Elements and Performance Criteria

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.


This competency is typically performed by all operators. It applies to all items in the plant area where the operator works.


Schematics have various names and includes:

P&IDs (piping and instrumentation diagrams)

PFDs (process flow diagrams)

PEFs (Process Engineering Flow)

cause and effect diagrams/matrix


Symbols and conventions used in the schematics for the relevant plant area should be used.


Minor equipment includes that equipment commonly described by size and type and includes:

pumps

values

strainers

It typically would


Plant preparation entails all that activity which may be required to render the plant safe for non-operational work (which is typically maintenance but may be other work) and includes:

isolations

blanking/spading/goggle blinding

draining

purging

blanketing

venting

ventilating

locating plant, equipment and services - above ground

locating below ground (or otherwise obscured) pipeline and services


Appropriate action includes:

determining problems needing action

determining possible fault causes

rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility

following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred

reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person.


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.


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.

Overview of assessment
Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment, using actual schematics, 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. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.
Simulation may be required to allow for assessment of parts of this unit. 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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to apply schematics to plant/process based situations.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
critical process/plant features can be identified from a schematic
main process features can be described using a schematic

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 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 technical/operations and communication units. Consider co-assessment with units covering:
fluid flow
measurements and readings
communication.
In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:

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.