This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for field staff with specific responsibility for undertaking basic surveillance and conducting routine maintenance on dams and storages, including urban reservoirs and large wastewater lagoons.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Undertake basic dam or storage inspection.

1.1 Select, fit and use safety equipment, including personal protective equipment.

1.2 Carry out routine inspections of dams and storages according to organisational procedures.

1.3 Read and record monitoring devices and flow recording and measurement systems.

1.4 Identify assets and structural components requiring routine maintenance or repairs.

2Undertake routine maintenance of dam or storage equipment and structures.

2.1 Select and check equipment and materials required for maintenance and repair tasks.

2.2 Carry out routine maintenance according to organisational requirements.

2.3 Operate basic flow control, measuring, surveillance and ancillary devices as part of routine checks.

3Report basic dam or storage inspection and routine maintenance.

3.1 Communicate abnormal observations and potentially serious maintenance issues with line management.

3.2 Complete dam inspection reports and routine maintenance reports and forward to relevant personnel.

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

Required skills:

undertake visual inspections

undertake routine maintenance of plant, equipment and structures

exercise valves

perform work-related calculations

measure and record seepage flow

operate controls and ancillary equipment according to standard operating procedures

operate communications equipment

produce reports or logs

follow policies, procedures and standards

use safety and personal protective equipment

adjust mechanical and electrical systems

identify control system faults

communicate with other employees

use literacy skills in regard to verbal and written communication in the workplace

work effectively as part of a team.

Required knowledge:

visual and electronic inspection procedures

equipment operation, capacity and limitations

system layout

risk factors and potential hazards of surface water systems

routine maintenance procedures

communication and reporting systems.

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.

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

The candidate should demonstrate the ability to undertake basic inspection of dams and water storages and to conduct routine maintenance including:

conducting routine inspections of dams and storages according to organisational requirements

taking readings from specified devices

identifying and reporting repair and maintenance requirements

conducting routine basic maintenance according to organisational maintenance plans

completing inspection and maintenance reports.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Access to the workplace and resources including:

documentation that should normally be available in a water industry organisation

relevant codes, standards and government regulations.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence requires that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice

a decision of competence only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence over time and in various contexts

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence

where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be authenticated and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time

assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in a manner appropriate to the skill levels of the operator and cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and will reflect the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.

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.

Routine inspections may include:

visual observation of changes to assets, including:

cracking

movement

debris

concrete erosion

flaking of paint or coatings

corrosion of materials

electronic inspection.

Storages may include:

urban water storages

urban reservoirs

large wastewater lagoons.

Routine maintenance may include:

greasing or oiling plant and equipment

exercising valves

checking pressures and position indicators.

Basic flow control, measuring, surveillance and ancillary devices may include:

auxiliary power plants and auxiliary drives

electronic catchment surveillance

monitoring and measuring systems

recording systems

small marine craft

manual and electrical hydraulic systems

flow control and adjustment equipment

pumping systems, including:

submersible

centrifugal

valving systems, including:

sluice

blade

gate

non-return

pressure reducing

manually and electronically operated floodgates

spillways.

Dam safety

This unit of competency contains employability skills.