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

Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to specify the requirements and then select the best solution to meet the necessary and desirable requirements.

In particular look to see that:

safety, technical and economic aspects are all considered

the decision made can be justified on those criteria

all key stakeholders are kept well informed and agree with the decisions

the modification, and particularly its timelines, are a good fit for the overall plant requirements

obvious problems in related plant areas are recognised and an appropriate contribution made to their solution.

This will typically be assessed by a modification project on an operating plant. One complex project, or a number of simple projects, are required to demonstrate competence.

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.

It may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:

PMASUP410B Develop plant documentation

MSAPMOHS401A Assess risk.

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

Competence includes the ability to read and interpret:

plant schematics (eg P&IDs, PFDs, instrument and process diagrams)

construction or layout drawings

equipment designs, specifications and manufacturer data

Discuss and negotiate with other appropriate personnel to agree necessary and desirable:

technical requirements

operations requirements

timelines

cost and other requirements

Required knowledge

Demonstration of competence in this unit must include knowledge of the following:

the operations of the plant and each major unit in it

the principles of operation of the equipment being investigated to the extent required to interpret technical specifications in a meaningful manner

the basics of plant economics and whole of life costing

hazard analysis principles (while it is beneficial, it is not expected that the candidate will be able to undertake HAZOP (or similar) analyses but will understand basic principles and be able to interpret and use the outcomes)

typical hazards with the type of equipment being investigated

OHS legislative requirements related to plant including registration and documentation requirements related to modification of registered plant

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 of 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

The need for the modification may arise from a continuous improvement project, as a result of an analysis of plant performance or from any other source. The modification may require the selection of any number of items of equipment such as:

pumps

heat exchangers

mixers

separators

columns

reaction kettles.

Classes of equipment (see Element 2) means the selection between different members of an overall class such as:

heat exchangers - various types of shell and tube, plate etc

mixers - propellers, impellors, jet mixing etc

packed columns - rings, saddles etc

kettles - jacketed, coiled etc.

Required minimum standards include:

OHS legislative requirements related to plant

industry and enterprise OHS standards

enterprise standards related to maintenance

output requirements

economic performance

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.