Assessor Resource

PUADEFOH013B
Enter 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 plan and prepare to enter confined spaces, to enter the confined space and to finalise egress at the conclusion of the task/s.

An individual undertakes this competency as part of a team in conjunction with other individuals who also have this competency.

It is expected that one or more of the team members, or a team member not working in the confined space, will hold a current, recognised, first aid certificate.

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 over a range of confined space entries 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 the organisational legislation, codes of practice, guidance material, policies/procedures and relevant equipment required to support a confined space entry.

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

assess risks and apply effective risk control measures

communicate effectively

identify and report hazards

identify stored energy sources

operate any equipment pertinent to the confined space entry and task to be performed

work in a confined space

Required Knowledge

applicable organisational procedures and documents

appropriate signage and protective barriers

legislation, organisational policies and procedures relevant to confined spaces

risk assessment procedures

safety equipment operations

work methods analysis

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 and no escape route, 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 (CHT system)

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

Duration of and limitations on tasks may include

Climbing equipment or ladders

Lifelines

Limitations associated with either the task or the environment that require limited time to reduce the exposure risk, or are imposed because of equipment limitations (e.g. breathing apparatus limitations)

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

Working at heights

Slippery surfaces

Special clothing

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

Tasks may include

Any activity that is to be performed inside the confined space

Organisational policy and procedures may include

Any established contingency plan or any plan formed specifically to counter ill effects of any likely occurrence

Australian or international standards

Confined space entry permit/permits to work

Equipment manufacturers' specifications

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 space including legislation specific to confined space work

Lockout and isolation procedures

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)

Organisational policies and procedures

Risk assessments

Standing Operating Procedures (SOPs)

Task analysis

Equipment and resources may include

Detection/monitoring equipment such as used to detect gases, radiation

Equipment which is intrinsically safe

Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as safety helmets, eye protection, hearing protection, skin protection, belts, special boots

Ropes, lifelines, ladders, karabiners

Safety equipment such as breathing apparatus

Preparation of equipment and resources may include

Confined space work permit completed and issued

Forced ventilation set-up

Recharging air bottles

Occupational health and safety requirements pertain to all relevant OH&S legislation and include

General duty of care under OH&S legislation and common law

Provisions relating to health and safety representatives and/or OH&S committees

Provisions relating to OH&S issue resolution

State/territory/commonwealth OH&S Acts, regulations, codes of practice and guidance material relating to hazards present in the workplace and the industry

Preparing a confined space for entry may include

Cooling

Emptying

Heating

Installing appropriate signage and protective barriers

Isolation

Lockout

Ventilating

Pre-entry tests or checks may include

Testing confined space atmosphere

Testing equipment for safe operation (confidence testing) prescribed by manufacturer

Testing equipment for serviceability

Monitoring environmental conditions may include

Maintaining testing regime while in confined space, be it continuous or periodic, in accordance with entry plan and work permit

Monitoring in response to risk assessment

Monitoring in response to work being undertaken in the space

Maintaining communications may include

Continuous or periodic verbal and/or visual and/or electronic communication in accordance with work permit/entry plan

Emergency response procedures

Cleaning and refurbishing equipment may include

Decontamination procedures

Disposal of PPE

Drying harnesses, ropes and safety lines

Inspecting, servicing and cleaning equipment ready for re-use or storage

Recharging of batteries, air bottles, gas bottles

Documentation and reports may include

Equipment usage reports/logs

Reports to OH&S officer

Reports to tasking officer

Work permit completion after exit

Written reports required by organisation

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
Requirement for confined space entry is identified from work requests/instructions and is confirmed 
Duration of and limitations on the tasks to be performed in the confined space are identified in accordance with organisational procedures 
Organisational policy and procedures are reviewed to identify restrictions or requirements that apply to confined space entry 
Equipment and resources required for the confined space entry are identified, acquired and prepared in accordance with organisational procedures 
Occupational health and safety (OH&S) requirements including those contained in organisational procedures, are applied throughout the operation 
Confined space is prepared for entry in accordance with organisational procedures 
Team and individual roles and responsibilities within the team are confirmed and delegated in accordance with organisational procedures 
Pre-entry tests and checks are conducted in accordance with organisational and manufacturers' requirements 
Entry/egress points are identified in accordance with organisational procedures 
Environmental conditions are monitored in accordance with organisational procedures 
Communications are maintained in accordance with organisational procedures 
Equipment and resources are operated and used in accordance with manufacturers' requirements and organisational procedures 
Entry permit conditions are adhered to in accordance with organisational procedures 
All unexpected situations that require a quick and decisive response are recognised and responded to in accordance with organisational procedures 
Task/s for which confined space entry was required are conducted in accordance with organisational procedures 
Confined space is exited in accordance with organisational procedures 
Equipment is cleaned and refurbished in accordance with organisational procedures 
Documentation and reports are completed in accordance with organisational procedures 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUADEFOH013B - Enter 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

PUADEFOH013B - Enter 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: