The unit involves planning and coordinating heat plant operations in a variety of work settings, including saw mills, wood chip mills, veneer mills, board/plywood mills and timber treatment plants

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan heat plant operation

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to planning and coordinating heat plant operations are identified and followed

1.2. Recent heat plant performance is assessed for unusual signs of performance

1.3. Heat plant startup, operation and shutdown are planned in line with site requirements

1.4. Operation orders and schedules are set and communicated to personnel

1.5. Generation levels are calculated and communicated to operators

1.6. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

2. Coordinate heat plant startup and operation

2.1. Pre-operational safety and pre-startup checks and procedures are checked with operators

2.2. Heat plant startup is monitored for correct running conditions and is signed on

2.3. Continued operation of heat plant and its condition are routinely checked with operating personnel

2.4. Problematic heat plant operations are diagnosed, with adjustments calculated and communicated to operators

2.5. Heat plant chemicals are checked for correct labelling in line with statutory and environmental requirements

2.6. Emergency shutdown procedures are followed in case of a fire

2.7. Fuel efficiency recordings, calculations, operating log, heat plant operation and equipment faults are recorded and reported

2.8. Assistance is provided to personnel with the evaluation of heat plant data and performance details

2.9. Heat plant management and output are monitored to record possible process improvements

3. Coordinate heat plant shutdown and storage

3.1. Shutdown and lock-out procedures are directed in line with OHS legislation, and statutory and environmental regulations

3.2. Condition of heat plant is assessed and personnel are directed to undertake cleaning and maintenance requirements in line with site procedures, manufacturer recommendations and environmental requirements

3.3. Mode of storage is selected and personnel are directed to store heat plant in line with statutory requirements

3.4. Modifications are made to generation levels or schedules to ensure optimum performance, which are then communicated to personnel

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

Required skills

Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment; efficiently and safely plan and coordinate heat plant operations; monitor heat plant output

Communication skills sufficient to use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques with colleagues and others

Literacy skills sufficient to record and report workplace information; maintain documentation

Numeracy skills sufficient to measure, estimate and calculate time required to complete a task

Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems and equipment faults; demonstrate appropriate response procedures

Required knowledge

Applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for planning and coordinating heat plant operations

Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material, the safe use and storage of chemicals, the minimisation of carbon emissions, and the cleaning of plant, tools and equipment

Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for planning and coordinating heat plant operations

Environmental risks and hazards

Using energy effectively and efficiently

Procedures for heat plant startup, operation, shutdown and storage

Energy generation levels

Heat plant scheduling and planning

Past performance analysis

Established communication channels and protocols

Problem identification and resolution strategies, and common fault finding techniques

Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their safe use and maintenance

Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks

Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently plan and coordinate heat plant operations in line with organisational requirements

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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to planning and coordinating heat plant operations

following organisational policies and procedures relevant to planning and coordinating heat plant operations

planning and coordinating heat plant operations for the enterprise

modifying production and schedules for heat plant operations within the enterprise

coordinating personnel to follow planning, communications and scheduling for heat plant operations

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace

Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context

Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements

The following resources should be made available:

workplace location or simulated workplace

materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit

specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge

Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills

Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process

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

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

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English

Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment

Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

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. 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) may also be included.

OHS requirements:

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

personal protective equipment and clothing

safety equipment

first aid equipment

fire fighting equipment

hazard and risk control

fatigue management

elimination of hazardous materials and substances

safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire

manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

Environmental requirements may include:

legislation

organisational policies and procedures

workplace practices

Legislative requirements:

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

award and enterprise agreements

industrial relations

Australian Standards

confidentiality and privacy

OHS

the environment

equal opportunity

anti-discrimination

relevant industry codes of practice

duty of care

Organisational requirements may include:

legal

organisational and site guidelines

policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility

quality assurance

procedural manuals

quality and continuous improvement processes and standards

OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures

ethical standards

recording and reporting requirements

equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements

environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Heat plant is to include:

energy generating heat plants

and may include:

thermal oil heating systems

gas burners

dust systems, including extraction

solid fuel systems

steam generators

fuel intake

water intake

oil flow (pump operation)

hydraulic systems

blowing down steam generators

Operation order is to include:

instructions for the safe startup, operation, shutdown and storage of a heat plant

Schedules

are itineraries setting startup and shutdown times in line with heat plant generation requirements

Generation levels are to include:

amount of heat produced

subsequent amount of energy generated as a result of the pressure

Communication may include:

verbal and non-verbal language

constructive feedback

active listening

questioning to clarify and confirm understanding

use of positive, confident and cooperative language

use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences

control of tone of voice

Pre-startup checks

are conducted to ensure:

equipment has been set up correctly

systems are performing accurately

equipment is operating to optimum performance

Diagnosis is to include:

use of audio, visual and written information

water quality

chemical testing

Emergency shutdown

is the immediate shutting off of the equipment to prevent an accident or damage to the plant

Records and reports may include:

fuel efficiency recordings and environmental impact

calculations

operating logs

storage location

quality outcomes

hazards

incidents

equipment malfunctions

and may be:

manual

a computer-based system

other appropriate organisational communication system

Heat plant data may include:

heat levels

pressure levels

energy generation levels

heat build-up

system overload information

Output

is the amount of energy produced to provide power to site operations

Shutdown

is the process of winding down the heat plant and reducing heat until the system is cold and ready for cleaning and maintenance

Storage is to include:

close down time the heat plant is inactive

procedures for shutdown

Common Technical

This unit contains employability skills