PUADEFDV017B - Employ thermal cutting and welding tools (nonload bearing) in an underwater environment

PUADEFDV017B
Employ thermal cutting and welding tools (nonload bearing) in an underwater environment

This unit covers the competency required to employ thermal cutting and welding tools in an underwater environment. This includes the operation (from the surface) of the generator.The unit also includes selecting the appropriate tools for the work task and inspecting them for serviceability. The diver must ensure the tools are secured on own body throughout the dive, and correctly operate the tools with particular attention to safety.Competence will need to be demonstrated in the surface operation of the electrical generator or gas cylinders supplying the tools.The diver will be responsible for the recovery of any waste arising from the work task to ensure the preservation of the environment. Finally, the tools, generator and gas cylinders must be de-serviced and stored appropriately for ongoing use.Note: This Unit of Competency relates, in part, to the existing standards of the Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS). All information was correct at the time of development of this Unit of Competency; however, any diver seeking ADAS accreditation should consult ADAS and not rely on the information contained in this unit.

Application

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisites

Prerequisite Unit/s

PUADEFDV001B Dive using self contained underwater breathing apparatus in open water to 30 metres

PUADEFDV008B Employ hand tools in an underwater environment

Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
1. Prepare for cutting and welding underwater	1.1 Work task, worksite data and work object (including composition and condition) are determined and analysed to determine the specific requirements for thermal cutting and welding tools 1.2 Work plan is developed consistent with the dive plan 1.3 Thermal cutting and welding tools, and protective equipment appropriate to the task are selected, inspected and prepared 1.4 Electrical generator and associated leads are selected, inspected and prepared 1.5 Oxy-acetylene gas cylinders and associated hoses are selected, inspected and prepared 1.6 Thermal cutting and welding tools, the generator, oxy-acetylene gas cylinders, and associated leads and hoses are secured safely to/from the dive site 1.7 Access obstructions and other hazards are assessed and action is taken to remove/reduce risk
2. Operate thermal cutting and welding tools underwater	2.1 Thermal cutting and welding tools are secured on self during the dive for ease of accessibility and lack of interference with mobility and dive equipment 2.2 Safe routes for leads and hoses to the worksite are established 2.3 Work-safe area is established and location and safety of divers is confirmed prior to commencing work tasks 2.4 Surface of the work object is prepared for the cut or weld 2.5 Voltage and amperage of arc-welding equipment is controlled 2.6 Gas supplies are turned on and ratios of oxygen and acetylene are set and adjusted 2.7 Pressure of oxy-acetylene torch is controlled 2.8 Cuts and welds are made ensuring minimal distortion to the object 2.9 Employment hazards of cutting and welding tools are managed 2.10 Thermal cutting and welding tools are temporarily disconnected and rendered safe to evaluate the work task 2.11 Cuts and welds are inspected and cleaned
3. Operate the generator	3.1 Pre-start checks are performed and leads are connected 3.2 Power is developed gradually without surging and generator is stabilised and trimmed to required work output 3.3 Routineoperational checks are conducted and warning signs are diagnosed and addressed 3.4 Generator is shut down 3.5 Emergency shut-down drills are conducted
4. Conclude underwater cutting and welding operations	4.1 Environmental impact arising from use of thermal cutting and welding tools is minimised and waste products are recovered 4.2 Thermal cutting and welding tools, the generator, gas cylinders and associated leads and hoses, and protective equipment are de-serviced after use

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

ability to dive

cut steel plates

diagnose equipment faults

operate a generator

take remedial actions

undertake general operator maintenance

weld

Required Knowledge

control of output

dangers of trapped gas and its avoidance

dive equipment

dive physics

equipment (generator, thermal cutting and welding, tools, hoses and leads)

general occupational/diving safety awareness

methods of resolving problems

oceanography

physics of operation

principles of operation

relevant references and Australian Standards

thermal cutting and welding on land

work hazards

Evidence Required

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

cut a12 mm steel plate using a thermal arc or oxy arc cutting torch

weld together two pieces of approximately 12 mm steel plate underwater using electric welding equipment to produce a fillet weld

attend to personal and collective safety

consider the environmental impact as part of the dive plan.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated during a number of work tasks where:

the depth is between 5 metres and 20 metres

at least one night work task is undertaken.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the ocean.

When practicable, assessment should relate to the diver’s vocational focus.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to a dive location, and thermal cutting and welding equipment.

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Work tasks may include	Cutting Gouging Heating Welding
Worksite data may include	Current Depth Gradient Hazards Obstacles
Work object may include	Anchorage Pipe Sheet (hull) Support/strut
Composition may include	Aluminium High and low alloy steels High and low carbon steels Mild steel Stainless steel
Thermal cutting and welding tools may include	Oxy-torch Arc-welder
Protective equipment may include	Boots Eye protection Gloves Hood/helmet
Selecting, inspecting and preparing thermal cutting and welding tools may include	Inspection of stick Neck/mouth of oxy-torch Regulation of amperage and voltage Security of earth (bull-dog) lead
Selecting, inspecting and preparing the generator may include	Checking fluids Fuelling Pre-start checks
Selecting, inspecting and preparing the oxy-acetylene gas cylinders may include	Checking gas lines Checking gas pressures and mixing ratios Physical security of bottles
Hazards may include	Danger zone of objects being worked on Impact on dive equipment (e.g. hoses, gauges, communications) Release of fuels and associated chemical contaminants Resident at the worksite Retinal damage Shock and burn Trapped air explosions
Action to remove/reduce the risk may include	Erecting signage Using patrol/sentry craft
Routine operational checks may include	Fuel Fluids Pressure Temperature
Warning signs may include	Feed variations Rise/fall in temperature Smoke Surging (rise/fall in power) Unusual noise Unusual smell (e.g. oil)
Environmental impact includes	Contamination of surrounding water (e.g. leaking oil) Physical damage to reef and associated floor eco-systems (e.g. coral) Visual pollution of waste material (e.g. concrete and metal parts)
De-servicing may include	Drying Logging work details into equipment logs Oiling/greasing Refilling Re-fuelling Washing in fresh water

Sectors

Not applicable.

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.

Licensing Information

Not applicable.