Google Links

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

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Confirm purpose of investigation
   • Liaise with relevant stakeholders
   • Confirm the purpose of the investigation
   • Draft or clarify the investigation brief
   • Identify discrepancies or conflicts in requirements
   • Negotiate a consistent set of requirements for the investigation
2. Collect appropriate data
   • Determine information and data requirements for investigation
   • Identify health, safety and environmental (HSE) risks from data collection
   • Obtain necessary authorisations to collect required data
   • Ensure sampling/data collection meets required standard
   • Evaluate data for completeness and identify discrepancies and aberrations
   • Collate valid data as appropriate
3. Analyse data
   • Identify deterioration/failure modes
   • Determine causes of deterioration/failure
   • Identify refractory issues leading to excessive deterioration or failure
   • Identify process issues leading to excessive deterioration or failure
   • Identify other issues leading to excessive deterioration or failure
4. Make recommendations
   • Draft possible recommendations to improve refractory life
   • Discuss causes of failure and recommendations with relevant stakeholders if appropriate
   • Ensure information obtained meets the agreed purpose of the investigation and take appropriate action
   • Determine required format for reporting of investigation, causes and recommendations
   • Report as required to required people/organisations

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.
Regulatory framework	The latest version of all legislation, regulations, industry codes of practice and Australian/international standards, or the version specified by the local regulatory authority, must be used. Applicable legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice include: HSE legislation, regulations and codes of practice relevant to the workplace, equipment and production processes and hazardous materials Australian/international standards relevant to the materials being used and products being made any relevant licence and certification requirements. 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 such requirements the legislative requirements take precedence.
HSE and other risks	Identification of HSE and other risks includes consideration of: health and safety risks sustainability risks regulatory risks business risks.

---

Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and demonstrate the ability to:

analyse and interpret technical reports, technical specifications and data

confirm purpose of investigation, including one (1) or more of:

routine monitoring of the 'wear and tear' deterioration of a refractory

investigation of suspected degradation of a refractory still in use

investigation of a catastrophic refractory failure

investigation to support an insurance or other claim

investigation requested by a third party (e.g. for a dispute)

technical investigation aimed at better understanding the refractory in use and so improving the refractory

determine information and data requirements, sampling/data collection methods and related authorisations

collate and analyse data to determine causes of failure/deterioration

communicate technical information verbally and in writing/drawings

communicate with internal and external stakeholders, including one or more of:

customer representatives

technical experts

regulators

management

refractory designer

refractory installer

document investigation, causes and recommendations

apply complex and/or theoretical mathematical calculations, statistics

solve complex problems within or arising from the investigation.

---

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge relevant to their job sufficient to fulfil their job role, including knowledge of:

properties of all common refractory materials

typical limitations and applications of all common refractory materials

installation methods and their impacts on refractory failure

common refractory repairs and their impacts on refractory failure

causes of refractory deterioration, degradation and failure

identification and causes of common failure modes, including:

spalling

corrosion

abrasion

impact/compression/tension

thermal shock

benefits and limitations and health, safety and environmental (HSE) risks of information/data gathering methods, including:

examining samples of failed refractory

collecting data of a refractory in use

collecting observations of a refractory in use

examining an entire refractory installation after it has been shutdown

one set of data collection

a planned series of data collection at specified intervals over a specified period

discussions/interviews with stakeholders

regulatory framework

hierarchy of control

hazards that may arise in the job/work environment and:

their possible causes

potential consequences

appropriate risk controls.

---