Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:16 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.

Monitor and maintain instrument and control systems

Monitor and maintain instrument and control systems

Unit of competency
National Code
PMASUP341B
State Code
W8944
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
11/11/2010
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
18/12/2008
Field of Education
031313 - Electrical Fitting, Electrical Mechanics
Original Release Date
18/12/2008
Nominal Hours
40
Description
This competency covers the skills needed to monitor and maintain instrument/electrical systems used for process measurement and control of a process.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Monitor equipment operation
  • 1.1. Monitor equipment operation according to instrument/electrical equipment operating principles and parameters
  • 1.2. Access and interpret relevant technical drawings and schematics to determine system faults
  • 1.3. Issue permit to work to allow work to be undertaken
  • 1.4. Verify equipment operation/performance through test procedures to ensure correct operation and to confirm identified problems from other sources
  • 1.5. Correct operational variations through calibration and adjustment
  • 1.6. Document operational variations.
2. Test/repair equipment
  • 2.1. Verify equipment is operating correctly and document test results
  • 2.2. Apply appropriate troubleshooting techniques to determine the cause of operational faults
  • 2.3. Rectify operational faults through the application of relevant maintenance procedures
  • 2.4. Isolate, remove and dispose of faulty equipment, and install new equipment
  • 2.5. Verify the performance of newly installed equipment to ensure it meets required operational parameters and conditions
  • 2.6. Record all repairs/installations to provide historical records of the condition of system equipment.
3. Recommission systems and equipment
  • 3.1. Recommission repaired/installed equipment to on line operation in the correct sequence at the required operational parameters
  • 3.2. Monitor or activate systems to ensure they are operating both safely and effectively
  • 3.3. Close out permit to work and restore site/system to normal operation.
4. Compile and analyse reports
  • 4.1. Collect information concerning deviations/repaired equipment and put into accepted reporting format
  • 4.2. Compile reports ensuring they provide an accurate and ongoing record of deviations in pipeline processes and a current record of pipeline and equipment trends
  • 4.3. Utilise information or reports for short and long term deviation control planning.
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
Control systems for one or more of the following may be included:
compressor systems and equipment (compressors, monitoring systems, power supply systems, pumps, pumping systems and equipment, pressure vessels/filtration equipment, coolers, scrubbers, expanders, anti surge systems, safety systems and compressor control systems)
prime movers which may include turbine engines, reciprocating engines, electric motors (fuel and carburettion systems, ignition systems, lubrication systems, induction and exhaust systems, governing systems, power supply systems, safety and shutdown systems)
flow systems (piping systems, metering equipment, flow control equipment, pressure and temperature transmitters and transducers, telemetry equipment, PLCs, flow computers, electro-pneumatic process control equipment and their associated on-line analytical instrumentation such as gas chromatographs, moisture analysers, gas sampling and gas analysis equipment, pig)
valve systems (non-control valves, control and shut off valves, non-return or check valves and pressure relief valves, manual hand operated actuator, gas/hydraulic actuator and pneumatic valves).
Emergency responses
Emergency responses include:
leaks/loss of containment
fire
equipment failure
hazards and incidents.
Relevant personnel may include:
supervisors
maintenance personnel
organisation employees
contractors
government bodies.
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.
Reports
Reports may include:
routine inspections (daily readings, monthly checks)
scheduled maintenance activities
mandatory or statutory inspections
hazard and incident reports
quality assurance system requirements/reports.
Instrument/electrical systems may include:
process analysing systems, eg gas analysis
emergency shutdown systems
fire systems
pressure and temperature control systems
metering systems, eg orifice, turbine, positive displacement
telemetry and SCADA systems
communications systems
solar systems
utility systems.
Types of faults
Types of faults may include:
material leaks
electrical problems
compressor or pump failure
out of current inspection status
gauge failure or hose rupture/leaks
instruments out of calibration
non-flow of material
instruments and equipment requiring cleaning.
Test equipment
Test equipment and tools may include:
dead weight tester
transmission unit
ice point tester
decade box
multimeter
RTD calibrator
chart recorders
data logging equipment
hand tools
valves, actuators and flanges.
The use and operation of personal computers, other hardware mediums and associated software is required.
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.
Persons are required to have skills in hazard identification, assessment and application of control measures.
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. 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 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.
Also confirm that the person undertaking this competency has the ability to:
implement all OHS and environmental procedures relevant to this unit
apply the permit to work system within the context of this unit
interpret a range of process and control system drawings and schematics in order to undertake required or identified repairs/modifications to electrical systems.
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.

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. Consider co-assessment with relevant OPS units.
In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant OHS units.

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
C6048 PMASUP341A Monitor and maintain instrument and control systems Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AXM41 PMASUP341 Monitor and maintain instrument and control systems Unit of competency