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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan work
  2. Start reciprocating steam engine
  3. Monitor reciprocating steam engine operation
  4. Shut-down reciprocating steam engine

Required Skills

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

T Required skills

Accurate recording and maintenance of information relating to operation of a reciprocating steam engine

Compliance with legislation regulations standards codes of practice and established safe practices and procedures for starting operating shutting down and maintaining a reciprocating steam engine

Diagnostic and testing techniques for reciprocating steam engines

Efficient and safe conduct when starting operating shutting down and maintaining a reciprocating steam engine

Use of appropriate communication techniques with colleagues and others

Use of relevant tools and equipment

Verification of problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures

T Required knowledge

Basic principles of heat transfer and thermodynamics

Commonwealth state or territory WHS legislation regulations standards and codes of practice relevant to the full range of techniques for operating reciprocating steam engines

Confined space awareness and the limits for entry into a confined space

Engine speed control equipment

Environmental protection requirements relating to the disposal of waste material and storage of environmentally hazardous materials

Established communication channels and protocols in the workplace

Safety data sheets and material handling methods

Organisational and workplace standards requirements policies and procedures for starting operating shutting down and maintaining a reciprocating steam engine

Procedures for the recording reporting and maintenance of workplace records and information

Understanding of the hierarchy of hazard identification and control

Reciprocating steam engine capabilities and components

Reciprocating steam engine fault finding and problem solving techniques

Reciprocating steam engine operations and operating techniques

Reciprocating steam engine safety devices and testing techniques

System components and their interaction with other plant and equipment

Types of tools and equipment and procedures for their use operation and maintenance

Typical routine problems encountered in the process and with equipment and adjustments required for correction

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

Successful assessment of this unit meets the competency requirement of state and territory WHS Regulations including licensing

Stateterritory WHS regulators have mandated the use of Assessment Instruments and Instructions for Assessment for this unit which have been endorsed by the national body responsible for WHS matters

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Compliance with organisational and site policies and procedures including quality requirements and state or territory legislation applicable to workplace operations

Compliance with WHS and environmental regulations policies and procedures

Effectively communicate and work safely with others in the work area

Identify hazards associated with the operation of the reciprocating steam engine and put in place effective hazard controls for those hazards identified

Effectively startup monitor and shutdown a reciprocating steam engine that meets the definition of this licence class

Compliance with Commonwealth state or territory regulations for the acquisition of a regulatory authority licence

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment of the safe and effective application of knowledge and skill to workplace tasks performance must be undertaken using the endorsed Assessment Instrument

Assessment of performance must be undertaken either in the workplace or in a realistically simulated workplace

Assessors must ensure that the assessment in the workplace is organised to ensure that all the required equipment and materials and a suitable working area is made available to suit the assessment and the workplace

Assessment must occur under standard and authorised work practices safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment is to comply with relevant appropriate standard requirements

Applicants must have access to

PPE for the purpose of the Performance Assessment

Appropriate safety equipment in safe condition

Appropriate reciprocating steam engine and associated equipment in safe condition

Communication equipment where applicable

Method of assessment

Assessment must be conducted using the endorsed Assessment Instruments These Instruments provide advice on their application

The use of simulators in the assessment of this unit of competency is not acceptable

Assessment may be in conjunction with the assessment of other units of competency

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance together with application of underpinning knowledge

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is not only able to be satisfied under the particular circumstances but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units

Further information about endorsed Assessment Instruments may be obtained from state and territory WHS regulators


Range Statement

10) 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.

Appropriate standards may include, but not be limited to: codes of Practice; legislation; Australian standards and manufacturers’ specifications.

Communicated/Communication may include, but not be limited to: verbal; written; telephone; two-way radio; log records and computer record systems.

Emergencies may include, but not be limited to: fire; bomb threat; terrorism; personal accidents; chemical spills; major steam leaks; major water leaks and flooding and natural disasters.

Equipment may include, but not be limited to: engine and auxiliary plant; engine lubrication and power or control oil systems; hydraulic oil system; pump; compressed air system; steam supply system; cylinder exhaust system; computers with equipment control functions; supervisory, alarm, protection and control equipment and Relevant maintenance equipment.

Also to include equipment for: lock out for protecting operators and co-workers from accidental injury; emergency shutdown stopping; extinguishing fires; organisational first aid requirements and evacuation.

Equipment faults may include, but not be limited to: abnormal operating conditions; loss of a major auxiliary; excessively high engine and engine valves heating rates or differentials; high engine bearing temperatures or vibration; high pressure heaters malfunctions; mechanical or electrical faults or failure and failed field devices and engine protection.

Hazards may include, but not be limited to: chemical hazards; thermal hazards; manual handling hazards; guarding of machinery requirements; illumination of work area; rubbish and combustibles in area; leakage of steam; leakage of fuel; obstructions in the work area; fire; noise; vibration; water and working at heights.

Operational checks may include, but not be limited to: supply and quality of steam and line pressure; exhaust system; safety devices; speed governor; vibration level; lubrication system; operation and function of valves and fittings; cylinder drainage system and operation of control/safety devices.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may include, but not be limited to: prescribed under legislation, regulation, codes of practice, and workplace policies and practices; hard hat; safety boots; gloves; high visibility clothing; breathing, hearing, sight, skin and sun protection; fall-arrest equipment such as harnesses and lanyards, horizontal life lines and inertia reel.

Pre-operational safety checks may include, but not be limited to: supply steam system; position and operation of engine valves; lubrication system; cylinder drainage system; exhaust system; auxiliary equipment; safety devices; over speed shut down; pressure relief devices and speed governor.

Procedures may include, but not be limited to: manufacturer’s guidelines (instructions, specifications or checklists); industry operating procedures and workplace procedures (work instructions, operating procedures, checklists).

The operation of steam equipment where the steam acts upon a piston under pressure where this action of the steam forces the piston to move. The definition includes all expanding (steam) reciprocating engines, with any piston diameter of greater than 250 millimetres.

Recorded may include, but not be limited to: operations and maintenance of reciprocating steam engine equipment; difficulties or issues; environmental issues; recommendations for future work; results; costs; hazards; incidents or injuries; dangerous occurrences or equipment; malfunctions using log books; proformas; production reports and maintenance records

Shut down checks may include, but not be limited to: steam supply; cooling process; load on engine; cylinder drains and auxiliary equipment.

Shut down checks for maintenance may include, but not be limited to: checks of cooling down process; isolation of steam; isolation from any common connection and opening of all access points required for inspection.

A simulator is a device used especially in training to reproduce the conditions of the working situation, enabling tasks to be learned and practised safely and economically.

Start-up checks May include, but not be limited to: heat input; steam supply system; steam traps and steam line purge systems operation; engine warmed up; lubrication system; drainage system; operation and position of engine valves and fittings; operation of auxiliary equipment; freedom of rotation of engine; warm up of reticulation system and reticulation line pressure.

Testing May include, but not be limited to: loss of a major auxiliary controls response checks; stand-by plant “cut-in” tests; valves operating checks; on-load engine valve and emergency governor operation test; performance tests; valve operation tests and alarm and protection tests.