The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation may be required to allow for assessment of parts of this unit. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include walk-throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of what-if scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk-throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

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

Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to develop and establish environmental management policies, systems and procedures in regard to managing sustainable business practices while encompassing environmental sustainability as an integral part of business planning.

Evidence must be strictly relevant to the particular management role and is not intended to include detailed technical aspects of environmental science.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:

communication/consultation skills to ensure all relevant groups and individuals are advised of what is occurring and are provided with an opportunity for input

conflict resolution skills to mediate, negotiate and/or attempt to obtain consensus between parties

planning and evaluation skills to develop policies and procedures

process analysis skills to identify potential environmental impacts and opportunities

problem solving skills to deal effectively with environmental impacts and opportunities as identified

ability to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and physical and mental abilities.

These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs as the stimulus with a walk-through forming part of the response. These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and extreme situations that may have been generated from the past incident history of the plant, incidents on similar plants around the world, hazard analysis activities (eg HAZOP) and similar sources.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Method of assessment

In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork units, communication units and units relevant to the process equipment.

In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant OHS units.

Guidance information for assessment

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

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

Required skills

communication/consultation skills

conflict resolution skills

planning and evaluation skills

process analysis skills

problem solving skills.

Required knowledge

The person must demonstrate understanding of specialised knowledge with depth in some areas.

Required knowledge is to be limited to that which is sufficient to perform the particular management function and is intended to promote environmental awareness rather than technical environmental competencies. These would include:

relevant legislation from all levels of government that effects business operation, especially in regard to OHS and environmental issues, EEO, industrial relations and anti-discrimination

concepts of policy development and business planning

relevant system analysis and design principles

performance benchmarking and indicator development relevant to the organisation's activities

environment sustainability as a 'whole system' approach

techniques to measure sustainability

quality systems

supply chain management

strategies to maximise opportunities

environment impact minimisation strategies

relevant knowledge of environmental issues, especially in regard to water catchments, air, noise, ecosystems, habitat, waste minimisation

relevant knowledge of ecological systems in regard to business operation.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Codes of practice/ standards

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.

Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Principle

The 'Triple Bottom Line' (TBL) principle is used as a framework for measuring and reporting corporate performance against economic, social and environmental parameters. It involves the focus of an enterprise being not just on the economic value they add, but also on the environmental and social value they can add.

Sustainable development

Sustainable development is defined as 'Development which meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs'. From a business perspective, sustainable development involves the integration of this objective with the need for business growth and expansion. Effective and innovative environmental management can contribute to business growth by reducing costs, differentiating goods and services and contributing to improved corporate image and staff relations.

Environmental performance

Environmental performance may be defined as the measure of an organisation's impact on the environment and their ability to manage and minimise negative impacts.

Legislation, codes and national standards

Legislation, codes and national standards relevant to the workplace which may include:

relevant Commonwealth and State Environment Acts

applicable State environmental regulations

licences and permit conditions

Codes of practice

Australian standards

environmental treaties and conventions

national environmental policies, strategies and initiatives such as the National Greenhouse Strategy, National Strategy for Ecologically Sustainable Development etc.

National Pollutant Inventory

State of the Environment Reports

Industry Association commitments (eg The Global Mining Initiative)

Environmental management policies must be:

relevant to the organisation's operations

appropriate to the scope and scale of the business.

Environmental Management Policies

Environmental management policies may include:

local, national and international innovations, programs and ideas

business sustainability

environmental load reduction

waste minimisation

tenders for the provision of goods and services that specify environmentally preferred selection criteria

protection of land and habitat

ecological considerations

regeneration of damaged ecosystems

media releases as a result of incidents

environmental reporting

communication strategies to ensure all stakeholders are informed of initiatives and to promote achievements to the wider community.

Knowledge of legislation, codes, national standards, industry codes of practice and workplace policies and procedures

Knowledge of legislation, codes, national standards, industry codes of practice and workplace policies and procedures must:

be strictly relevant to the particular workplace and is not intended to include detailed technical aspects of environmental science

details of legislation must be directly relevant to the workplace

be consistent with the concept that people at this level will be dealing with environmental concepts as part of an overall management responsibility and not as an environmental specialist.

Environmental improvement plans

Environmental improvement plans may be established at management level and may include:

measuring, monitoring and recording environmental performance and continually setting targets for measurable improvements

all aspects of environmental performance including energy and other resources use, waste minimisation, recycling, transport use.

Environmental sustainability

Environmental sustainability may be influenced by:

the organisational culture and operations

internal or external economic climate

political climate

market focus/considerations

environmental impacts of the business operation.

Stakeholders

Stakeholders may include:

board members, financial backers, owners

all members of the organisation, including management and staff members

suppliers

contractors

others acting on the organisation's behalf

customers

external individuals or bodies who may have an interest in or may be affected by the organisation.

Maximising opportunities

Maximising opportunities may involve:

improved environmental performance

increased efficiency

use of alternative energy sources

and may improve/enhance:

corporate image

staff morale

cost reduction

product differentiation/branding

identification of market potential.

Environmental impact

To minimise environmental impact may include the minimisation of:

waste/pollution

emissions/spills

use of resources, especially reduction of use of non-renewable resources.

Continuous improvement and innovation policies

Continuous improvement and innovation policies may include:

consistent reviewing activities in search of a better way

improving the organisation in all aspects of its operation

and may look at life cycle impacts of the organisation including:

activities and products are designed to minimise life cycle impacts and maximise opportunities

tendering and purchasing processes that include life cycle criteria

product design and manufacture

packaging policies

product use and disposal

vehicle policies that include use of cleaner fuels or alternative energy sources and regular servicing intervals to reduce pollution and improve efficiency.

Performance benchmarks

Performance benchmarks and targets may include:

best practice or industry codes for the industry/sector

levels of performance expected of organisation sectors and/or the organisation as a whole.

Health, safety and environment (HSE)

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State 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.