Assessor Resource

NWP327A
Inspect and report on concrete dam safety

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit is required by operators with responsibility for the inspection of concrete dams and reporting of faults or trends.

This unit forms part of the skills set for:

Monitor and inspect concrete dams

This unit of competency describes the outcomes required to plan, implement and report on concrete and masonry dam safety inspection. This requires the operator to conduct routine visual inspection, capture and report dam condition and faults in dams. Dam safety operators should be aware of the damage potential of the dam and be able to recognise and report deficiencies, or adverse trends that could lead to failure.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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.

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

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to conduct and report on concrete dam safety inspection including:

interpreting and applying relevant organisational and regulatory information and requirements to the planning of safety monitoring activities

identifying inspection features and scheduling activities according to the required frequency

conducting concrete dam inspection activities

gathering and recording data

identifying faults, changes and failure indicators

reporting on inspection and monitoring outcomes, with recommendations for action.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Access to the workplace and resources including:

documents that should normally be available in dam workplaces

codes, standards, and government regulations applying to dam monitoring.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

a decision of competence should only be made when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence

where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time

assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning and or examination to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required skills:

follow instructions, standard operating procedures, policies and standards for concrete dam safety

plan and organise work schedules and responses to contingencies

communicate with engineering professionals, team members and the public on concrete dam safety using clear and direct communication and identifying and confirming monitoring requirements

record and report information and interpret a range of workplace documents

make mathematical calculations to collect and process data from dam inspections

identify concrete dam faults and failure indicators

assess the importance and urgency of deficiencies

collect and process concrete dam observation information

read and interpret plans, drawings and charts

produce inspection reports

identify safety hazards and implement safety protocols

use digital photography and equipment for determining location.

Required knowledge:

concrete dam types, elements, and failure modes

historic information and lessons from previous concrete dam incidents

properties of stored water

concrete dam design and construction principles, including basic:

materials science

hydraulics

aging of concrete

concrete technology

treatment of foundations, grouting and drainage systems

post tensioning principles

principles of gravity action

principles of arch action

principles of buttress action

principles of roller compacted concrete

uplift pressures and drainage systems

concrete dam faults and change indicators

dam performance history

principles of concrete dam inspection

occupational health and safety and personal work site safety in procedures and worksite specific requirements

organisational policies, procedures, guidelines and requirements relevant to the work site and dam safety monitoring.

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.

Organisational procedures and proformas will include:

Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) guidelines

dam monitoring templates and proformas

relevant regulator's technical bulletins

occupational health and safety information

operation and maintenance information and manuals

instrumentation records, plans and manuals

dam safety performance indicators

roles, responsibilities and delegations for instrumentation monitoring and action

security and storage of data

dam safety inspection manuals

past inspection reports design and construction reports, surveillance reports and risk assessments

prescribed surveillance schedules

incident management plans

data storage and security

state and local government requirements

Standard Operating Procedures

asset management plan.

Dam behaviour will include:

horizontal and vertical movement of concrete dams

leakage and seepage through drainage systems under a range of weather and storage content situations

structural movements expected during and post earthquakes

and may include:

vibration and water flow patterns.

Conditions may include:

climatic

geological

location

dimensions

catchment.

Assess will include:

analyse observations

make judgements of urgency and seriousness of problem

priorities for action.

Unusual events will include:

seismic events

floods

extreme inflows

rapid draw down

landslides and slips

dam incidents

sabotage/terrorist attack

fires

long term low storage levels.

Organisational and regulatory information will include:

Australian National Committee on Large Dams (ANCOLD) guidelines

past inspection reports, surveillance reports and risk assessments

survey information

relevant regulator's technical bulletins

occupational health and safety information

operation and maintenance manuals

dam performance history

dam safety performance indicators

dam safety inspection manuals

and may include:

design and modification plans and reports

construction records and reports.

Identified areas and features will include:

dam structure

concrete walls and structures

hydraulic structures

spillways/diversions systems

outlet works / intake structures

pipes/conduits

abutments and foundations

access to areas

reservoir perimeter and downstream areas

weirs and monitoring installations

tunnels, galleries and drainage systems.

and may include:

mechanical and electrical components including valves, winches, hydraulic and electrical systems

civil infrastructure including ladders, pipe work, and security

post tensioning anchors.

Inspection techniques and details will include:

visual observation and note taking

use of manual, electronic and/or computer equipment and digital camera

dam condition assessments

site security

site access

concrete dam safety emergency indicator reporting

landslides and environmental conditions

details of concrete dam sites to be inspected.

Faults and changes will include:

cracks (existing and new)

drain blockage

seepage/leakage

cavitation

foundation piping

misalignment/movement/instability

settlement

concrete deterioration

alkali aggregate reaction

concrete defects:

efflorescence

honeycombing

segregation

erosion

chemical attack

joint damage/deterioration

maintenance concerns including:

vegetation in joints or cracks

missing or damaged sealants and water bars

leaking or inoperative valves and gates

damaged monitoring instrumentation.

Evidence may include:

flood, rainfall and relevant weather information

incident details including seismic

inspection findings

location and extent of faults and changes

photographs

monitoring data.

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify and apply the relevant organisational procedures and proformas relating to concrete dam safety inspection. 
Identify features of concrete dam types and their applications relevant to the dams to be inspected. 
Identify concrete dam behaviour under a range of conditions. 
Assess information from checklists and previous inspection reports. 
Schedule activities and equipment for concrete dam inspection according to workplace requirements. 
Implement concrete dam inspection procedures and practices including for unusual events according to organisation and regulatory information. 
Inspect and assess the condition and performance of identified areas and features of the concrete dam. 
Recognise, record and assess any faults and changes in the condition of the concrete dam and its appurtenant structures. 
Compare observations with previous inspection reports. 
Collect and record evidence to establish the extent of changes in conditions. 
Prepare and submit inspection reports to meet organisational requirements. 
Report significant changes and deviations with recommendations for follow up action. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

NWP327A - Inspect and report on concrete dam safety
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

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Assessor name:

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Assessment Record Sheet

NWP327A - Inspect and report on concrete dam safety

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: