Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 9:37 PM AWST
22/07/2026 9:37 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.
Use advanced equipment operations for oil spill response
Use advanced equipment operations for oil spill response
Unit of competency
National Code
PUAOIL302
PUAOIL302
State Code
WE479
WE479
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
28/11/2012
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
28/11/2012
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This unit covers the competency required to safely deploy, operate, monitor and recover advanced oil spill response equipment.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Manage the safety of the operation
- 1.1 Identify hazards and risks for the site and equipment use through a job safety analysis.
- 1.2 Apply the hierarchy of controls to manage hazards and risks.
- 1.3 Select, use, maintain and store personal protective equipment in accordance with both occupational health and safety and material safety data sheet requirements.
2. Communicate effectively with work team and incident management team
- 2.1 Prepare site specific deployment plans based on the incident action plan (IAP).
- 2.2 Plan, prepare and present briefs and debriefs.
- 2.3 Maintain effective communication channels with all stakeholders involved in the deployment and recovery of oil spill response equipment.
- 2.4 Ensure response personnel are capable of deploying the equipment in a team environment.
3. Prepare equipment for use
- 3.1 Identify required equipment using the IAP and/or site-specific deployment plan.
- 3.2 Conduct routine pre-operational checks of equipment using manufacturer’s specifications and standard operating procedures.
- 3.3 Identify and segregate faulty equipment for repair or replacement.
- 3.4 Identify equipment requiring licensed operators.
4. Operate and/or deploy equipment
- 4.1 Use equipment according to state/NT/Commonwealth licensing requirements.
- 4.2 Operate and monitor equipment in accordance with manufacturer’s specifications, supervisor’s instructions and/or safe operating procedures (SOPs).
- 4.3 Carry out work in accordance with occupational health and safety requirements and the IAP.
- 4.4 Identify and record the use of consumables.
5. Monitor operations
- 5.1 Monitor, assess and re-assess the effectiveness of equipment and/or the recovery operation.
- 5.2 Identify, action and monitor environmental implications associated with the operation and maintenance of equipment.
- 5.3 Identify any changes to the response as a result of ongoing monitoring.
6. Check, clean and store equipment
- 6.1 Maintain records of equipment use in accordance with IAP, SOPs and/or the incident management system.
- 6.2 Clean, secure and store equipment in accordance with manufacturers specifications, maintenance manual, supervisor’s instructions and/or SOPs.
- 6.3 Report and take action on equipment malfunction, fault, wear or damage.
- 6.4 Maintain and clean the workplace in line with occupational health and safety requirements and the demobilisation plan.
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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Hazards may include:
manual handling
slips, trips and falls
noise
working around aircraft
working around / on vessels
chemical properties of oil:
combustibility
vapour
environment:
heat
cold
tides
current
isolation
cliffs/heights
heights
rocks
wildlife
confined spaces
vehicles
Risks may include:
fatigue
hearing loss
physical injury
equipment damage
poisoning
burns
respiratory problems
injection - hydraulic and pneumatic
chemical risks:
inhalation
ingestion
absorption
Hierarchy of controls may include:
elimination
substitution
modification
containment
ventilation
work practices
personal protection
Personal protective equipment as dictated by the material safety data sheets and the work environment may include:
personal flotation device (PFD)
hearing protection
boots (appropriate to conditions)
gloves (chemical and / or abrasive protection)
eye protection
respirators
disposable overalls
Briefs and debriefs may include:
can use SMEACS or similar format
SMEACS:
Situation - what has happened.
Mission - what you need to do about it.
Execution - how you are going to do it.
Administration & logistics - what you need to take action.
Command and communication - who else needs to be involved, who needs to know about it etc
Safety
Communication may be by:
briefings
reports
sitreps
logs
incident forms / records
incident action plans
site specific deployment plans
discussion
verbal directions
hand signals
information board
using:
landline phone
mobile
computer
marine radio (VHF)
uhf
satellite phone
pager
facsimile
Stakeholders may include:
incident management team
aircraft operators
marine vessel operators and crew
logistics officers
media
public
traditional owners
government
businesses
team members
Oil spill response equipment may include:
containment:
boom inflatable - plus v sweep boom
recovery:
heavy oil transfer pump (and ancillary equipment)
oil recovery vessels
active skimmers
disk / drum skimmers
rope mops
storage:
towable storage bladder
other:
dispersant spray bucket and transfer pumps
shoreline flushing pump
marine radio (UHF, VHF)
correct use of sorbents
Pre-operational checks may include:
equipment ‘in-test’ tagged and tested - electrical, slings, hoses
maintenance checks
pre-start and stop
safety checklist
fuels, fuel lines and oil
battery electrolyte levels, wheels and tyre pressure
air filters
safety guards
safety signs and barricades
Standard operational procedures
procedures identifying safe and effective work method statements
Licensing requirements may include:
state, territory and commonwealth legislation must be checked for high risk work and relevant licenses:
dogging
crane and hoist operation
forklift
confined spaces
27 mhz and vhf marine radio equipment
Environmental implications may include:
secondary contamination (decontamination station)
waste (hot and cold zones)
sensitive areas
wildlife habitat
flora
Hazards may include:
manual handling
slips, trips and falls
noise
working around aircraft
working around / on vessels
chemical properties of oil:
combustibility
vapour
environment:
heat
cold
tides
current
isolation
cliffs/heights
heights
rocks
wildlife
confined spaces
vehicles
Risks may include:
fatigue
hearing loss
physical injury
equipment damage
poisoning
burns
respiratory problems
injection - hydraulic and pneumatic
chemical risks:
inhalation
ingestion
absorption
Hierarchy of controls may include:
elimination
substitution
modification
containment
ventilation
work practices
personal protection
Personal protective equipment as dictated by the material safety data sheets and the work environment may include:
personal flotation device (PFD)
hearing protection
boots (appropriate to conditions)
gloves (chemical and / or abrasive protection)
eye protection
respirators
disposable overalls
Briefs and debriefs may include:
can use SMEACS or similar format
SMEACS:
Situation - what has happened.
Mission - what you need to do about it.
Execution - how you are going to do it.
Administration & logistics - what you need to take action.
Command and communication - who else needs to be involved, who needs to know about it etc
Safety
Communication may be by:
briefings
reports
sitreps
logs
incident forms / records
incident action plans
site specific deployment plans
discussion
verbal directions
hand signals
information board
using:
landline phone
mobile
computer
marine radio (VHF)
uhf
satellite phone
pager
facsimile
Stakeholders may include:
incident management team
aircraft operators
marine vessel operators and crew
logistics officers
media
public
traditional owners
government
businesses
team members
Oil spill response equipment may include:
containment:
boom inflatable - plus v sweep boom
recovery:
heavy oil transfer pump (and ancillary equipment)
oil recovery vessels
active skimmers
disk / drum skimmers
rope mops
storage:
towable storage bladder
other:
dispersant spray bucket and transfer pumps
shoreline flushing pump
marine radio (UHF, VHF)
correct use of sorbents
Pre-operational checks may include:
equipment ‘in-test’ tagged and tested - electrical, slings, hoses
maintenance checks
pre-start and stop
safety checklist
fuels, fuel lines and oil
battery electrolyte levels, wheels and tyre pressure
air filters
safety guards
safety signs and barricades
Standard operational procedures
procedures identifying safe and effective work method statements
Licensing requirements may include:
state, territory and commonwealth legislation must be checked for high risk work and relevant licenses:
dogging
crane and hoist operation
forklift
confined spaces
27 mhz and vhf marine radio equipment
Environmental implications may include:
secondary contamination (decontamination station)
waste (hot and cold zones)
sensitive areas
wildlife habitat
flora
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
demonstrate the safe deployment and operation of equipment to contain, recover and store oil
ensure safety and hazard control procedures are implemented
identify hazardous situations that may arise and take appropriate action
communicate effectively with others involved in the response
monitor and reassess situations to ensure the best possible response according to environmental conditions
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency should be assessed in a simulated response environment or in an operational situation. It is suggested that Apply basic equipment operation be assessed either prior or with this unit.
Method of assessment
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an approved simulated environment.
Forms of assessment may include:
direct observation
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
case studies
Guidance information for assessment
Where possible assessment should be completed holistically and may be assessed with other relevant units of competence For example may be assessed with PUAOIL201 Use basic equipment operations for oil spill response.
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
demonstrate the safe deployment and operation of equipment to contain, recover and store oil
ensure safety and hazard control procedures are implemented
identify hazardous situations that may arise and take appropriate action
communicate effectively with others involved in the response
monitor and reassess situations to ensure the best possible response according to environmental conditions
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency should be assessed in a simulated response environment or in an operational situation. It is suggested that Apply basic equipment operation be assessed either prior or with this unit.
Method of assessment
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an approved simulated environment.
Forms of assessment may include:
direct observation
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
case studies
Guidance information for assessment
Where possible assessment should be completed holistically and may be assessed with other relevant units of competence For example may be assessed with PUAOIL201 Use basic equipment operations for oil spill response.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAY18 | PUAOIL304 | Use advanced equipment operations for oil spill response | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC305 | PUASS00039 | Oil Spill Responder | Skill set |