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

Assessment of this unit should include demonstrated competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Simulation may be required to allow for assessment of parts of this unit. Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include walk-throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of what-if scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk-throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

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

It is essential that the workplace OHS system and State OHS Acts and regulations be understood and that the importance of critical procedures is known. Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential information and then in preparing appropriate data.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see if there is a working knowledge of all relevant workplace procedures. Look for knowledge and understanding in relation to:

consultation processes, either general or specific to OHS

training and assignment of staff to safety critical work,

hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control measures

the need for specific hazard policies and procedures such as housekeeping and inspections

new and relevant OHS information

incident record keeping

maintenance of plant and equipment

purchasing of supplies and equipment.

These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs as the stimulus with a walk through forming part of the response. These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations which may have been generated from the past incident history of the plant, incidents on similar plants around the world, hazard analysis activities and similar sources.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Method of assessment

In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units.

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.

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

Required skills

identification of hazards that can potentially cause an incident in the workplace.

use of consultation processes.

Required knowledge

Knowledge and understanding of all relevant workplace systems sufficient to prepare and present relevant data relating to a safety case.

Knowledge of relevant acts or regulations specific to the State or Territory (eg the Victorian Gas Safety (Safety Case) Regulations 1999) in which the relevant facility(s) is located, workplace OHS procedures and other safety management systems and procedures.

Management of risks using the hierarchy of control (the preferred order of risk control measures from most to least preferred), that is:

elimination

substitution

isolation

engineering controls

administrative controls

use of personal protective equipment.

Hazard analysis (eg HAZOP) and hazard control methodology.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Codes of practice/ standards

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.

Context

This competency covers process manufacturing plants, which may involve working with machinery, equipment, operational procedures, products or materials that require the preparation of a safety case as prescribed by the relevant regulations.

Safety Management System Requirements

The safety management system for a facility must, where relevant, specify:

the critical equipment (including process equipment, machinery, electrical and instrumentation systems) that relate to or may effect the safety of the facility

the systems in place to ensure that the equipment is fit for the purpose:

for which it is used in normal operating conditions

to the extent that it is intended to function or be used in an emergency.

Policies and procedures

Enterprise policies and procedures include those that directly or indirectly cover issues relating to incidents, such as:

hazard policies and procedures

standard operating procedures

safety procedures

work instructions

emergency, fire and accident procedures

personal protective clothing and equipment procedures.

Participative arrangements

Participative arrangements for safety management system may involve:

following OHS procedures

information sessions on existing or new issues

meetings between employer and employees or representatives

access to relevant workplace information

use of clear and understandable language.

Safety Case

The safety case includes information regarding:

person responsible for operation of the facility

person responsible for the safety case

a description of the facility

formal safety assessment of the facility

the safety management system

reporting of incidents

address where records are kept

safety policy

organisational structure and responsibilities

published technical standards applied to or used

the design, construction, installation, operation and maintenance of the facility, and any modifications to the facility

the control system to be used for the facility

the type of machinery and equipment used at the facility

the permit to work system

the emergency response plan in relation to incidents

the emergency communication system

the key performance indicators

the system for incident recording, investigation and reviewing training.

Health, safety and environment (HSE)

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State 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.