This unit supports the attainment of skills and knowledge required for trade waste officers or inspectors with a specific responsibility for managing applications and approvals for standard low-risk liquid trade waste discharges to wastewater collection systems from small commercial and light industrial organisations.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Advise customers on standard trade waste approval procedures.

1.1 Comprehensively answer customer queries regarding applications for trade waste approval with reference to organisational and statutory requirements.

1.2 Comprehensively answer customer queries regarding the procedures involved in processing and approving trade waste applications with reference to organisational requirements.

1.3 Comprehensively answer customer queries regarding the procedures involved in monitoring and renewing trade waste applications with reference to organisational requirements.

2Evaluate trade waste discharges for new types of industries and/or new types of industry processes.

2.1 Identify significant pollutants generated by new types of industries or processes.

2.2 Identify and apply information about known impacts, risk assessments and control procedures.

2.3 Identify trade waste management processes and workplace procedures for new types of industries or processes.

2.4 Develop and check contingency plans for new types of industries or processes.

2.5 Prepare trade waste management policies and plans for new types of industries and processes.

3Process applications for trade waste discharge approvals.

3.1 Assess standard low risk trade waste applications to establish that all necessary documentation has been provided.

3.2 Assess standard trade waste applications against concentration, mass and flow limits, discharges of prohibited substances and local sewerage issues and consider environmental issues.

3.3 Assess proposed pre-treatment and monitoring systems for suitability.

3.4 Schedule and conduct onsite inspections as required.

4Implement approved trade waste discharge applications.

4.1 Calculate estimates of relevant charges and discuss with the applicant as appropriate, according to established charging policies and formulae.

4.2 Determine monitoring activities and schedules and discuss with the applicant.

4.3 Create and maintain database records, including charging parameters and monitoring schedule.

4.4 Monitor construction activities where applicable to ensure compliance with approvals.

5Monitor customers' trade waste treatment and disposal and review trade waste approval.

5.1 Conduct routine monitoring of the compliance of customers' trade waste treatment and discharge according to the trade waste approval and organisational requirements.

5.2 Establish processes to identify and report non-compliances with trade waste approvals according to organisational requirements.

5.3 Identify and apply enforcement measures and processes to manage identified non-compliances.

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

Required skills:

interpret and review hydraulic and site plans

identify and evaluate trade waste-producing processes

evaluate process inputs and outputs

use flow measuring or flow assessment techniques

use appropriate wastewater sampling and preservation techniques for onsite and laboratory testing

interpret and evaluate sample analysis data

interpret and apply legislation and policies applicable to trade waste

develop monitoring plans and coordinate measuring, testing and sampling activities

plan and conduct investigations

assess environmental impact using ISO 14001 where appropriate

assess waste treatment methods, processes, plant and equipment

negotiate and communicate

use appropriate personal protective equipment for protection against physical, chemical and biological hazards

Required knowledge:

relevant legislation

relevant enterprise policies for trade waste management

water quality parameters of significance to the wastewater system

personal protection and safety precautions for wastewater sampling, including the requirements for relevant inoculations such as:

Q Fever

Hepatitis A and B

Polio

Tetanus

Diphtheria

standard industrial waste treatment methods and processes for retail commercial and light industrial organisations

basic hydraulics, chemistry and/or equivalent science

basic knowledge of wastewater collection, treatment and disposal systems

investigation procedures

range of appropriate measuring, testing and sampling procedures

customer expectations and requirements

occupational health and safety legislation.

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 evaluate, implement and monitor standards trade waste approvals, including:

advising customers of the trade waste management policies and procedures in operation

advising customers of requirements for obtaining and complying with trade waste discharge approvals

assessing and evaluating applications for standard trade waste treatment and disposal

implementing charging and monitoring procedures

completing records and 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/or 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 should only be made 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, any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and reflecting 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 if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Customer may include:

new or existing retail commercial organisations

new or existing community and public organisations

new or existing light industrial organisations.

Trade waste may include:

the liquid waste generated by any:

industry

business

manufacturing process

community/public facilities

commercial activities

trade waste does not include domestic wastewater.

Organisational and statutory requirements may include:

relevant legislation, for example:

commonwealth environmental legislation

state water legislation

state environmental and other legislation

local by-laws

International Standards, for example:

ISO 14000 standards

Australia/New Zealand Standards, for example:

National Plumbing and Drainage Code AS/NZS 3500

relevant industry codes of practice for the management of trade waste, for example:

industry Code of Practice for the Photographic Industry (PURE)

National Health and Medical Research Council's (NHMRC) National guidelines for waste management in the health care industry, 1999

state plumbing and drainage code of practice

requirements of regulatory authorities, such as:

Water Authorities

WorkCover

EPA

Health Department

local councils.

Documentation may include:

identification and process information for all waste producing processes

site hydraulic plan

site plan

specification of the proposed pre-treatment equipment

stormwater drainage plan.

Local sewerage issues may include:

impact of proposed wastewater discharge on the environment including odour management

effluent management, re-use and disposal

biosolids management, re-use and disposal

impact on health and safety of water utility employees

impact on the sewerage infrastructure and sewage treatment processes

Monitoring activitiesand schedules may include:

inspections of trade waste sites, processes and treatment facilities

maintenance schedules and reporting

sampling and testing locations, techniques and frequencies

record keeping and reporting.

Trade waste

This unit of competency contains employability skills.