This unit has been developed for Engineering Tradesperson – industrial electrician apprenticeship training and the recognition of trade-level skills in working in hazardous areas.

It covers the basic requirements for performing installation and maintenance work on electrical equipment in hazardous areas. It provides a fundamental understanding of hazardous areas with regard to Electrical Equipment for Hazardous Areas (EEHA) principles, hazardous area classification definitions and factors affecting this aspect, protection techniques, ex-certification, competency requirements for personnel affecting hazardous areas, relevant standards and restrictions to repair work.

If more extensive skills are required for hazardous areas then the appropriate national accredited unit/s should be selected.

Some jurisdictions require the holder of this unit to be licensed or certified and users should check with the relevant authorities.

Band: A

Unit Weight: 2

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two (2) occasions and include:

following work instructions, SOPs and safe work practices

obtaining the relevant work permits and informing appropriate personnel prior to commencing work

identifying and interpreting hazardous layout drawings and interpreting markings of hazardous areas classifications relevant to the work to be undertaken

identifying hazards specific to hazardous areas and implementing appropriate risk control measures

checking and testing equipment to ensure functionality of equipment

identifying defective or unsuitable equipment and sourcing replacement items with the correct equipment certification

carrying out adjustments or permitted repairs using appropriate tools, equipment and techniques in accordance with procedures and specifications

ensuring all completed work and testing complies with the relevant EEHA standard along with equipment conformity certificate requirements and special conditions

documenting all inspection and maintenance work in accordance regulatory requirements and SOPs.

Evidence required to demonstrate the required knowledge for this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

safe work practices and procedures and use of PPE

history and reasoning behind the EEHA Standards and accreditation creation

aspects of hazardous area classification regarding zoning, gas group and temperature class

markings of classifications on technical drawings

situations which may alter the source of release conditions, thereby affecting the classification of an area

hazards specific to hazardous areas

different methods of protection, including:

Ex-d

Ex-e

Ex-n

Ex-l

Ex-p

Ex-m

relationship between the classification ratings of the equipment to the classification ratings of the area

importance of earthing

testing and certifying bodies, including International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Ex, ATEX, AUSEx, CSA and Fm

documentation required for inspections.

Assessors must:

have vocational competency in working in hazardous areas at least to the level being assessed with relevant industry knowledge and experience.

satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 and comply with the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 or equivalent legislation covering VET regulation in a non-referring State as the case requires.

Where possible assessment must occur in operational workplace situations. Where this is not possible or where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment must occur in a sufficiently rigorous simulated environment that reflects realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturer specifications.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

This section describes those required skills (reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy) that are essential to workplace performance in this unit of competency.

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Work health and safety