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Elements and Performance Criteria

Monitor flare system

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include

recognising conditions which indicate a problem

implementing enterprise procedures within time constraints and in a manner relevant to the correct use of the equipment

conveying information relevant to the operation clearly and effectively

maintaining appropriate levels of quality assurance

reading and numeracy to interpretcomplete workplace documents and technical information

Required knowledge

Required knowledge of flare system principles and typical problems to a level needed to monitor and operate flare systems includes

organisations procedures

duty of care obligations

hierarchy of control

communication protocols eg radio phone computer paper and permissions authorities

typical issues causing problems and the resolution of those problems

routine problems faults and their symptoms and the corrective action to be taken

knock onescalation potential

process materials likely to be flared and the conditions which will lead to flaring

function and troubleshooting for flare system

relevant environmental requirements

types of flare system equipment and their principles of operation and startupshutdown and reasons for the different types

flare system hazards

inert gas purging and flame out potential

relevant alarms causes and responses

significance of the exclusion zone

how the flare system is integrated into the operation of the plant

flare system purging requirements and methods

indicators and consequences of poor combustion as relevant

operations in abnormal conditions

environmental licence exceedance reporting

use of logs and routine reading

tripemergency system actions

pilotflare ignition systems

Evidence Required

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

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence include

monitoring flare systems

shutting downstarting up flare systems

recognising and solving flare system problems

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this competency will occur over a range of situations which will include typical disruptions to normal smooth operation This will require access to a plant over a period of time or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability Where safety lack of opportunity or significant cost is an issue an industrybased simulation may be employed to assist the process

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language competency and safety requirements of the site and consistent with workplace systems or procedures

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. 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.

Context	This competency includes all flare system components from the safety relief valve to the flare inclusive. It may include but is not limited to: elevated flare ground flare vents (sometimes called ‘cold flare’)
Flare system components	Flare system components may include but are not limited to: safety relief devices headers (warm/cold, high pressure/low pressure (HP/LP) and wet/dry) knock out drum flare tip (single point, multipoint and enclosed) stack seals pilot system blowers steam systems monitoring instrumentation recovery systems drains pumps pilot fuel/emergency fuel systems purge systems interlocks and other safety systems ignition systems liquid burners/systems, as relevant
Hazards	Flare system hazards may include but are not limited to: access and exclusion zone heat blow backs leaks/loss of containment (LOC) ineffective isolations inadequate ventilation air ingress liquid carryover high liquid levels in knock out pots/separation vessels contraction and expansion (cold vapours) dislodgement of burning coke noise cryogenic temperatures radiation liquid hammer
Visual inspection	Visual inspection may include but is not limited to: pilot flame condition burn pattern ice on header lines vessel levels damage or deterioration smoke density
Required actions	Required actions arising from an inspection may include but are not limited to: checking and adjusting pilot fuel/air ratio ensuring complete combustion finding and rectifying sources of liquid in header line draining/pumping out pots making a maintenance request environmental reporting
Prepare for shutdown	Prepare for shutdown may include but is not limited to: notification to other relevant plants/units of planned shutdown bringing standby flare on line isolation of system at appropriate points purging of systems shutting down relevant components
Prepare for start-up	Preparing for start-up may include but is not limited to: notification to other relevant plants/units of planned start-up checking integrity of components valves correctly lined up deisolating of system purging of system pilot fuel system ready
Abnormal conditions	Abnormal conditions may include but are not limited to: weather loss of pilot fuel loss of utilities flame out high flare system back pressure cross connection between dissimilar systems
Flare system problems	Flare system problems may include but are not limited to: iced lines high levels in pots/vessels smoke from flare flame out lack of header purge flow flash back inconsistent header composition blockage cold feed to warm header
Procedures	Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form. They may include but are not limited to: all work instructions standard operating procedures checklists formulas/recipes batch sheets temporary instructions any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice Procedures would be expected to comply with any relevant government regulations.
Logs and reports	Logs and reports may include: paper or electronic based verbal/radio reports reporting items found which require action
Appropriate action	Appropriate action includes but is not limited to: determining problems needing action accessing and applying relevant technical and plant data applying appropriate problem solving techniques to determine 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/ability to resolve to designated person
Health, safety and environment (HSE)	All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent HSE requirements, which may be imposed through state/territory 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.