Elements and Performance Criteria

Stream: Production Plant

Field: Operations

Equivalencies: This unit of competence is based on unit UTW NWS 060 A of the Water Industry Training Package.

Environmental impact is any change to the environment whether adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an enterprise's activities, products or services.

Specific project/site may include hydro storage dams, canals, rivers, spillways, drainage sites, workshops, waste disposal sites, power stations, maintenance sites.

Issues, which broad environmental plans and procedures may address, include, but are not restricted to:
national, state or local government; local government/regional development plans;
water resources; industry/cross industry; business/enterprise cultural, heritage;
conservation/flora/fauna; waste disposal; coastal protection; ground water protection;
irrigation; salination control; pollution/litter control; river/surface water systems;
chemical management; biological control i.e. blue green algae; corporate or enterprise

Environmental risks may include:
impact of mismanagement of chemicals; impact of mismanagement of biological agents; detrimental impact on limited water resources; spillage; waste disposal; detrimental impact on water catchment areas (urban and non-urban); detrimental impact on rivers, waterways and channels; unsatisfactory water and waste water treatment processes; unsatisfactory trade waste treatment and disposal processes; poor construction processes; planning deficiencies.

Environmental legislation may include:
relevant federal by-laws; relevant state/territory legislation; relevant local government by-laws; relevant government or quasi government policies and regulations.

Incidents of environmental impact may include:
emissions to air; releases to/of water; releases to land; vibration and noise; disposal of waste; contamination of land; impact on communities; destruction of habitat; use of energy sources; waste generation processes and technologies; impact on culturally significant sites; and may involve the implementation of emergency responses.

Environmental management documentation may include:
information on applicable environmental laws or other requirements; compliant records; training records; process information; process operational log books,; inspection, maintenance and calibration records; relevant contractor and supplier information; incident reports; information on emergency preparedness and response; records of significant environmental impacts; chain of custody and compliance records; audit results; management reviews.

Stakeholders may include:
the enterprise; government (all levels); industry - extractive, other utilities, manufacturing, etc.; community action groups; environmental conservation groups; land care groups; primary producers; the general community and individuals; ATSI groups

Critical Aspects of Evidence
Competency should be demonstrated in the critical aspects of:
relating environmental plans and procedures to the project/site; identifying environmental risks and impacts; integrating operational activities into reviews of environmental procedures; developing project/site procedures; applying environmental plans and procedures to the project/site; monitoring application of environmental plans and procedures; managing environmental incidents at the project/site.

Context of assessment
This unit of competence will be best assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions.
Assessment should also be conducted in conjunction with aspects of other core and technical competencies that are consistent with the work environment.

Interdependent assessment of unit
Nil

Underpinning Knowledge
May include a knowledge of:
relevant legislative requirements; standard operating procedures; environmental plans and procedures; sedimentation and erosion control; risk assessment procedures; rare and endangered plants; recording procedures; reporting procedures; monitoring procedures; identification of risks and impacts; consultation procedures; incident management procedures; potential environmental risks and incidents; disposal of dangerous and contaminated soils; environmental auditing; concepts of due diligence; principles of environmental protection; endangered species and habitat protection; environmental impact assessment; control procedures for environmental risks and incidents; waste management.

Underpinning skills
May include the ability to:
apply control procedures at environmental risks and incidents; access, interpret and apply relevant legislation and standard operating procedures; assess environmental risks at the specific project/site; apply environmental plans and procedures; develop local workplace environmental procedures; identify risks and impacts; apply consultation processes; manage environmental incidents; conduct environmental audits; apply due diligence; monitor specific project/site; identify possible cultural/heritage sites; identify potential pollutants; solve operational problems.