Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to monitor and control environmental hazards in the pulp and paper industry

General legislation, regulatory, licensing and certification requirements applicable to this unit are detailed in the range statement

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to operators who monitor and control environmental hazards in the pulp and paper industry. This work typically involves complex integrated equipment and continuous operations

This unit generally applies to those who:

• identify environmental hazards
• respond to environmental hazards
• liaise with internal and external bodies, and
• participate in the investigation of environmental incidents

to meet safety, quality and productivity requirements

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Identify environmental hazards

1.1. Identification of environmental hazards is completed within Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations, environmental and safe working requirements/practices, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), and housekeeping requirements

1.2. Environmental hazards are identified

1.3. Location and severity of hazard is assessed and communicated to appropriate personnel

1.4. Cause and/or source of environmental hazard is diagnosed

2. Respond to environmental hazards

2.1. Environmental hazards are responded to within OHS regulations, environmental and safe working requirements and/or practices, SOP, and housekeeping requirements

2.2. Environmental alarms are activated where appropriate

2.3. Environmental hazards are measured and controlled

2.4. Hazardous incidents are documented and reported

3. Liaise with internal and external bodies

3.1. Internal and external bodies are liaised with in accordance with OHS regulations, environmental and safe working requirements and/or practices, SOP, and housekeeping requirements

3.2. Relevant licensing authorities/bodies are identified and notified

3.3. Status of the environmental hazard is monitored and communicated with appropriate personnel on an on-going basis

4. Participate in the investigation of environmental incident

4.1. Participation in investigation of environmental incidents is completed within OHS regulations, environmental and safe working requirements/practices, SOP, and housekeeping requirements

4.2. Documentation and reports are completed

4.3. Investigations are undertaken

4.4. Findings are documented and reported

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• Uses required forms of communication in monitoring and controlling environmental hazards
• Communicates with appropriate internal and external bodies
• Reads and interprets required documentation, procedures and reports
• Takes emergency action associated with environmental hazard
• Interprets instruments, gauges and other recording equipment
• Accesses, navigates and enters computer-based information
• Identifies and actions problems within level of responsibility
• Identifies and investigates reasons for environmental hazard
• Maintains situational awareness in the work area
• Analyses and uses sensory information to adjust process to maintain safety, quality and productivity
• Uses electronic and other control systems to control equipment and processes as required

Required knowledge 

• Procedures, regulations and legislative requirements relevant to monitoring and controlling environmental hazards including OHS, environmental including relevant sustainability requirements/practices, SOP, isolation procedures, safe working requirements, risks and hazard identification and housekeeping
• Relevant forms of communication
• Basic problem-solving techniques consistent with level of responsibility
• Company procedures for identifying, recording and reporting environmental hazards
• Sensory information that indicates a deviation from standard operating parameters
• Sufficient knowledge of electronic and other control systems, operation and application to make appropriate adjustments, within level of responsibility

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence should be relevant to the work. It should satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include consideration of:

• the required knowledge and skills tailored to the needs of the specific workplace
• applicable OHS regulations, environmental and safe working requirements/practices, SOP and housekeeping requirements
• applicable aspects of the range statement
• practical workplace demonstration of skills in monitoring and controlling environmental hazards

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

A workplace assessment must be used to assess:

• the application of required knowledge on the job
• the application of skills on the job, over time and under a range of typical conditions that may be experienced in monitoring and controlling environmental hazards

Access to the full range of equipment involved in monitoring and controlling environmental hazards in a pulp or paper mill is required

Method of assessment 

A combination of assessment methods should be used. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• observation of applied skills and knowledge on the job
• workplace demonstrations via a mock-up or simulation that replicate part/s of the job
• answers to written or verbal questions about specific skills and knowledge
• third-party reports from relevant and skilled personnel
• written evidence e.g. log sheet entries, checklist entries, test results

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and in keeping with the language and literacy capacity of the learner and the work being performed. This includes conducting an assessment in a manner that allows thoughts to be conveyed verbally so that the learner can both understand and be understood by the assessor (e.g. use plain English and terminology used on the job)

A holistic assessment with other units relevant to the pulp and paper industry, mill and job role is recommended

Additional information on approaches to assessment for the pulp and paper industry is provided in the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package

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. 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) may also be included.

Indicative functions may include:

• monitoring of all physical sensors and instrumentation
• compliance with licensing arrangements

Equipment may include

• containment equipment
• personal protective equipment
• monitoring equipment
• computer systems
• electronic screens and alarms
• process control systems
• analogue and digital instrumentation
• fully automated, semi-automated, manually operated plant and equipment appropriate environmental monitoring

Emissions/discharges may include:

• noise
• light
• odour
• gas
• smoke
• vapour
• liquid and solids
• particulates
• fumes

Legislation, regulatory, licensing and certification requirements may include:

• OHS and environmental requirements (local, state and commonwealth)
• HAZCHEM
• dangerous goods handling requirements
• external licensing requirements (for example, Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), water authorities, local councils)
• internal environmental control standards

Documentation, procedures and reports may include:

• SOP
• quality procedures
• environmental sustainability requirements/practices
• plant manufacturing operating manuals
• enterprise policies and procedures
• oil or chemical spills and disposal guidelines
• plant isolation documentation
• safe work documentation e.g. plant clearance, job safety analysis, permit systems

Electronic control systems may include:

• Digital Control System (DCS)
• touch screens
• robotics

Actions may include:

• process adjustments
• reporting to authorised person
• rectifying problem within level of responsibility

Communications may include

interaction with:

• internal/external customers and suppliers
• team members
• production/service co-ordinators
• maintenance services
• operational support personnel
• operational management
• statutory authorities

Situational awareness may include

awareness of:

• traffic
• pedestrians
• location of equipment
• product
• hazards
• obstruction
• unexpected movement

Forms of communication may include:

• written e.g. log books, emails, incident and other reports, run sheets, data entry
• reading and interpreting documentation e.g. SOP, manuals, checklists, drawings
• verbal e.g. radio skills, telephone, face to face, handover
• non-verbal e.g. hand signals, alarms, observations
• signage e.g. safety, access

Sensory information may include:

• visual
• sound
• feel
• touch
• smell
• vibration
• temperature