Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the UEG Gas Industry Training Package.

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to respond to gas infrastructure emergencies and attend to first response requirements of a gas distribution or transmission emergency incident in accordance with relevant legislation, codes of practice, regulations and procedures. Incidents may include, but are not limited to, gas escapes, gas outages, security breaches, fires, injury and damage.

It includes assessing the extent of the situation and type of incident from the control centre, despatching staff to assess the site and make the area safe, as required, and reporting back to the control centre.

Staff on site are responsible for identifying sources of gas leaks; reporting back to the response/control centre; identifying and controlling potential ignition sources, ventilation/ evacuation from property; liaising with other authorities and emergency services; remaining on site and maintaining site safety until support arrives, as required.

This unit applies to gas distribution and transmission pipelines and facilities, and is subject to all work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (WHS/OHS) and duty of care requirements being met for the workplace.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Not applicable

Control Centre Discipline

Gas Industry

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Confirm emergency/ incident and prepare to respond  

1.1 

WHS/OHS, environmental and sustainable energy policies, procedures and measures are identified, obtained and applied

1.2 

Emergency/incident is confirmed with supervisory systems, supervisor/leader and other control centres in accordance with workplace procedures

1.3 

Incident response is discussed with relevant person/s to confirm the emergency response plan

1.4 

Relevant personnel are despatched to site, as required, to assess and report on details of the emergency or incident

1.5 

Hazards and WHS/OHS risks at the site are identified, assessed and prioritised and control measures, implemented and monitored in accordance with workplace procedures

1.6 

Relevant work permits and/or notifications are obtained, as required, to ensure the work is approved, recorded, coordinated and performed safely in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

1.7 

Supervisor, coordination centre, emergency authorities and land owners are communicated with regularly to confirm the emergency response in accordance with workplace procedures

2 

Respond to an emergency/incident 

2.1 

WHS/OHS risk control measures and policies and procedures are followed in accordance with workplace procedures

2.2 

Relevant emergency/incident information and actions are recorded and reported in accordance with workplace procedures

2.3 

Operating conditions of equipment, including temperatures, flow and pressures, are monitored to determine performance of equipment/pipeline and adjustments made in accordance with emergency response procedures

2.4 

Ongoing negotiations and communication with third parties concerning the pipeline threat are undertaken to ensure pipeline is monitored

2.5 

Communication with supervisor, coordination centre, emergency authorities and relevant stakeholders is undertaken and maintained in accordance with emergency requirements and workplace procedures

2.6 

Actions and directives from the coordination centre are applied to minimise threats to the public, pipeline, facilities and environment and to expedite control/reparation

2.7 

Non-routine events including emergency level being escalated are referred to authorised person/s for directions in accordance with emergency response procedures

3 

Hand over emergency/incident and complete relevant documentation 

3.1 

WHS/OHS risk control measures for work completion are followed

3.2 

Any incidents and injuries are reported to relevant person/s and followed up in accordance with requirements and workplace procedures

3.3 

Emergency/incident, including all reports, risk control measures and permit conditions are handed over to emergency/incident coordinator or relief response person in accordance with workplace procedures

3.4 

Work permit/s are completed and signed off in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

3.5 

Work completion documentation, records, reports and as installed/modified drawings are completed and provided to appropriate person/s in accordance with workplace procedures

3.6 

Debriefing is conducted with relevant person/s to discuss strengths and weaknesses of emergency/incident response in accordance with workplace procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the UEG Gas Industry Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to UEGNSG506A Respond to gas infrastructure emergencies.

Release 1. This is the first release of this unit of competency in the UEG Gas Industry Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two separate occasions and include:

• applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements, including:

• actioning and reporting accidents and incidents
• hazard identification and reporting
• implementing risk control measures

• applying and following instructions from coordination centre
• applying environmental and sustainable energy principles and practices
• applying relevant legislation, standards, regulations and codes of practice
• assessing the incident and recommending a safe working site/zone
• communicating with relevant stakeholders
• completing required documentation and reporting
• confirming emergency/incident and preparing to respond to an emergency
• dealing with unplanned events/situations in accordance with workplace procedures in a manner that minimises risk to personnel and equipment
• following emergency response procedures
• following workplace policies and procedures
• handing over emergency/incident to relevant person/s
• handing over to relevant person/s
• identifying and evaluating threats to the integrity of gas pipelines and work site
• investigating the incident and collecting evidence
• minimising threats to the public, pipeline, facilities and environment
• monitoring gas infrastructure performance
• obtaining relevant work permits/ authorisations
• participating in debrief
• responding to an emergency/incident
• reviewing incident investigation and collected evidence.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

• effective communication and liaison with relevant stakeholders, including:

• workplace colleagues, supervisors and managers
• relevant customers and suppliers
• regulatory bodies
• property/land owners (including traditional land owners) and tenants
• emergency response organisations
• repair coordinator or relief response person
• plant operators and contractors
• coordination centre, control centre and radio room

• emergency/incident control procedures for applicable enterprise/work site
• environmental and sustainable energy principles and practices
• escalation of emergency levels
• handover procedures
• hazards, risk assessments and control measures
• identify the nature of a situation and preliminary assessment
• operating conditions of equipment including temperatures, flow and pressures
• relevant legislation, industry standards, regulations and codes of practice
• relevant manufacturer specifications
• relevant permits and notifications required
• relevant safe work method statements (SWMS)/job safety assessments or risk mitigation processes
• relevant WHS/OHS legislated requirements
• relevant workplace documentation, report and records
• relevant workplace policies and procedures.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) currently used in industry
• applicable documentation, including workplace procedures, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.