Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 8:03 AM AWST
23/07/2026 8:03 AM 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.
Transfer bulk fluids into/out of storage facility
Transfer bulk fluids into/out of storage facility
Unit of competency
National Code
PMAOPS307B
PMAOPS307B
State Code
W8870
W8870
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
28/05/2014
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
28/05/2014
Nominal Hours
50
Description
In a typical scenario involving land based tank farms or tankers at sea, the control room operator, from the main panel, will monitor and control the transfer of product into storage facilities including controlling product levels, flows, temperatures and pressures. The operations technician will also prepare and complete all necessary documentation for the control, transfer and calculation of product volumes.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for work.
- 1.1. Identify work requirements
- 1.2. Identify and control hazards
- 1.3. Coordinate with appropriate personnel
2. Prepare storage/transfer facilities
- 2.1. Manage products within the tank farm or at the platform in accordance with the site/enterprise's storage types, products and locations
- 2.2. Inspect storage or docking facilities for leaks or damage
- 2.3. Check and test safety systems to verify their operational condition and status, and report on all equipment faults
- 2.4. Conduct critical inspections of storage and tank farms (and ascertain seaworthiness of vessels at sea if required) ensuring areas are safe, clean and equipment can't be compromised by debris
- 2.5. Identify and report all equipment requiring maintenance, follow up to satisfactory conclusion.
3. Monitor storage facilities.
- 3.1. Confirm tank mixes, capacities and quality, and determine if these are being maintained within the agreed product requirements prior to transfer
- 3.2. Monitor gas detection/environmental/safety systems to ensure the storage area is a safe environment and that the safety of the area or vessel is not compromised
- 3.3. Communicate storage conditions to transfer or other personnel to inform them of the operational condition and status of the storage facilities or vessel.
4. Monitor load-out/transfer platform or facility as required.
- 4.1. Monitor load-out/transfer systems on the platform or in the terminal load-out/transfer area
- 4.2. Monitor gas detection/environmental/safety systems to ensure the load-out/transfer area is a safe environment
- 4.3. Inform appropriate personnel of the load-out/transfer area status, and conditions of the storage facilities.
5. Conduct load-out/transfer.
- 5.1. Communicate operational status to required personnel prior to loading
- 5.2. Ensure that all start-up permissives have been satisfied and product is ready for transfer
- 5.3. Set and adjust pump flow rates to keep within agreed capacities
- 5.4. Monitor loading pump performance to keep within stated operational ranges and vibration is in limits
- 5.5. Take and record product shipping/transfer samples as required.
6. Isolate and de-isolate plant.
- 6.1. Isolate plant
- 6.2. Make safe for required work
- 6.3. Check plant is ready to be returned to service
- 6.4. Prepare plant for return to service.
7. Resolve problems
- 7.1. Identify possible problems in equipment and process.
- 7.2. Determine problems needing action
- 7.3. Determine possible fault causes
- 7.4. Rectify problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility
- 7.5. Follow up items until resolved
- 7.6. Report problems outside area of responsibility to designated person.
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 if 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 items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the load-out and storage system. For your facility this may include (select relevant items):
tanks, such as concrete bunded storage tanks,atmospheric pressure tanks, floating roof tanks, temperature controlled tanks (heated, chilled, refrigerated)
vessels, eg pressure storage vessels
pumps, eg transfer and circulation pumps, stripping pumps
compressors, eg boil-off gas compressors
gauges
fire protection and deluge systems, eg flare system
gas detection systems and equipment
tank dipping and measurement equipment.
instrumentation.
Safety equipment
Safety equipment on site may include:
main fire pumps
jockey pumps
fire monitors
deluge systems
sub-surface foam injection
gas detection and reporting systems
fire detection and reporting systems
emergency shutdown systems
Products
Products may include hydrocarbons, oil, gas or bulk liquid chemicals/petrochemicals.
Problems
Typical problems for your facility may include:
insufficient/inappropriate storage for product/material
interruptions to loading through adverse weather conditions
product surging
control of temperature and pressure
variations in feed
vibration
tank capacities and space.
Start up shut down as required
Start up shut down as required includes:
start up and shut down to/from normal operating conditions
start up and shut down to/from isolated, cold, empty
all other conditions experienced on the plant.
ie from any condition to any condition experienced on the plant.
Appropriate action
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
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 if 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 items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the load-out and storage system. For your facility this may include (select relevant items):
tanks, such as concrete bunded storage tanks,atmospheric pressure tanks, floating roof tanks, temperature controlled tanks (heated, chilled, refrigerated)
vessels, eg pressure storage vessels
pumps, eg transfer and circulation pumps, stripping pumps
compressors, eg boil-off gas compressors
gauges
fire protection and deluge systems, eg flare system
gas detection systems and equipment
tank dipping and measurement equipment.
instrumentation.
Safety equipment
Safety equipment on site may include:
main fire pumps
jockey pumps
fire monitors
deluge systems
sub-surface foam injection
gas detection and reporting systems
fire detection and reporting systems
emergency shutdown systems
Products
Products may include hydrocarbons, oil, gas or bulk liquid chemicals/petrochemicals.
Problems
Typical problems for your facility may include:
insufficient/inappropriate storage for product/material
interruptions to loading through adverse weather conditions
product surging
control of temperature and pressure
variations in feed
vibration
tank capacities and space.
Start up shut down as required
Start up shut down as required includes:
start up and shut down to/from normal operating conditions
start up and shut down to/from isolated, cold, empty
all other conditions experienced on the plant.
ie from any condition to any condition experienced on the plant.
Appropriate action
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
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. 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 or platform 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.
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.
In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:
MSAPMOHS200A Work safely.
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. 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 or platform 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.
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.
In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:
MSAPMOHS200A Work safely.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| C5967 | PMAOPS307A | Transfer bulk fluids into/out of storage facility | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXN11 | PMAOPS307 | Transfer bulk fluids into/out of storage facility | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AWW7 | DEF32115 | Certificate III in Explosive Ordnance Manufacture | Qualification |
| J572 | PMA30113 | Certificate III in Process Plant Operations | Qualification |
| W516 | PMA30108 | Certificate III in Process Plant Operations | Qualification |
| J571 | PMA40113 | Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology | Qualification |
| W517 | PMA40108 | Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology | Qualification |
| AZF3 | RII30415 | Certificate III in Resource Processing | Qualification |
| J649 | RII30413 | Certificate III in Resource Processing | Qualification |
| AZB2 | RII20515 | Certificate II in Resource Processing | Qualification |
| J671 | RII20513 | Certificate II in Resource Processing | Qualification |