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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for work
   • Identify work requirements
   • Identify and control hazards
   • Coordinate with appropriate personnel
2. Interface with the control panel
   • Monitor the process using the operator interfaces and keep appropriate personnel informed on developments
   • Select appropriate controller modes to ensure the effective control of the process
   • Undertake required set point/output changes to optimise plant and process requirements
   • Access historical data and information
   • Acknowledge messages and alarms.
3. Control the process using the local control system
   • Obtain relevant data and information from the control system by applying systems knowledge
   • Identify the status of individual pieces of equipment from the control panel and use information to identify potential faults
   • Interpret alarms and prioritise steps to ensure control of system is maintained
   • Minimise fluctuations and variations in process through the interpretation of existing trends and control schematics
   • Make required set point/output changes to meet plant and process requirements
   • Take other appropriate action as required
   • Record process variations/irregularities in accordance with procedures.
4. Facilitate planned and unplanned process start-ups and shutdowns
   • Respond to all alarms and take appropriate action
   • Maintain coordination with all outside services and operations in order to assist in the correct identification and reporting of faults
   • Conduct planned start-up and shutdown processes to procedures
   • Conduct unplanned start-up and shutdown processes to procedures
   • Communicate with all operational areas and personnel affected by unplanned events to ensure safety is maintained during the process
   • Implement all required and stated emergency responses and ensure the outcomes of these responses are communicated to all affected areas
   • Log all required information for further action to provide a historical record of all events.

Required Skills

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

Required skills

Competence includes the ability to distinguish between causes of problemsalarmsfault indications such as instrument failuremalfunction electrical failuremalfunction mechanical failuremalfunction equipment design deficiencies product parameters temperature flows pressure and levels An ability to communicate with other work groups and personnel during the operation and monitoring of this equipment is considered an essential element of this unit of competency

Required knowledge

Competence includes an understanding of underpinning knowledge Demonstration of competence in this unit must include knowledge of all items on a schematic of the controller and the function of each principles of operation and location of the processproduction equipment specific plant process operations product specifications and tolerances systems operating parameters basis of control for the process emergency shutdown procedures process specific physics chemistry and mathematics process drawings eg PampID PFD cause and effect instrumentation and control systems eg relevant primary sensing devices final control elements transducerstransmitters simple control loops including PID control set points controlled variable indicated variable effective communication techniques

Evidence Required

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 for this unit of competency will be on a local control system Assessment of this unit should demonstrate 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 process control system and will include walkthroughs of the relevant competency components Simulations may also include the use of case studiesscenarios role plays and D virtual reality interactive systems This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of whatif scenarios both on the plant during demonstration of normal operations and walkthroughs 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 recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate responses The emphasis should be on the ability to stay out of trouble rather than on recovery from a disaster Consistent performance should be demonstrated In particular look to see that early warning signs of equipmentprocesses needing attention or with potential problems are recognised the range of possible causes can be identified and analysed and the most likely cause determined appropriate action is taken to ensure a timely return to full performance obvious problems in related plant areas are recognised and an appropriate contribution made to their solution These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarioscase studieswhatifs as the stimulus with a walkthrough forming part of the response These assessment activities should include a range of problems including new unusual and improbable situations which may have been generated from the past incident history of the plant incidents on similar plants around the world hazard analysis activities and similar sources
Context of and specific resources for assessment	Assessment will require access to a process control system over an extended period of time or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations A bank of scenarioscase studieswhatifs 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 and communication units Consider coassessment with appropriate operations competencies for the unit of plant In a major hazard facility it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with MSAOHSA Work safely MSAOHS200A Work safely
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

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Range Statement

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.
Context	This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations, which form part of the production/processing system. For your local control system this may include (select relevant items): plant items requiring only simple control programmable logic controllers (PLCs) hard wired control and alarm panels analogue control systems personal computers printers fire and gas detection/protection systems emergency shutdown systems communications systems. Typical problems for your plant may include: variation/loss of feed unstable control of pressure, temperature level and flows control equipment failure process plant trips change in atmospheric conditions (rain, temperature, wind, lightning) emergency situations loss of power/utilities.
Appropriate action	Appropriate action includes: determining problems needing action determining possible fault causes rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person.
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.

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