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Follow the links below to find material targeted to the unit's elements, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge

Required Skills

Required skills include

Ability to

read and interpret technical documentation and drawingsgraphics

interpret material safety data sheets MSDS

use appropriate risk assessment toolsrisk effect matrices

calculate vessel inventory

calculate purgingventilation times

calculate required volumes for purging

calculate required times for ventilation eg to achieve a specified number of turnsvolumes

Required knowledge includes

Knowledge of

work control system for site and organisation

regulations and other external controls relevant to the proposed work

isolation philosophy or organisation

hierarchy of isolations

fluid hydraulics as applied to draining and purging of vessels

types of purging and ventilation media and their uses and limitations

methods and equipment used for purging and ventilation

physical properties of process materials eg density and viscosity

hazardous properties of relevant materials eg process purging and ventilation materials

as low as reasonably practicable ALARP concept and methods of achieving it

vessel chilling causes and controls

appropriate rates of change for pressure and temperature for vessels and other plant

organisations authorisation procedures

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

Overview of assessment

This unit should be assessed as holistically as is practical and will generally be assessed using a workplace project as a significant assessment activity

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

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the ability to

develop an appropriate isolation philosophy for the work on a significant item of equipment or plant area

manage relevant hazards

develop an appropriate plan for the required isolations and preparation

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of performance must be undertaken in a workplace

Access may be required to

workplace procedures and plans relevant to work area

specifications and documentation relating to planned work

documentation relating to the plant process and materials

any other materials which would normally be available in the workplace while conducting this activity

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

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. 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.

Isolation

Isolation is a process for ensuring no energy or material can enter the isolated area

Preparation

Preparation is a process for ensuring that plant and equipment is in a safe and appropriate condition for the required work. Preparation may include, but is not limited to:

draining

purging

inerting

decontaminating

cleaning

ventilating

controlling atmosphere (e.g. to ensure it is breathable, and is not within the flammable range)

adjusting temperature to make a workable environment

adjusting pressure (usually to atmospheric)

ensuring adequate access and egress

Scope of work

Scope of work includes, but may not be limited to:

what work is to be done

where the work will be done

who will be doing the work

when the work needs to be done

why the work is to be done

how the work will be undertaken (tools and techniques)

frequency with which this work is/will be required

duration of work (from beginning of shutdown to back to normal operations)

Relevant isolation philosophy/ strategy

Relevant isolation philosophy/strategy will normally be that of the organisation for which the isolations are being done although they could include regulatory or similar requirements and may include, but are not limited to:

types of isolations allowed (e.g. positive, double block and bleed), removal of item (e.g. fuse and spool piece), and single block isolations

lock out/tag out

preparation strategies

types of equipment to be used

purging or other preparation fluids/techniques

Strategy will be consistent with relevant external standards, such as:

Government of Western Australia, Department of Commerce, Guidance note – Isolation of plant, 2010

National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) requirements

Major Hazard Facility (MHF) Licence to Operate

Hazards

Hazards will include:

hazards to people, environment and plant

other hazards as relevant to the organisation/facility

Implications of isolation

Implications of isolation apply to both the area of the work as well as upstream and downstream implications and may include, but are not limited to:

upstream and downstream process implications

ability to prepare plant once isolated

integrity of plant once isolated and prepared

Controlling releases

Controlling releases to the environment may include, but is not limited to:

preventing any release

containing any release

recovery and reuse or disposal of any release

Physical limits of plant

Physical limits of plant may include, but are not limited to:

temperature/pressure limits of plant and equipment

limits on rates of change of temperature/pressure

suitable steam pressures/temperatures

Strategies for isolation and preparation

Strategies for isolation and preparation may include, but are not limited to:

sequence of isolations and preparations

type of isolation, based on hierarchy of isolations

type of preparations to be used

Hierarchy of isolations

Isolations may be categorised according to a hierarchy of:

positive

proven

unproven

Estimating preparation durations

Estimating preparation durations may include, but is not limited to:

determining inventory in plant to be drained/purged

establishing safe rates of change, such as:

pressurisation

depressurisation

draining

flushing

cooling

heating

calculating required volumes and pressures of flushing/purging venting materials

calculating the time required to drain, flush, purge, depressure, pressure, cool and heat

Isolation procedure

Isolation procedure may include, but is not limited to:

isolation processes

isolation list

multiple isolations

temporary lifting of isolations, when and if required

interlocks

and will include consideration of:

isolation alternatives

conflicts of isolation

Verifying procedures

Verifying procedures may include, but is not limited to:

checking existing documents which have been used are accurate, current and complete

checking planned isolation points do exist, are accessible, and are suitable for the isolation planned

having a history of providing the isolation desired

Relevant drawings

Relevant drawings may include, but are not limited to:

piping and instrumentation diagrams (P&IDs)

process flow diagrams (PFDs)

process flow sheets (PFSs)

process engineering flow sheets (PEFs)

Required prework

Required prework may include, but is not limited to:

scaffolding

building up/depletion of inventories/work in progress (WIP)

obtaining of supplies

identification tags

lock out kits

Competencies required

Competencies required for isolation and preparation may include, but are not limited to:

electrical (normal)

electrical high voltage and hazardous area

electrical isolation/deisolation

radiation

heights

mobile plant

plumbing

mechanical fitting

permit preparation

Required documentation

Required documentation may include, but is not limited to:

drawings

procedures

marking up existing documents

punch lists

vendor documents/engineering specifications

documentation required by the site work control system (e.g. permits)

Documents will conform to the site requirements and document control systems

Documents may be:

paper, electronic or other approved form

Authority to execute

Authority to execute includes both the authorisation to proceed and the timing of that execution. Authority will be obtained through the channels required by the organisation/facility.

The level of authority required will vary for different types of work, different types of isolation and different plants/facilities