of enterprise, the scope of the laboratory and their level of responsibility.
The team may use a variety of strategies to maintain work flow:
communicating critical events on shift
recognising shortages in reagents and problems with equipment
communicating quality breakdowns
recognising urgent and abnormal results to be processed
communicating and behaving in a courteous manner
being punctual.
Health , safety and environment
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environmental (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.
All operations assume the potentially hazardous nature of samples and require standard precautions to be applied. Users should access and apply current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and State and Territory Departments of Health. All operations are performed in accordance with standard operating procedures.
