Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
Electrical equipment may include:
voltage regulating equipment
battery banks, e.g. nicad, lead acid
solar generating equipment
alternators, generators and motors
uninterrupted power supplies (UPS)
control panels
lighting
air conditioning
power tools and electrical leads
SWER lines.

Electrical systems may include:
emergency shutdown systems
fire systems
solar systems
utility systems
uninterrupted power supply systems
low voltage power systems
SWER line systems
communications systems.

Test equipment may include:
multimeter
chart recorders
data logging equipment
amp and volt meters
watt meters
high voltage testing equipment
earth leakage test equipment
electrical inspection tags.

Applicable Australian standards/legislation may include:
OHS legislation
utility codes and standards
AS 2885: Pipelines - Gas and liquid petroleum
AS 2430.1-1987: Classification of hazardous areas - Explosive gas atmospheres
AS 1768-1991: Lightning protection
AS1596-1997/Amdt 1-1999: Storage and handling of Liquefied Petroleum Gas
AS 1697-1987: Gas transmission and distribution systems (known as the SAA Gas Pipeline Code)
AS 2832.1:1998: Cathodic protection of metals - Pipes and cables
AS 3000:2000: Electrical installations (known as the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules)
AS 2239-1993: Galvanic (sacrificial) anodes for cathodic protection.

The use and operation of personal computers, other hardware mediums and associated software is required.

HSE
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

Persons are required to have skills in hazard identification, assessment and application of control measures.

Assessment context and methods
Assessment for this unit of competency will be on an operating plant. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation may be required to allow for timely assessment of this unit of competency. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include walk throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of what if scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

Critical aspects
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action. The emphasis should be on the ability to stay out of trouble rather than on recovery from a disaster.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
early warning signs of equipment/processes needing attention or with potential problems are recognised
the range of possible causes can be identified and analysed and the most likely cause determined
appropriate action is taken to ensure a timely return to full performance
obvious problems in related plant areas are recognised and an appropriate contribution made to their solution.

Also confirm that the person undertaking this competency has the ability to:
implement all occupational health, safety and environmental procedures relevant to this unit
apply the permit to work system within the context of this unit
interpret a range of process and system control drawings and schematics in order to undertake required or identified repairs/modifications to electrical systems.

These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what ifs as the stimulus with a walk through forming part of the response. These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations which may have been generated from the past incident history of the plant, incidents on similar plants around the world, hazard analysis activities and similar sources.

Resource implications
Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Other assessment advice
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units. Consider co-assessment with relevant OPS units.

In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:
PMAOHS100A - Follow OHS procedures.

Essential knowledge
A demonstrated working knowledge and application of the company's specific work organisations and workflow would be highly regarded.

A person undertaking this unit must be able to demonstrate a knowledge of and application for test equipment typically used with electrical system repair or maintenance.

It is essential that a person be able to apply the underlying skills and knowledge contained within this competency across a range of electrical systems.

A person undertaking this unit of competency would also be required to demonstrate the knowledge and ability to:
test, repair, recommission and monitor the operational condition of electrical systems utilised within the pipeline industry
communicate and report the operational condition and history of electrical systems to other team members and company personnel
co-ordinate own and the work of others including on site contractors/operators.