Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
This competency includes all of the interactions necessary to plan, implement and complete a pipeline project, including the following aspects.

Provision of legislative requirements and information:
OHS laws and codes of practice
guidelines for preparation and submission of safety cases
pipeline licenses
environmental statutes and standards.

Authorities may include:
Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)
Department of Primary Industry and Energy (DOPIE)
Departments of Minerals and Energy - State and Territory
Worksafe.

Inspection and testing techniques may include:
hydrostatic testing
magnetic particle inspection
radiography
ultrasonic inspection
dye penetrant inspection.

Repair/modification techniques may include:
hot tap and stoppling operations
welding and cutting operations.

Reports may include:
budget updates
hazard and incident reports
safety statistics report
project schedule progress report
materials and spares listings.

Applicable Australian standards may include:
AS 2885
AS 4041
AS 3000.

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

Plans and drawings may include:
pipeline alignment drawings
process and instrument drawings
workshop fabrication drawings.

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.

Assessment context and methods
Assessment for this unit of competency will be using a pipeline project. Where it is not appropriate to use an actual pipeline project, then a simulated project may be used. 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 parts of this unit of competency (e.g. elements 4 and 5). Simulation should be based on an actual project 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 items 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 plan.

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 a project 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:
PMASUP242A - Monitor pipeline civil works
PMAOHS300A - Implement & monitor OHS policies & procedures for a workgroup
PMASUP241A - Maintain pipeline easements.

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

A demonstrated knowledge of process and pipeline equipment is essential in underpinning a person's competency in this unit including:
architecture of pipeline systems and facilities
pipeline operations knowledge
pipeline system operating parameters
quality assurance systems and plans
emergency response plans and procedures.

The ability to co-ordinate project activities and report on project status would be considered as a critical component of this unit.