Application

This unit of competency covers the ability to apply National Instrument Test Procedures to determine whether non-automatic weighing instruments or catchweighers of a particular class are suitable for trade use and to mark it accordingly.
This unit of competency is applicable to verifiers operating under a servicing licence to test and mark a specific class of weighing instruments. Weighing instruments are used in a very wide range of commerce. For example, weighing instruments are used to measure a wide range of products at the point of sale, as an order or as a pre-packaged article. There is a large range of environments where these instruments are used, including pharmaceutical laboratories, supermarkets, fresh food retailers, packing houses, the chemical/petroleum industry, construction, mining and other extractive industry sectors.
Depending on the site, verifiers may be required to meet additional local safety requirements, such as basic first aid, confined space entry, working with heavy machinery, working at heights and completing site safety induction. Verifiers may take up to one day perform to verifications in routine environments.
Under the requirements of Regulation 2.43 of theNational Trade Measurement Regulations 2009, a servicing licensee or an employee must not verify a measuring instrument relevant to this unit unless they hold a statement of attainment for this unit of competency.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:
• testing and marking at least three (3) instruments from one (1) or more of the following classes of weighing instruments:
• non-automatic weighing instruments ≥3 tonne
• automatic Class Y(a) Catchweighers
• automatic Class Y(b) Catchweighers
• accessing and correctly interpreting documentation required for verification of weighing instruments
• planning, scheduling, preparing for and safely conducting a verification to optimise use of resources and minimise disruption to the public and trader
• ensuring test equipment and reference standards are fit for purpose in accordance with applicable legislation and organisational procedures
• checking compliance and evaluating the performance of weighing instruments using appropriate Certificates of Approval, National Measurement Institute (NMI) policy and National Instrument Test Procedures, and adjusting for any impact of the operating environment and operational factors
• reliably determining if weighing instruments are suitable for trade use in accordance with legislative requirements
• displaying the verification result on the instrument and completing all verification documentation in accordance with legislative requirements and organisational procedures
• identifying and communicating any inadequacies in servicing licensee's organisational procedures and practices that may contribute to non-compliance with legislative requirements
• maintaining the accuracy, completeness and currency of statutory records required of servicing licensees, such as authorisation, training and relevant licences
• identifying and communicating any inadequacies in trader's use of weighing instruments which may contribute to non-compliance with national measurement legislation
• demonstrating professionalism and respecting the rights of the trader at all times
• using communication and negotiation skills to:
• explain the verification purpose, procedures and outcomes to traders, verifiers and managers
• inform traders of non-compliances and consequences of failing to rectify them
• access external equipment and resources to complete the verification
• using numeric skills to perform calculations involving:
• fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions and percentages
• scientific notation, correct units and the correct number of significant figures
• interpretation of statistical quantities, such as mean, median, mode, range, variance and standard deviation
• maintaining the security and confidentiality of data in accordance with organisational and regulatory requirements
• reporting results in the required formats and expected timeframe
• working safely.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:
• general science principles and concepts, including weight, mass and gravity
• metrological terms and terminology specific to weighing instruments, including maximum permissible errors, traceability, uncertainty, maximum permissible difference, eccentricity, repeatability, error of measurement, error of indication and linearisation
• details of the design and applications for one (1) class of weighing instruments, the components and their function
• servicing licensee requirements, including:
• quality management system
• licence conditions
• maintenance of statutory records
• national measurement legislation applicable to weighing instruments
• safe work method statements (SWMS) for trading environments relevant to job role
• NMI policy, National Instrument Test Procedures and operating procedures for equipment, and reference standards used in job role, including:
• purpose of test, test conditions and possible environmental impacts on performance of the instrument
• key preparation/measurement steps in test method
• calculation steps to give results in appropriate units and precision
• maximum permissible errors for weighing instruments under test
• organisational policy and procedures for verifying weighing instruments, including completion of test results, verification documents and statutory records
• organisational safety procedures and requirements of applicable Commonwealth, state and territory work/occupational health and safety (WHS/OHS) legislation
• basic first aid and site safety induction, if required.

Assessment Conditions

• Judgement of competence must be based on holistic assessment of the evidence. Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time, rather than a single assessment event.
• This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace, or a simulated workplace environment. A simulated workplace environment must reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including the environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
• Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
• Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
• Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept in each case).
• This unit of competency may be assessed with:
• MSMTMREF301Use and maintain reference standards
• Holistic assessment methods include:
• review of test results, verification documentation and verifier statutory records completed by the candidate
• feedback from supervisors and peers regarding the candidate's ability to verify the performance of weighing instruments in accordance with legislative and organisational procedures
• questions to assess understanding of relevant verification procedures, servicing licensee requirements, trader obligations and remedial actions
• review of candidate’s responses to verification scenarios, such as potential/actual non-compliances of traders and verifiers, appropriate actions, common issues and problems
• observation of the candidate verifying weighing instruments.
• Access is required to weighing instruments, equipment, materials, workplace documentation, procedures and specifications associated with this unit, including, but not limited to:
• latest versions of appropriate documentation, such as Certificates of Verification and Approval, NMI policy, National Instrument Test Procedures for verifying weighing instruments and relevant legislation
• equipment manuals, safety data sheets (SDS), safety procedures and safety equipment
• records, such as test reports, audit reports, instrument history and test results
• weighing instruments, test equipment and reference standards
• computer and relevant software and/or organisation information management system.
• Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.
• The assessor must demonstrate both technical competency and currency.
• Technical competence can be demonstrated through:
• relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment AND/OR
• relevant workplace experience in trade measurement at least to the level being assessed and broad industry knowledge (such as a relevant industry qualification).
• Currency can be demonstrated through:
• performing the competency being assessed as part of current employment in trade measurement OR
• having consulted with trade measurement inspectors and/or verifiers performing the competency being assessed within the last twelve months.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Foundation Skills', 'description': 'This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.\nFoundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.'}

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