Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to monitor a work situation in which the activity is conducted under a permit to work. The individual will be required to monitor the work situation for conformance to the permit and immediately intervene if the parameters of the permit are not met or work proceeds outside the boundaries set by the permit.
This role is typically carried out by the plant operator for that area or other suitably qualified person.
The role of ‘hole watcher’ and ‘fire watcher’ are covered by MSMPER202 Observe permit work
This unit of competency carries a high level of responsibility and the level and area of responsibility of the role is typically prescribed by the permit process.
This unit of competency applies to the activities and functions associated with work carried out in a hazard controlled environment.
Not all sites/plants will have all permits. Some sites will call permits by other names, e.g. clearances.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element | ||
1 | Identify and monitor permit conditions | 1.1 | Identify permit requirements |
1.2 | Monitor conditions to ensure that the work being conducted conforms to the issued permit requirements | ||
1.3 | Identify and communicate changes in the operating conditions or requirements of the permit to permit holders to ensure they are kept aware of any hazards | ||
2 | Control work permit systems | 2.1 | Check and verify the permit holder's knowledge of the issued permit and its requirements before allowing any work to be undertaken |
2.2 | Control work activities to comply with the work permit system and safety procedures | ||
2.3 | Undertake site inspections to ensure that the work to be undertaken is in sequence and completed in a safe and coordinated manner | ||
2.4 | Identify hazards, and confirm with those undertaking the permitted work that control measures, as defined in the permit, are established |
3 | Identify and action non-compliance | 3.1 | Identify conditions of active permits |
3.2 | Take corrective action upon incidences of non-compliance with permit conditions through the withdrawal or suspension of the issued permit | ||
3.3 | Report and record incidents of non-compliance according to procedures |
4 | Confirm compliance with permit | 4.1 | Complete checklists in accordance with standard procedures |
4.2 | Document and communicate findings to appropriate personnel |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and demonstrate the ability to:
identify activities requiring a permit and type of permit required
monitor the conditions of work under the permit
identify changes in work and site circumstances that affect permit
communicate effectively with team/work group and other personnel to:
explain the requirements of the permit
explain and verify complex issues and requirements relevant to permit conditions
withdraw or cause work to cease outside permit conditions
explain and implement safety and incident response procedures
identify and report any non-conformance with permit conditions
speak clearly and unambiguously in the language of the worksite
complete workplace forms and reports
differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable conditions
identify hazards and apply relevant hazard controls.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
organisation procedures, including:
work permit systems
safety, emergency and hazard control
incident response
plant isolation and preparation requirements
relevant organisation procedures
hazards that may arise in the job and plant, including:
their possible causes
potential consequences
appropriate risk controls
functions and components of a permit system
types of permits, what they cover, limitations and associated hazards.
Assessment Conditions
Competency must be achieved before performing this work unsupervised. Therefore this unit will typically be assessed off the job. Where assessment is undertaken on the job appropriate supervision and safety precautions must be provided.
The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence shall be based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.
The collection of performance evidence:
should provide evidence of the ability to perform over the range of situations which might be expected to be encountered, including typical disruptions to normal, smooth work conditions
must include the use of typical permits
may use industry-based simulation particularly where safety, lack of opportunity or significant cost is an issue.
Off-the-job assessment must sufficiently reflect 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.
Assessment in a simulated environment should use evidence collected from one or more of:
walk-throughs
demonstration of skills
industry-based case studies/scenarios
‘what ifs’.
Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence (provided a record is kept) or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).
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.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
The regulatory framework will be reflected in workplace policies and procedures and is not required to be independently assessed.
Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 assessor requirements.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Regulatory framework | The latest version of all legislation, regulations, industry codes of practice and Australian/international standards, or the version specified by the local regulatory authority, must be used, and include one or more of the following: legislative requirements, including work health and safety (WHS) industry codes of practice and guidelines environmental regulations and guidelines Australian and other standards licence and certification requirement Dangerous Goods regulations Hazardous substances regulations Hazardous Substances Information System Major hazard facility requirements, if relevant Australian Standard AS 2865-2009 Confined spaces Australian Standard AS 1674 Set-2007 Safety in welding and allied processes (covers all hot work) Australian Standard AS 4024.1-2014 Series - Safety of machinery Australian Standard AS/NZ 1715:2009 Selection use and maintenance of respiratory protective equipment National Standard for Plant [NOHSC:1010 (1994)] National exposure standards for atmospheric contaminants in the occupational environment [NOHSC:1003 (1995)] |
Procedures | All operations must be performed in accordance with relevant procedures. Procedures are written, verbal, visual, computer-based or in some other form, and include one or more of the following: permit control system emergency procedures work instructions standard operating procedures (SOPs) safe work method statements (SWMS) temporary instructions any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant |
Work permits | Work permits include one or more of the following: cold work excavation vehicle entry minor repairs working at heights hot work confined space electrical increased hazard permits covering a single plant item or plant area, such as might be an operator’s scope of responsibility other relevant permits |
The work control (permit) system | The work permit system includes: types of permits legislative/regulatory/standards framework roles and responsibilities of parties under the permit system specifications for undertaking the work covered by a permit alternative ways of conducting a job |
Work specifications | Work specifications include one or more of the following: any requirements for testing of atmospheric conditions and ventilation safety structures and control measures communications incident response equipment which can and cannot be used |
Safety structures and control measures | Safety structures and control measures include one or more of the following: isolations lockout/tag out barriers and signage emergency response gas testing/atmosphere monitoring standby person other measures specified in the permit |
Monitor | Monitor includes observing conditions of the workplace at a frequency appropriate to the risk and work practices, and includes one or more of the following: supervision/monitoring of contractors and/or employees verification of permits, licences and tests document control checking work activities against permit conditions, site-specific safety procedures and requirements and relevant legislation/codes identifying non-compliances |
Tools and equipment | Tools and equipment include one or more of the following: locks and tags blinds/blanks blind/blank list gas testers and monitors barricades signage communications equipment process and equipment drawings |
Hazards | Hazards include one or more of: process isolations incomplete mechanical and electrical isolations not in place atmospheric testing incomplete and atmosphere not safe electricity gas gases and liquids under pressure structural hazards structural collapse equipment failures industrial (machinery, equipment and product) equipment or product mass noise, rotational equipment or vibration limited head spaces or overhangs working where a fall is reasonably likely, in restricted or confined spaces, or in environments subjected to heat, noise, dusts, smoke, darkness, vapours or other atmospheric hazards flammability and explosivity hazardous products and materials unauthorised personnel sharp edges, protrusions or obstructions slippery surfaces, spills or leaks extreme weather other hazards that might arise |
Sectors
Competency Field
Work control systems