Provide technical advice and guidance for scientific or technical activities
Overview
This standard covers the competences you need to provide
technical advice and guidance for scientific or technical
activities in science related work activities, in accordance
with approved procedures and practices.
You will need to ensure you have accurate, up-to-date
information, analyse problems and provide appropriate
information, advice and guidance to a range of people.
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 work safely at all times, complying with health and
safety legislation, regulations and other relevant guidelines
P4 ensure that you have accurate and up-to-date
information on the scientific or technical activities for which
advice and guidance is being sought
P5 determine the extent of the advice and guidance
required
P6 Provide valid and up-to-date information, advice and
guidance, as necessary
P7 analyse any problems in full and provide effective
advice that will maintain the quality and progress of the
work
P8 communicate the required information about the work
done, 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 You
need to know and understand
K9 the regulations and guidelines that are relevant to the
work area
K10 how to obtain information on regulations and
guidelines
K11 how to obtain and interpret drawings, charts,
specifications and other documents that can be used when
giving technical advice and guidance
K12 a sound understanding of the activities in which the
technical guidance is being given
K13 how to identify opportunities for giving technical advice,
guidance and support
K14 how to plan and prepare for providing technical
guidance
K15 the methods and techniques involved in problem
solving
K16 how to deal with customer complaints and requests.
K17 how to review and adjust approaches to the provision
of technical guidance, in the light of experience gained
K18 the techniques for offering and providing technical
guidance
K19 how to use a variety of communication methods, in
appropriate combination
K20 the document control and reporting procedures that
should be used
K21 the reasons why effective communication is important,
and the methods used for communicating effectively
Scope/range
- provide technical advice and guidance for two of the
following groups of people:
1.1 colleagues
1.2 customers (e.g. distributors, end users, clients)
1.3 contractors
1.4 others in related technical activity areas - provide technical support for two of the following
scientific or technical activities:
2.1 providing technical support
2.2 complex sampling
2.3 demonstration and instruction
2.4 planning sampling and testing
2.5 carrying out investigations
2.6 team leading/coaching
2.7 complex testing
2.8 small scale processing - provide technical advice and guidance on four of the
following:
3.1 equipment operating detail (function)
3.2 specific or specialist equipment required
3.3 equipment performance parameters
3.4 resource usage
3.5 physical characteristics (dimensions, weight)
3.6 timing/delivery details
3.7 environment considerations/operating conditions
3.8 cost/budget estimation/details
3.9 scientific or technical methods
3.10 quality requirements/control
3.11 processing requirements
3.12 maintenance/cleaning/calibration frequency
3.13 work instructions or procedures
3.14 aseptic procedures
3.15 output volume required
3.16 training required
3.17 resource requirements
3.18 customer interface requirements
3.19 equipment/component interfacing
3.20 safety/regulations/guideline requirements - Deal appropriately with all of the following:
4.1 reported problems found during the scientific or
technical activity
4.2 recorded deviations from agreed plans and schedules
4.3 customer requests/complaints - record and communicate details of 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