Carry out sampling operations in life sciences and related industries
Overview
This standard covers the skills you need to carry out sampling operations
tests or activities, in accordance with approved procedures and
practices. You will be expected to complete well-defined tasks and
procedures and exercise autonomy and judgement subject to overall
direction or guidance. You will report any problems with the activities,
material or equipment that you cannot personally resolve. You will be
expected to show you have identified, gathered and used relevant
information to inform your actions and identify how effective these
have been. You will work under a team leader, whilst taking
responsibility for the quality and accuracy of the work that you
carry out.
When sampling operations are carried out the integrity of the samples
is of high importance. Therefore it is essential to prepare the work
area so that it is in a safe condition to use, ensure that materials,
equipment and all other resources are in a safe and useable condition
and that the work area is left in a clean and tidy condition.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of
scientific and similar facts, procedures and ideas to complete well-defined
tasks and address straightforward problems in the workplace.
Who this standard is for
The standard is recommended for new recruits and junior laboratory staff.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
P1 ensure that your work is carried out in accordance with workplace procedures
to protect yourself and others
P2 ensure that the correct equipment and materials for the sampling process are
available for use
P3 collect samples in the parameters specified in the standard operating
procedures
P4 label and identify collected samples correctly
P5 maintain the condition of the samples and store in the correct location
P6 communicate the required information about the work done to authorised
people
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 activities
K2 the scientific or similar techniques and processes you must use
correctly in the workplace
K3 the limits of your own authority and to whom you should report if you have
problems that you cannot resolve
K4 the importance of correct identification of materials and handling and sorting
processes, and any unique workplace coding/record system
K5 the organisational requirements for maintaining the security of the workplace
K6 the sampling materials, equipment, methods and procedures used in the
environment where they are taken
K7 the documentation, records and labelling systems that should be used for
sampling operations and to ensure sample traceability after sampling
K8 the principles and techniques of maintaining the sample integrity following
collection
K9 how to identify defective sampling equipment, and the actions to be taken
K10 the methods used for the handling, storage and disposal of materials