Write scientific or technical reports for workplace activities
Overview
This standard covers the competences you need to write
scientific or technical reports for workplace activities in
accordance with approved procedures and practices.
You will be required to demonstrate that you understand
the purpose and the scope of the report, how to follow
organisational procedures and policies and who to get
authorisation from and the time to take to complete the
report in accordance with 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) where scientific or technical
activities are performed
P3 identify and agree the business and scientific or
technical requirements of your role in the workplace
P4 establish processes that deliver scientific or technical
outcomes based on organisational goals and aims
P5 establish the scope and purpose of the scientific or
technical report to be delivered
P6 determine quality and delivery issues, and the resources
needed to deliver the report
P7 present the report data and content in an appropriate
format and structure for the reader(s)
P8 implement quality checks according to the workplace
procedures and policies
P9 include all information that is relevant and sufficient for
the scientific or technical activities and quality standards
P10 technically review any third party data added to the
report for quality, and, where appropriate, provide feedback
to the author(s) on your observations/recommendations
P11 obtain feedback on your early draft to ensure that the
final report meets the stated purpose
P12 follow the relevant procedures for authorisation from
the appropriate people and for release of the report
P13 ensure that the report is completed and issued within
the agreed time limits
P14 present the results of the work done to the appropriate
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 and keeping confidential
documents
K7 the workplace business aims and goals and the
planning process
K8 the workplace organisational structure, its values and
culture
K9 how your scientific or technical activities add value
through delivering workplace products, services and
processes
K10 the lines of communication and responsibilities in your
department, and the links with the rest of the organisation
K11 the limits of your own authority and to whom you
should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve
K12 how to identify and assess the scientific or technical
requirements of your work roles
K13 the different ways in which you are set your agreed
personal work objectives
K14 the different perspectives and approaches that are
important when exercising autonomy or judgement about
scientific or technical activities used
K15 the types of investigation initiated and used to review
the effectiveness or appropriateness of methods, action
and results of your scientific or technical work
K16 the legal responsibilities for health and safety issues
relevant to technical reports
K17 the requirements of any external regulatory bodies,
where they are appropriate to the reports
K18 the legal consequences of breaches of quality
procedures
K19 the systems used to ensure quality of reports within the
organisation
K20 the methods used to monitor these quality systems
K21 the standards and standard operating procedures
appropriate to the writing and publishing of reports
K22 how to establish the scope of the technical report
K23 how to establish the purpose of the technical report
K24 how to access appropriate information
K25 how to assess the quality and completeness of the
data/information
K26 the range of methods used to present the data in
reports
K27 how to structure the report logically, clearly and
concisely
K28 the appropriate format and 'house style' of the report
K29 the structure for a good scientific or technical report
K30 how to evaluate the information, draw logical
conclusions and make subsequent recommendations from
your evaluation of the information
K31 to whom to distribute the report, and the appropriate
communication channels
K32 the authorisation required before the reports can be
released for issue
Scope/range
- write technical reports for both of the following situations:
1.1 internal consumption
1.2 external consumption - publish technical reports in both of the following formats:
2.1 draft form
2.2 final version - write technical reports that include eight of the following:
3.1 report title
3.2 laboratory and location
3.3 purpose of scientific or technical activities
3.4 procedures and guidelines followed
3.5 data collected from scientific or technical activities
3.6 scientific or technical calculations done
3.7 uncertainty/error analysis
3.8 final results from scientific or technical activities
3.9 discussion on results conclusion
3.10 references used in the report
3.11 summary - record details of the work done, and communicate the
details to the appropriate people, using both:
4.1 verbal report
4.2 laboratory notebook/plus one method from the
following:
4.3 written or typed report (e.g. laboratory notebook)
4.4 computer-based record
4.5 specific company documentation
4.6 electronic mail