Application
This competency unit typically covers items of equipment, such as: carbon paste preparation, heating, mixing and delivery carbon anode forming equipment carbon anode cooling system ancillary equipment, such as heating systems, scrubbers and fans conveyors, power and free The plant technician would: monitor the carbon anode forming process operate materials handling equipment recognise and respond to 'out-of-parameter' issues respond to emergency situations identify and control hazards in the workplace. Generally the operator would be part of a team during start up and shut down procedures and would be expected to be capable of demonstrating competence in all parts of this unit. At all times they would be liaising and cooperating with other members of the team. This unit does not require the operation of a central control panel. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Plan and prepare for operations. | 1.1. Interpret and confirm work requirements before proceeding 1.2. Identify and control hazards 1.3. Ensure appropriate authorisations have been obtained/issued 1.4. Identify work flow path (interruptions or bottlenecks) blockage |
2. Conduct pre-start requirements to procedures. | 2.1. Conduct routine pre-start equipment checks 2.2. Conduct isolation as appropriate for pre-start inspections 2.3. Prepare equipment for operation 2.4. Complete routine equipment checklists 2.5. Complete reports as required for equipment inspections. |
3. Conduct operations to procedures. | 3.1. Start up carbon anode forming equipment 3.2. Monitor equipment operation and check operational variables are within parameters. 3.3. Verify equipment performance throughout the process 3.4. Apply operating principles to resolve identified problems and take appropriate action 3.5. Shut down carbon anode forming equipment as required 3.6. Conduct routine housekeeping activities 3.7. Complete records as required for equipment operation and performance. |
4. Isolate and de-isolate plant | 4.1. Isolate plant 4.2. Make safe for required work 4.3. Check plant is ready to be returned to service 4.4. Prepare plant for return to service. |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required skills |
Competence includes being able to demonstrate the following: efficient and effective operation of plant/equipment hazard analysis completing plant records communication problem solving. Competence includes responding to emergency situations such as: evacuation due to fire loss of power excessive emissions of fumes or particulate equipment failure recognising hazards associated with HTF, tar, pitch, suspended loads and heat stress. Troubleshooting a range of problems which could include: paste mixers anode formers anode cooling equipment cooling conveyors equipment failure. |
Required knowledge |
Competence includes a comprehensive understanding of the green carbon process and equipment principles and typical problems to a level needed to control the operation, and recognise and resolve operational problems. In particular it includes: awareness of hazardous materials, recognition of spills or escapes, personal protective equipment required, isolation and clean up requirements (eg CTPV) and knowledge of: all items on a schematic of the paste preparation and carbon anode forming process and describe the function of each basic principles of operation of main equipment items, including proportioning, dry mix preheating, mixing/heating, carbon anode forming and carbon anode cooling basic physics of operation, including effects of temperature, pressure and impurities on the green carbon anode quality basic understanding of the product specifications and variations required on the input and output side isolating a problem to an item of equipment/stage of process methods of resolving problems. |
Evidence Required
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. | ||
Overview of assessment | Assessment for this unit of competency will be on an operating plant. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation. Simulation may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this competency unit (eg Elements 2, 5). Simulation should be based on the actual plant and will include walk-throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate corrective action. The emphasis should be on the ability to stay out of trouble rather than on recovery from a disaster. Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that: emergency responses are known hazards are recognised and all site requirements to reduce or remove hazards are known and completed as part of the job early warning signs of equipment/processes needing attention or with potential problems are recognised, ie monitoring systems in the carbon anode forming process, including equipment, material handling systems and mobile equipment. These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs as the stimulus with a walk-through forming part of the response. These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations that may have been generated from the past incident history of the plant, incidents on similar plants around the world, hazard analysis activities and similar sources. | |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment will require access to an operating plant over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions. | |
Method of assessment | In all plants it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units. Consider co-assessment with other relevant units. This competency may be assessed in conjunction with: MSAPMOHS200A Work safely MSAPMOHS110A Follow emergency response procedures TDTD1097B Operate a forklift. Other units which are relevant to the job. | |
Guidance information for assessment | Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed. |
Range Statement
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. | |
Codes of practice/ standards | Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used. |
Appropriate action | Appropriate action includes: determining problems needing action determining possible fault causes rectifying problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility following through items initiated until final resolution has occurred reporting problems outside area of responsibility to designated person. |
Emergency responses | Emergency responses include those related to: evacuation due to fire loss of power excessive emissions of fumes or particulate major oil spill equipment failure |
Equipment and tools | Equipment and tools may include: hand tools harnesses and slings materials handling equipment. |
Hazards | Hazards may include: heat (burns, dehydration and heat stress) energy sources, eg hydraulic, pneumatic and electric high pressure piping and valves pinch and crush points moisture banned items mobile equipment and pedestrian interaction suspended loads and roller conveyors hazardous materials, eg heat transfer fluid (HTF), tar and pitch, coal tar pitch volatiles (CTPV). |
Hazard control measures | Hazard control measures should follow the hierarchy of control, be specific to the hazard and work area and include relevant Personal Protective Equipment. |
Housekeeping | Housekeeping procedure may include cleaning the area, removal of contaminants, safety inspections and rectification of issues that could compromise safety. |
Instrument/electrical systems | Instrument/electrical systems may include: emergency shutdown systems fire systems pressure and temperature control systems communications systems utility systems. |
Isolation | Isolation refers to the complete isolation of the equipment from all sources of power or energy or isolate process flows and movement of machinery such to render it safe to work on as per site procedure. |
Monitoring systems | Monitoring systems in the carbon anode forming process may include: monitoring bearing lubrication monitoring pre-heat distribution of the anode monitoring moisture content of the anode monitoring strainers on the anode cooling system monitoring the cooling tower monitoring anode forming mobile equipment condition checks on pitch pump, paste mixer and cleaning discharge for irregularities monitoring paste build-up on scale doors, cover weight and mould seals vacuum former failure monitoring abnormal trends in the operation of equipment or product specification screens, samplers, grates, grids, fume scrubbers, weight feeders, and dust collection systems. |
Monitor and adjust operational variations | Monitor and adjust operational variations using troubleshooting techniques may refer to the use of: historical data and records of common faults troubleshooting lists and directives site procedures. |
Procedures | Procedures may be written, verbal, computer-based or in some other form. They include: all work instructions standard operating procedures formulas/recipes batch sheets temporary instructions any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant. For the purposes of this Training Package, 'procedures' also includes good operating practice as may be defined by industry codes of practice (eg Responsible Care) and government regulations. |
Out-of-parameter issues | Out-of-parameter issues, faults and problems may include: out-of-parameter operation or product fluctuation in temperature, power consumption or product movement. vibe plate distribution and cleaning inspections on the compaction station blocked strainers on the anode cooling system paste belt irregularities anode cooling system not operating properly. jam-ups on power and free conveyors instruments and equipment requiring cleaning equipment mechanical and electrical problems flow path blockages out-of-parameter emissions unavailability of equipment, personnel or material. |
Personal protective equipment | Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements relate to the specified PPE for the task or job to be undertaken. PPE may include specific insulated boots, heat resistant material, full-ventilated suits, full-face masks or situation specific equipment. |
Pre-start checks | Pre-start checks relate to the required site or equipment pre-start checklist and must be completed before the equipment is operated or as otherwise stated in the procedures. |
Reports | Reports and records may include: routine inspections (daily readings, monthly checks) scheduled maintenance activities computer readouts locally or in the control room shift log sheet mandatory or statutory inspections hazard, accident and incident reports quality inspection reports of the product. |
Shutdown procedures | Shut down procedure must follow equipment and site authorised checklist and may include: communication to supply and delivery areas communication to impacting areas obtaining appropriate authorisations rescheduling operations liaison with maintenance teams. |
Start-up procedures | Start-up procedure will conform to site procedure and include: safety and pre-start checks accessing shift logs and equipment records pre-shift briefing information records and reports from the previous shift. |
Work requirements | Work requirements includes shift briefings, shift logs supervisor or crew leader meetings, toolbox talks and handover details. |
Health, safety and environment (HSE) | All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence. Persons are required to have skills in hazard identification, assessment and application of control measures, eg spills and leaks identified, contained and cleaned up. Exposure to hazardous materials requires minimal personal contact, recognition of hazards and appropriate controls. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Operational/technical |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.