Plan scientific or technical sampling and testing activities
Overview
This standard covers the competences you need to plan
scientific or technical sampling and testing activities in a
science related work activity, in accordance with approved
procedures and practices.
You will be required to demonstrate that you can perform
scientific or technical sampling, establishing which methods
are required and what resources are to be used, in
accordance with the relevant workplace procedures.
The activity is likely to be undertaken by someone in a
science related work setting, including individuals working
in hospitals, scientific laboratories, schools and universities.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 ensure that your work is carried out in accordance with
workplace procedures
P2 use safe practices and the appropriate personal
protection equipment (PPE) when performing scientific or
technical activities
P3 collect the information needed to prepare the plan
P4 identify health and safety issues and safe working
practices and procedures that must be followed
P5 identify the operations to be carried out and determine
their sequence
P6 establish which methods are required and what
resources are to be used
P7 identify any special requirements and incorporate them
in the plan
P8 deal effectively with problems within your control and
report those that cannot be solved
P9 communicate the required information about the work
done, to authorised people, in accordance with
departmental and organisational procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
K1 the health and safety requirements of the area in which
you are carrying out the scientific or technical activities
K2 the implications of not taking account of legislation,
regulations, standards and guidelines when conducting
scientific or technical activities
K3 the scientific or technical techniques and processes you
must use correctly in the workplace
K4 the importance of wearing protective clothing, gloves
and eye protection for scientific or technical activities
K5 the importance of correct identification, and any unique
workplace coding system
K6 the organisational requirements for maintaining the
security of the workplace
K7 the lines of communication and responsibilities in your
department, and their links with the rest of the organisation
K8 the limits of your own authority and to whom you should
report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
K9 how to access information on health and safety
regulations and guidelines relating to the sampling and
testing activities to be used and plans being produced
K10 the implications of not taking account of legislation,
regulations, standards and guidelines when producing the
laboratory plans
K11 how to access and use the appropriate information and
documentation systems
K12 the materials, formats, codes and conventions that are
used in preparing the plans
K13 the main planning methods and techniques in use, and
what problems could occur in them
K14 the factors to be taken into account when preparing the
plans, especially those covering working conditions and
safety
K15 the main types of resources involved with different
types of sampling and testing activity, and the typical
timescales for providing them
K16 the normal timescales for carrying out specific
sampling and testing activities, and how and why they vary
K17 the development of the sampling and testing plans
K18 how to prepare the plans
K19 the process used in the organisation to validate the
plans produced
K20 the control procedure for ensuring that the plans are
maintained up to date
K21 the procedures for changing the plans and why control
procedures are needed
K22 the importance of maintaining records; what needs to
be recorded and where records are kept
K23 problems that can occur during the implementation of
the plan and how these problems can be rectified
K24 the document control and reporting procedures that
should be used
K25 the reasons why effective communication is important,
and the methods used for communicating effectively
Scope/range
- carry out all of the following when determining and
producing the plans:
1.1 use the correct issue of workplace information
1.2 check that all essential information and data needed to
produce the plans is available
1.3 collect relevant information on the scientific or technical
requirements, operations, methods and resources
1.4 determine the availability of resources required
1.5 ensure that the activities to be carried out fall within
budget constraints
1.6 ensure that health and safety regulations and safe
working practices are taken into account
1.7 ensure that the influence of working conditions is
recognised and included in the plans
1.8 present the plans in the appropriate formats - produce plans for both of the following scientific or
technical activities:
2.1 testing
2.2 sampling - provide technical advice and guidance on four of the
following:
3.1 space required
3.2 cost/budget
3.3 timescales
3.4 utilities required
3.5 description of the activities to be carried out
3.6 the sequence in which the activities will take place
3.7 the documentation to be used (such as drawings,
specifications, quality assurance, surveys)
3.8 people required who have the necessary skills and
knowledge
3.9 the raw materials required (such as type of material,
form of material, amount of material)
3.10 consumable materials required (such as chemicals,
reagents)
3.11 environmental/legislative requirements that must be
met
3.12 special/specific safety equipment required (such as
fume extraction, fire equipment) - carry out all of the following on completion of the
planning activities:
4.1 validation and evaluation of the planning systems and
procedures used
4.2 suggested improvements to your process of planning
4.3 recommendations for improvements or changes to the
scientific or technical activities that were planned - record and communicate details of the work done, to the
appropriate people, using:
5.1 verbal report plus one method from the following:
5.2 written or typed report
5.3 computer-based record
5.4 specific workplace documentation
5.5 electronic mail