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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

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

Evidence Required

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 policiesprocedures 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 PUA Public Safety Training Package

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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 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