NZQA registered unit standard
23300 version 2
Page 1 of 4
Title
Prepare for and conduct sampling for on-site testing and commercial
laboratory analysis for a composting facility
Level
3
Purpose
Credits
3
This unit standard is for people working in the composting
sector of the resource recovery industry.
People credited with this unit standard are able to: prepare for
sampling operations; conduct sampling and prepare samples
for testing; and handle and dispatch samples for onsite testing
and for commercial laboratory analysis, for a composting
facility.
Classification
Resource Recovery > Composting
Available grade
Achieved
Explanatory notes
1
All work practices must comply with:
Health and Safety in Employment Act 1992;
Resource Management Act 1991;
Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996;
NZS 4454:2005 Composts, soil conditioners and mulches;
The New Zealand Waste Strategy: Reducing Harm, Improving Efficiency 2010
Ministry for the Environment, available at http://www.mfe.govt.nz;
Approved Code of Practice for the Management of Substances Hazardous to Health
in the Place of Work (the code), Occupational Safety and Health Service, available at
http://www.business.govt.nz/worksafe/ (WorkSafe NZ).
2
Personal protective equipment (PPE) must be used throughout operations in
accordance with company procedures. PPE includes but is not limited to – gloves,
eye protection, footwear, overalls, hearing protection, respirator or facemask, highvisibility clothing, fire extinguisher, first aid kit, eye wash kit, face shield/mask; hard
hat.
3
Definitions
Company procedures mean the documented methods for performing work activities
and include health and safety, environmental, and quality management requirements.
They may refer to manuals, codes of practice, or policy statements.
Hazards may include but are not limited to – dust, noise, heat, pathogens, sharps.
Organic in the resource recovery industry refers to materials that are putrescible or
are of animal or vegetable origin.
Products may include but are not limited to – composts, mulches, soil conditioners,
natural and blended soils for landscaping, special purpose soils, potting mixes, loose
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated) (MITO)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
23300 version 2
Page 2 of 4
fill playground surfacing, and various recycled organics products for a range of
specialised applications.
Raw materials (compostable organic materials) may include but are not limited to –
plant materials, food waste, wood and timber, sawdust, wood shavings, crop
residuals, forestry residuals, manures, biosolids, sewage grit and screenings, fats
and oils, organic sludges, paper-based materials, paper mill wastes.
Outcomes and evidence requirements
Outcome 1
Prepare for sampling operations at a composting facility.
Evidence requirements
1.1
Sampling schedules are developed in accordance with company procedures,
the code, and NZS 4454.
1.2
Raw material and product locations are confirmed in accordance with company
procedures.
Range
1.3
Sampling equipment is cleaned, checked, and calibrated for use in accordance
with NZS 4454 and company procedures.
Range
1.4
products may include but are not limited to – compost, mulch, soil
conditioner.
sampling equipment may include but is not limited to – spade
and/or fork, temperature probe, oxygen probe.
Method of sampling is determined in accordance with material or product type
and company procedures.
Range
methods may include but are not limited to – representative
sampling protocol, squeeze test and/or fist test (moisture content),
temperature probing, oxygen probing.
Outcome 2
Conduct sampling and prepare samples for testing for a composting facility.
Evidence requirements
2.1
Sampling is conducted in accordance with the product type, the composting
method, and company procedures.
2.2
Samples are segregated, labelled, tracked, managed, and prepared for testing
in accordance with NZS 4454
2.3
Storage of samples before testing minimises water loss in accordance with NZS
4454.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated) (MITO)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
2.4
23300 version 2
Page 3 of 4
Hazards are identified and controlled in accordance with company procedures,
legislation, and NZS 4454.
Outcome 3
Handle and dispatch samples for onsite testing and for commercial laboratory analysis for
a composting facility.
Evidence requirements
3.1
Samples collected for independent laboratory testing are prepared, packaged,
labelled, and stored in accordance with company procedures.
3.2
Transport is arranged for shipping samples to a commercial laboratory in
accordance with company procedures.
3.3
Laboratory testing details and requirements are documented and included in the
package of samples in accordance with company procedures.
Planned review date
31 December 2019
Status information and last date for assessment for superseded versions
Process
Version Date
Last Date for Assessment
Registration
1
23 April 2007
31 December 2017
Review
2
16 April 2015
N/A
Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR) reference
0114
This CMR can be accessed at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/framework/search/index.do.
Please note
Providers must be granted consent to assess against standards (accredited) by NZQA,
before they can report credits from assessment against unit standards or deliver courses
of study leading to that assessment.
Industry Training Organisations must be granted consent to assess against standards by
NZQA before they can register credits from assessment against unit standards.
Providers and Industry Training Organisations, which have been granted consent and
which are assessing against unit standards must engage with the moderation system that
applies to those standards.
Requirements for consent to assess and an outline of the moderation system that applies
to this standard are outlined in the Consent and Moderation Requirements (CMR). The
CMR also includes useful information about special requirements for organisations wishing
to develop education and training programmes, such as minimum qualifications for tutors
and assessors, and special resource requirements.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated) (MITO)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016
NZQA registered unit standard
23300 version 2
Page 4 of 4
Comments on this unit standard
Please contact the NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation (Incorporated) (MITO)
info@mito.org.nz if you wish to suggest changes to the content of this unit standard.
NZ Motor Industry Training Organisation
(Incorporated) (MITO)
SSB Code 101542
 New Zealand Qualifications Authority 2016