Assessor Resource

PUADEFOH012B
Identify confined space

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

This unit covers the competency required to identify actual or potential confined spaces prior to entering a confined space for work purposes.

The unit includes recognising actual and potential confined spaces in one's work environment and understanding the broad limitations they impose on work practices.

It also covers identifying potential occupational health and safety (OH&S) concerns and seeking further advice and/or applying appropriate/relevant procedures when dealing with OH&S issues.

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

Prerequisites

Prerequisite Unit/s

Nil

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.

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to observe and respond to changing circumstances and unusual situations in the workplace; to review relevant workplace documentation; to conduct a quality assurance check against previous recommendations; and to identify changes in workplace configurations.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated identifying a range of confined spaces that could be expected in the workplace.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to relevant legislation, codes of practice, guidance material, policies/procedures and relevant equipment (including PPE required to identify a confined space).

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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.

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

Required Skills

access, read, interpret and apply information on confined spaces

communicate effectively

identify and report hazards

implement workplace OH&S procedures relevant to the work being undertaken

Required Knowledge

appropriate signage, symbols, labels and warning devices

legislation, organisational polices and procedures relevant to confined spaces

location of applicable organisational procedures and documents

preferred order of ways to control OH&S risk - hierarchy of controls

rights and responsibilities of workplace parties under OH&S legislation

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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Confined spaces may include

Any compartment or area with limited opening for access either no escape route or very restricted means of escape, and with limited natural ventilation or an atmosphere containing more than 23.5% or less than 19.5% oxygen, and the capability of accumulating a toxic, flammable or explosive atmosphere, or of being flooded

Examples of confined spaces may include:

fuel tanks (diesoline, gasoline, kerosene, AVCAT) or any other liquid or gaseous fuel

water tanks (feed, fresh, ballast), void spaces, cofferdams, double bottoms/wing compartments, sewage

treatment tanks, combined holding tanks (CHT)

oil tanks (sludge oil, lubricating, hydraulic), cable lockers (anchor cable stowage)

open-topped spaces such as pits or degreasers, pipes, sewers, shafts, ducts and similar structures

boiler drums, steam turbine casing, main condensers, gas turbine rotor casing, piston engine enclosed

crankcase, main circulating water inlet and discharge pipes, pressure vessels

Personal protective equipment may include

Breathing apparatus

Gloves

Helmet

Protective clothing

Protective footwear

Nature of the possible work space and its characteristics may include

Biological hazards (viruses and bacteria, insects, snakes and vermin)

Characteristics of the environment/atmosphere and its potential impact on equipment or the health of a worker operating in that space

Electrical hazards

Environmental hazards

Noise

Presence of hazardous substances, flammable contaminants

Presence of materials which may result in engulfment, mechanical hazards (augers, agitators, conveyors)

Ignition hazards (sources of heat, static or friction, non intrinsically safe plant, welding and cutting, electronic equipment, activities such as grinding chipping and sandblasting)

Presence of unsafe oxygen levels

Radiation

Size of entry space, availability of exit route, size of space

Structure of the confined space and the limitations such a structure imposes on work practices

Assessing a possible work space for its potential to be a confined space may include

Continuous effective communication

Emergency response procedures

Hazards involved and associated risks involved with the actual method selected and equipment proposed to be used

Nature and inherent hazards of the confined space

Range of methods by which the work can be done

Work required to be undertaken including the need to enter the confined space

Provision of standby person/s where indicated by risk assessment

Revising risk assessments whenever there is evidence to indicate that they are no longer valid

Training and competence of the persons to undertake the work

Precautions to be taken in the presence of a harmful atmosphere may include

Appropriate signage warning of the dangers and special precautions to be taken when operating in that environment

Climbing equipment or ladders

Lifelines

Obstructions that limit access to or from areas within the confined space

Requirements for special breathing apparatus

Restrictions on activities that may be undertaken without specific action such as exhausting volatile gases before welding

Special clothing

Special equipment/clothing to counter slippery surfaces, protect exposed skin, hearing or sparks

Time limit on exposure necessitating rotation of personnel through confined space in order to complete the task that initiated the entry requirement

Other hazards and factors may include

Contaminants encountered such as in the manufacturing process, stored substances and their by-products and/or biological hazards such as bacteria, viruses, fungi

Excessive noise or other radiation levels when equipment is operated in the confined space environment or from adjacent activities

Falls, trips and slips

Inability to observe safe distance from some operating equipments

Inadequate lighting

Inappropriate manual handling

Restrictions on entry and egress which could also severely limit contingency planning

Restrictions on gas or electrical welding, use of pneumatic equipment

Restrictions on operating equipment in the confined space due to physical restrictions to the normal operation/manoeuvre of the equipment

Appropriate personnel/authority may include

OH&S representative

Supervisor

Confirming the safety of a possible work space includes confirming that the work space is either

Confirmed as not safe for work or

Confirmed as an actual confined space or

Confirmed as a potential confined space and monitored for any change in its status

Organisational instructions may include

Australian or international standards

Exposure standards

Job safety analysis (JSA)

Legislation, including state/territory/commonwealth

OH&S Acts, regulations, codes of practice and guidance material relating to hazards present in the workplace and industry, and associated with entry to confined spaces including legislation specific to confined space work

Manufacturers' specifications

Organisational policies and procedures

Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Task analysis

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
Personal protective equipment (PPE) required to identify a confined space is donned 
Nature of the possible work space and its characteristics are reviewed 
Possible work space is assessed for its potential to be a confined space 
Precautions to be taken in the presence of a harmful atmosphere are determined in accordance with legislative and organisational requirements 
Other hazards and factors associated with the possible work space are identified and assessed to determine the level of risk associated with that space 
Where uncertainty exists about the possible work space's confined space potential, identification is referred to appropriate personnel/authority for further investigation and analysis in accordance with organisational procedures 
Safety of possible work space is confirmed 
Organisational instructions are reviewed for the appropriate action in relation to work activities involving confined spaces 
Potential occupational health and safety (OH&S) issues are identified and documented 
Risk assessment is undertaken, documented and revised whenever there is evidence to indicate that it is no longer valid 
Broad limitations the confined space may impose on work practices are documented 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUADEFOH012B - Identify confined space
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

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

PUADEFOH012B - Identify confined space

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: