Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
Causes of shutdown may be:
planned
unplanned, or
emergency.

The shutdown may be:
shutdown 'to cold'
short shutdown to allow minor work
managing a plant trip and restart.

This competency also includes:
co-ordinating the shift team
implementing emergency procedures
using the permit to work system (for repairs required).

All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

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 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, as shutdowns may not occur with sufficient frequency or planning to allow for assessment. 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.

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.

In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:
PMAOHS200 - Participate in workplace safety procedures.

The person undertaking this competency is expected to be able to work under and manage situations of high pressure, in order to ensure the safe and efficient management of the control room production process and the safety of plant employees.

Essential knowledge
Demonstration of competence in this unit must include knowledge of the following:
architecture of the process/production systems
the plant
product specifications and tolerances
systems operating parameters
process control philosophies and strategies
the process
emergency shutdown procedures
physics, chemistry and mathematics relevant to the process
outside process knowledge and equipment operation,
as is relevant to the practical operation of equipment at that job level.