This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to test the working atmosphere, using electronic test apparatus, to find out if it is safe for the proposed work.

It applies to situations where an individual may be required to carry out gas testing of an atmosphere prior to entering a specific area or workspace. The competency requires the person to interpret readings and take actions based on the interpretation.

Working environment may be hazardous, unpredictable, subject to time pressure, chaotic and expose responders to risk, on land or water, by day or night. Workplace atmospheres may include visible and invisible hazards and hazardous surfaces.

The unit is suitable for use in the following situations:

confined spaces

enclosed and partially enclosed spaces

hot work

storage tanks, silos, pits, pipes, shafts, ducts, transport vehicles and ships

testing as part of issuing a work permit

monitoring as part of working under a work permit

open areas

holding the gas tester by hand

lowering the gas tester into a space, e.g. on a line.

This unit of competency applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team or group and working in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator, as appropriate.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and must include the ability to:

recognise and assess conditions that require testing

identify the appropriate action according to procedures and within scope of responsibility, including:

selecting, preparing and using gas testing equipment

applying testing regime

selecting and using personal protective equipment (PPE)

identifying hazards and applying control measures

cleaning and maintaining equipment

take readings and interpret, report/record relevant data

apply known solutions to routine problems

communicate clearly and unambiguously with a range of personnel on safety conditions and procedures.

Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:

organisational procedures, including:

work permit systems

safety, hazards and hazard control

incident, fire and accident

PPE

organisation standard operating procedures (SOPs)

common atmospheric hazards and contaminants

explosive range, upper and lower explosive limits

exposure standards (time-weighted average, short-term exposure limits, peak limitation values, and examination of toxic effect at the level of a range of flammable gases)

conditions under which atmospheres become hazardous

units of measurement used to express concentration of atmospheric contaminants (mg/cubic m. ppm, % v/v).

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 based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.

The collection of performance evidence:

must include the use of the relevant gas testing meters and any other relevant tools, equipment and safety gear, and require demonstration of preparation, operation, completion and responding to problems

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

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.

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.

Work health and safety