Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

1 )

1 .1 ) Descriptor 

This unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of attending to a breakdown in a hazardous area or of explosion-protected and associated equipment. It requires the ability to ascertain the nature of a breakdown, the extent of repairs required and the personnel needed to repair the breakdown.

This unit is directly equivalent to the Unit 2.3 Attend to breakdowns in hazardous areas in the Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 4761.1 Competencies for working with electrical equipment for hazardous areas (EEHA) Part 1: Competency Standards. Equivalence includes endorsement in the explosion-protection techniques listed in the Range statement of this unit.

Application of the Unit 

4 )

This unit augments other formally-acquired competencies in a relevant industry and shall be used only in conjunction such competencies and is intended to apply to plant/equipment service and maintenance job functions in the disciplines of electrical, instrumentation, communication or mechanics at AQF 3 or higher. It is suitable for employment-based programs under an approved contract of training.

1 .2 ) License to practice 

The skills and knowledge described in this unit require a license to practice in the workplace subject to regulations for undertaking of electrical work. Practice in workplace and during training is also subject to regulations directly related to occupational health and safety and where applicable contracts of training such as apprenticeships.

Prerequisite Unit(s) 

2)  

2.1) Competencies 

Granting competency in this unit shall be made after or concurrently with confirming competency in any one of the following units.

UEENEEM080A

Report on the integrity of explosion-protected equipment in a hazardous area

AND

Competencies in attending to breakdowns in general electrical or instrumentation equipment mechanical plant/equipment service and maintenance at least at AQF 3 or equivalent. Examples are (but not limited to):

UEENEEG005B

Verify compliance and functionality of general electrical installations

UEENEEI012B

Verify compliance and functionality of process control installations

MEM7.1B

Perform operational maintenance of machines/equipment

Employability Skills 

3 )

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged will assist in identifying Employability Skill requirements.

6 ) Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit

Performance criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1

Prepare to attend breakdown.

1.1

Nature of the breakdown is confirmed with appropriate personnel to establish the need to enter the hazardous area.

1.2

Maintenance records of equipment related to the reported breakdown are review for possible causes.

1.3

Safety to enter the hazardous area is established in accordance with established procedures and relevant clearance to do the work is obtained.

1.4

Testing devices and tools, anticipated as being needed for the work, are obtained and checked for correct operation and safety.

2

Evaluate extent of work.

2.1

OHS policies and procedures for working in a hazardous area are followed.

2.2

Extent of breakdown is evaluated and confirmed with appropriate personnel.

2.3

Other personnel required to determine cause and rectify breakdown is ascertained from available evidence and arrangements made for their attendance where applicable.

2.4

Extent of repair work is ascertained from available evidence and confirmed with appropriate personnel.

2.5

Limits of repair work that can be carried out in-situ are established with regards to explosion risk and in accordance with established procedures and requirements.

3

Arrange repair work.

3.1

Equipment is isolated in accordance with established procedures.

3.2

Circuits of equipment being withdrawn from service are terminated or isolated safely and in manner approved for the classification of the area.

3.3

Certification documentation for replacement equipment is sighted to ensure that it is identical with the equipment it replaces and is in accordance with the explosion-protection system design.

3.4

Repair work carried out in-situ is done in accordance with established procedures and requirements.

4

Confirm completion of work.

4.1

Explosion-protected equipment and systems are inspected and tested by appropriately qualified personnel after repairs are completed to ensure the integrity of the system.

4.2

Appropriate personnel are notified of the completion of the repair work and details are documented in accordance with established procedures and requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

7 ) This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired of safe working practices and attending to breakdowns in hazardous areas.

All knowledge and skills detailed in this unit should be contextualised to current industry practices and technologies.

The extent of the essential knowledge and associated skills (EKAS) required is given in Volume 2 - Part 2.2 EKAS. It forms an integral part of this unit.

2.22.2.2

Explosion-protection equipment Ex certification schemes

2.22.3

Flameproof (Ex'd') explosion-protection technique

2.22.4

Increased safety (Ex'e') explosion-protection technique

2.22.5

Non-sparking (Ex'n') explosion-protection technique

2.22.6

Intrinsic safety (Ex'i') explosion-protection technique

2.22.7

Pressurization (Ex'p') explosion-protection technique

2.22.8

Explosion-protection techniques for dusts

2.22.9

Common characteristics of explosion-protection techniques

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

9 ) This provides essential advice for assessment of the unit and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria and the range statement of the unit and the Training Package Assessment Guidelines.

The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this unit. It must be used in conjunction with all components parts of this unit and performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment 

9 .1 )

Longitudinal competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the industry-preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it is to include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accord with industry and regulatory policy.

Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.

The critical safety nature of working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material carries risk in deeming a person competent. Sources of evidence need to be 'rich' in nature to minimise error in judgment.

Activities associated with normal everyday work influence decisions about how/how much the data gathered will contribute to its 'richness'. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practised. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included for Assessors in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

9 .2 )

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites shall be met.

Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each element and associated performance criteria must be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the 'Assessment Guidelines - UEE07'. Evidence shall also comprise:

• A representative body of work performance demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:

• Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices, including the use of risk control measures as specified in the performance criteria and range statement
• Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the performance criteria and range statement
• Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in this unit. It may be required by some jurisdictions that RTOs provide a percentile graded result for the purpose of regulatory or licensing requirements.
• Demonstrate an appropriate level of skills enabling employment
• Conduct work observing the relevant Anti Discrimination legislation, regulations, polices and workplace procedures

• Demonstrated consistent performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:

• Attend to breakdowns in hazardous areas as described in 8) and including:

A

Following work permits and clearance procedures.

B

Monitoring hazards and following evacuation procedures.

C

Following plant and electrical isolation procedures.

D

Correctly evaluating extent of breakdowns.

E

Interpreting certification documentation in relation to repair and replacement.

F

Following established breakdown procedures.

G

Applying relevant contingency management skills.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

9 .3 )

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:

• OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.
• Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to undertake actual work as prescribed by this unit.

These should also be part of the formal learning/assessment environment.

Note:

Where simulation is considered a suitable strategy for assessment, conditions must be authentic and as far as possible reproduce and replicate the workplace and be consistent with the approved industry simulation policy.

The resources used for assessment should reflect current industry practices in relation to attending to breakdowns in hazardous areas.

Method of assessment 

9 .4 )

This unit shall be assessed by methods given in Volume 1, Part 3 'Assessment Guidelines'.

Note:

Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the Industry to which this unit applies. This requires assessment in a structured environment primarily intended for learning/assessment which incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units 

9 .5 )

For optimisation of training and assessment effort, competency development in this unit may be arranged concurrently with unit:

UEENEEM080A Report on the integrity of explosion-protected equipment in a hazardous area

Competency unit in attending to breakdowns in general electrical or instrumentation equipment mechanical plant/equipment service and maintenance at least at AQF 3 or equivalent chosen as a prerequisite.

RANGE STATEMENT 

8 ) This relates to the unit as a whole providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the performance criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

This unit shall be demonstrated in relation to classified dust hazardous area and all the following explosion-protection techniques:

• Intrinsic safety, (Ex 'i')
• Protection by enclosure-dusts, (Ex 't')
• Pressurization, (Ex 'p')

The following constants and variables included in the element/performance criteria in this unit are fully described in the Volume 2, Part 2.1.

2 .2 ) Literacy and numeracy skills 

Participants are best equipped to achieve competency in this unit if they have reading, writing and numeracy skills indicated by the following scales. Description of each scale is given in Volume 2, Part 3 'Literacy and Numeracy'

Reading

3

Writing

3

Numeracy

3

Competency Field 

5 )

Hazards