Unit of competency
Modification History
Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to PMAOPS240B Store fluids in bulk
Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to store and transfer fluids to and from tanks. This is often called ‘operating a tank farm’.
Fluids are any materials which flow. They include materials which:
- are normally a liquid at ambient conditions
- are normally a gas at ambient conditions
- have been liquefied
- have been vapourised
- have been melted.
This unit of competency applies to plant technicians who are required to:
- identify the material and interpret any special handling or storage requirements, including dangerous or hazardous goods requirements, from the available information
- ensure that the destination for the liquid is appropriately prepared, has enough capacity and is correctly piped
- check that the liquids are being stored safely in tanks and that safety equipment and services are monitored
- transfer liquids
- respond to abnormal situations.
In a typical scenario the plant technician will manage a series of liquid storage vessels for raw materials, intermediate product and/or finished product. The plant technician will arrange for the unloading/loading of tanker trucks, and transfer of fluids between storage vessels and/or the process.
This unit of competency applies to an individual who may work alone although under routine direction and supervision. They may work as part of a team or group and will work in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator, as appropriate.
This unit does not require the operation of a central control panel.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Pre-requisite Unit
Nil
Competency Field
Operations
Unit Sector
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. |
Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
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1 |
Prepare for work |
1.1 |
Receive and give shift handover |
1.2 |
Identify work requirements |
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1.3 |
Identify and control hazards |
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1.4 |
Coordinate with appropriate personnel |
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1.5 |
Check for recent work undertaken on tank farm items |
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1.6 |
Note any outstanding/incomplete work |
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1.7 |
Check operational status of tank farm items |
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2 |
Prepare storage/loading facilities |
2.1 |
Ensure that products are being stored in the tank area to procedures |
2.2 |
Inspect storage and transfer facilities for leaks or damage and take any action specified in procedures |
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2.3 |
Check and test safety equipment and systems to verify their operational condition and status, and report all equipment faults in accordance with procedures |
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2.4 |
Confirm quantities and specifications of stored fluids in each tank |
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3 |
Transfer fluids to and from tanks |
3.1 |
Confirm tank capacities and identification and quality of current contents, and determine if these are being maintained within the agreed product requirements prior to transfer |
3.2 |
Check all valves are correctly lined up |
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3.3 |
Ensure all areas involved in the transfer are safe to allow transfer of fluids to occur |
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3.4 |
Inspect all transfer equipment before transfer, including lines, hoses, pumps, fittings, instruments and controls |
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3.5 |
Confirm that transfer destination has sufficient capacity for the transfer and take any action specified in procedures |
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3.6 |
Transfer liquids safely in accordance with procedures |
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3.7 |
Conduct cleaning, purging or draining after transfer is complete in accordance with procedures |
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3.8 |
Record transfer in accordance with procedures |
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4 |
Isolate and de-isolate plant |
4.1 |
Isolate tank farm plant items |
4.2 |
Make safe for required work |
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4.3 |
Check plant is ready to be returned to service |
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4.4 |
De-isolate and prepare plant item for return to service |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range of Conditions
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. |
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Regulatory framework |
The latest version of all legislation, regulations, industry codes of practice and Australian/international standards, or the version specified by the local regulatory authority, must be used, and include one or more of the following:
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment (HSE) requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory 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. |
Procedures |
All operations must be performed in accordance with relevant procedures. Procedures are written, verbal, visual, computer-based or in some other form, and include one or more of the following:
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Hazards |
Hazards include one or more of the following:
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Routine problems |
Routine problems must be resolved by applying known solutions. Routine problems are predictable and include one or more of the following:
Known solutions are drawn from one or more of the following:
Non-routine problems must be reported according to according to relevant procedures. |
Equipment |
This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations, which form part of the storage and loading system, including as appropriate to the facility, one or more of the following:
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Start up/shut down as required |
Start up/shut down as required includes the following:
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Unit Mapping Information
Release 1. Supersedes and is equivalent to PMAOPS240B Store fluids in bulk
Links
Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=9fc2cf53-e570-4e9f-ad6a-b228ffdb6875