Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 6:02 PM AWST
22/07/2026 6:02 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Plan plant shutdown
Plan plant shutdown
Unit of competency
National Code
PMAOPS521C
PMAOPS521C
State Code
W8899
W8899
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
18/12/2008
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
18/12/2008
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This competency covers the planning of work to be done in a plant shutdown or outage, eg maintenance or inspection shutdown of a plant.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Identify maintenance/project and plant requirements.
- 1.1. Analyse relevant company records to determine activities which have been scheduled for the shutdown
- 1.2. Obtain information on maintenance activities intended for the shutdown
- 1.3. Obtain information on production activities intended for the shutdown
- 1.4. Obtain information on projects or construction activities intended for the shutdown
- 1.5. Compile a list of all activities intended for the shutdown, including sufficient detail to allow for shutdown planning
- 1.6. Negotiate conflicts between proposed activities.
2. Identify tasks, timelines and resources.
- 2.1. Break down each agreed shutdown activity into required tasks
- 2.2. Determine time, people, material, other resources required and 'owner' for each task
- 2.3. Determine prerequisite tasks for each task
- 2.4. Identify conflicts between tasks arising from resources or other causes
- 2.5. Negotiate conflicts between tasks
- 2.6. Compile database of all tasks and their requirements.
3. Develop schedule.
- 3.1. Develop draft shutdown schedule (including planning activities)
- 3.2. Determine critical path for shutdown tasks
- 3.3. Analyse tasks on critical path to determine methods of reducing critical path
- 3.4. Develop revised schedule
- 3.5. Consult with all relevant stakeholders and analyse revised schedule for conflicts and possible savings
- 3.6. Negotiate conflicts
- 3.7. Develop final schedule and critical path.
4. Communicate with all relevant stakeholders.
- 4.1. Contribute to shutdown planning meetings with stakeholders.
- 4.2. Meet with stakeholders individually
- 4.3. Prepare reports and documents as required
- 4.4. Ensure all permissions required for tasks have been obtained
- 4.5. Liaise with suppliers and contractors to obtain parts, materials and services.
5. Monitor shutdown.
- 5.1. Establish systems to allow monitoring of shutdown to schedule
- 5.2. Monitor progress to schedule
- 5.3. Identify causes of not meeting schedule
- 5.4. Negotiate a solution to cause
- 5.5. Adjust schedule to meet changed circumstances but still meet overall timeline (if at all possible).
RANGE STATEMENT
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Codes of practice/ standards
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.
Context
This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which are covered by the shutdown. Where only a plant area is being shut (or one plant in an integrated complex), it also includes the impact of the shut on those areas still operating.
Databases may be:
electronic databases (such as Access, DB, Oracle)
other electronic forms (such as spread sheets)
card files
other paper based systems
Scheduling may include:
electronic project planning tools (such as MS Project)
other specialised planning software
paper techniques
Procedures
Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form. They include:
all work instructions
standard operating procedures
formulas/recipes
batch sheets
temporary instructions
any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant.
For the purposes of this Training Package, 'procedures' also includes good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (eg Responsible Care) and government regulations.
Health, safety and environment (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.
The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Codes of practice/ standards
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.
Context
This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which are covered by the shutdown. Where only a plant area is being shut (or one plant in an integrated complex), it also includes the impact of the shut on those areas still operating.
Databases may be:
electronic databases (such as Access, DB, Oracle)
other electronic forms (such as spread sheets)
card files
other paper based systems
Scheduling may include:
electronic project planning tools (such as MS Project)
other specialised planning software
paper techniques
Procedures
Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form. They include:
all work instructions
standard operating procedures
formulas/recipes
batch sheets
temporary instructions
any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant.
For the purposes of this Training Package, 'procedures' also includes good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (eg Responsible Care) and government regulations.
Health, safety and environment (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.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. 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.
Typically this unit will be assessed by a shutdown planning project. It may not be appropriate to wait until the shutdown planning is completed as it may be desirable to test for competence before taking a major role in a shutdown. In this case a simulation should be used.
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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to undertake a structured analysis of the activities to be completed during the shutdown and then undertaking the planning in a systematic manner.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
the plan minimizes the time of the shutdown
required activities/tasks are actively sought, broken into their components and scheduled
plant drawings (eg P&IDs) and engineering specifications are interpreted correctly
priorities for action consider all relevant factors.
This will typically be assessed by a major shutdown project on an operating plant. One complex project, or a number of simple projects, is required to demonstrate competence. As shutdown planning is usually a team activity, it is appropriate to assess the technician while they undertake this activity as part of the team, provided competence in all aspects can be demonstrated.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
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.
Method of assessment
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units.
It may be appropriate to co-assess this unit with
PMASUP410B Develop plant documentation
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. 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.
Typically this unit will be assessed by a shutdown planning project. It may not be appropriate to wait until the shutdown planning is completed as it may be desirable to test for competence before taking a major role in a shutdown. In this case a simulation should be used.
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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to undertake a structured analysis of the activities to be completed during the shutdown and then undertaking the planning in a systematic manner.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
the plan minimizes the time of the shutdown
required activities/tasks are actively sought, broken into their components and scheduled
plant drawings (eg P&IDs) and engineering specifications are interpreted correctly
priorities for action consider all relevant factors.
This will typically be assessed by a major shutdown project on an operating plant. One complex project, or a number of simple projects, is required to demonstrate competence. As shutdown planning is usually a team activity, it is appropriate to assess the technician while they undertake this activity as part of the team, provided competence in all aspects can be demonstrated.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
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.
Method of assessment
In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units.
It may be appropriate to co-assess this unit with
PMASUP410B Develop plant documentation
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| C7823 | PMAOPS521B | Plan plant shut down | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXM72 | PMAOPS521 | Plan plant shutdown | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| W751 | PMC50110 | Diploma of Manufactured Mineral Products | Qualification |
| W752 | PMC60110 | Advanced Diploma of Manufactured Mineral Products | Qualification |
| W519 | PMA60108 | Advanced Diploma of Process Plant Technology | Qualification |
| W518 | PMA50108 | Diploma of Process Plant Technology | Qualification |