SFIDIVE315A
Perform underwater work in the aquaculture sector

This unit of competency involves performing underwater dive work in the aquaculture sector of the seafood industry, including lifting and handling activities, using basic hand tools and undertaking maintenance on an aquaculture farm or holding/display facility.Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.

Application

Completion of this and other diving units may lead to further accreditation in occupational diving by industry and/or regulatory authorities. Check with the relevant industry or regulatory body for specific requirements.

All enterprise or workplace procedures and activities are carried out according to relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements, including occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines, maritime and occupational diver codes of practice and procedures and ecologically sustainable development (ESD) principles.

Equipment operation, maintenance, repairs and calibrations are undertaken in a safe manner that conforms to manufacturer instructions. Appropriate personal protectiveequipment (PPE) is selected, checked, used and maintained.



Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Enter and leave the water

1.1. Prevailing weather and water conditions are considered when assessing the safety of diving operations and a judgement is made on whether to continue the dive

1.2. Procedures when entering, during and leaving the water from the dive platform meet accepted guidelines and are in accordance with normal dive practices

1.3. Signals to the dive platform prior to descent and following ascent are conducted according to normal dive practices

2. Maintain culture or holding structures and associated equipment

2.1. Culture or holding structure is inspected, its condition assessed and any required action is decided and reported to the relevant supervisor

2.2. Associated equipment is inspected, its condition assessed and any required action decided and reported to the relevant supervisor

2.3. Appropriate maintenance is undertaken

3. Assist in lifting and handling

3.1. The limitations and suitability of winches with hydraulic and air motors for use on the surface and under water are understood and applied

3.2. The correct signs and signals are used during winch operations

3.3. Lifting equipment and ropes of the correct type and safe working load are selected and rigged using the correct mechanical advantage for the load being lifted

3.4. Lifting bags are properly secured and used to raise an object and the load is restrained so that ascent is controlled

3.5. Slings, ropes and lifting bags are inspected and maintained and pre- and post-dive checks on lifting devices are carried out

4. Use basic hand tools and auxiliary devices under water

4.1. A range of basic hand tools is used to complete simple tasks under water

4.2. Auxiliary devices are used in underwater operations safely

4.3. Tools are inspected for defects, maintained appropriately or set aside for repair, if necessary, and stored correctly after use

5. Apply underwater search and survey techniques

5.1. A range of underwater search and survey techniques is used to locate targeted items

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include:

assessing weather conditions for safe diving operations

attaching slings, ropes and other connection equipment

communicating with the diver's tender prior to entering the water, during the underwater work and on leaving the water

communicating with the supervisor to report problems with equipment

entering and leaving the water

inspecting and maintaining aquaculture apparatus and associated equipment

maintaining tools and auxiliary devices

searching and surveying underwater

signalling during lifting and handling activities

using tools underwater

literacy skills to:

follow dive tables

read diving information and instruments

Numeracy skills to perform calculations for diving operations

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes:

aquaculture apparatus and associated equipment

diving signals

enterprise auxiliary devices

lifting equipment used in the aquaculture sector, including its suitability and limitations

lifting signals

local weather and sea conditions

methods for entering and leaving the water

safe working loads and mechanical advantages

seafood species farmed in aquaculture or holding/display operations or facilities

tools used in the aquaculture or ornamental/aquarium industry sectors

underwater search and survey techniques

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

assess weather conditions before undertaking a dive

assist in lifting and handling activities

enter and leave the water according to standard dive procedures

search and survey under water for targeted items

undertake harvesting and maintenance diver duties required on an aquaculture site

use basic tools and auxiliary equipment under water

use dive signals when communicating

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

diver communication systems

local climatic conditions

maintenance procedures on an aquaculture site

seafood species common to the enterprise or industry

search and survey techniques

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Resources may include:

suitable diving environment

diving equipment

aquaculture apparatus and associated equipment

tools used in the aquaculture sector

any relevant auxiliary devices

Method of assessment

The following assessment methods are suggested:

observation of practical demonstration

practical exercises

written or oral short-answer testing

Guidance information for assessment

This unit may be assessed holistically with other diving units.


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. 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) may also be included.

Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements may include:

business or workplace operations, policies and practices

ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control

fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences

health and welfare of aquatic animals

Indigenous land rights and cultural activities

maritime and occupational diving operations, safety at sea and pollution control

OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control

OHS guidelines may include:

appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits

codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction or industry sector

enterprise-specific OHS procedures, policies or standards

hazard and risk assessment of workplace, maintenance activities and control measures

induction or training of staff and contractors in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner

OHS training register

safe lifting, carrying and handling techniques

safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, confined space entry and the protection of people in the workplace

systems and procedures for the safe maintenance of property, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving parts

the appropriate use, maintenance and storage of PPE

ESD principles may include:

improving energy efficiency

increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resource

managing environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control

managing stock health and welfare, especially for handling, holding, transport and slaughter

managing sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection requirements, such as size limits, quotas, season restrictions, population dynamics, fishing impacts, reducing by-catch, fisheries management strategies and maintaining biodiversity

managing, controlling and treating effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution

preventing genetically modified organisms and live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment

protecting native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas, adhering to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES), the Ramsar Convention, World Heritage and other international treaties for which Australia is a signatory

reducing emissions of greenhouse gases

reducing energy use

reducing use of non-renewable resources

PPE may include:

buoyancy vest or personal floatation device (PFD)

personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)

sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses)

Dive platform may include:

holding cage or culture structure

jetty

platform

shore or beach

vessel

Guidelines may include:

Australian standards

codes of practice

guidelines

OHS regulations

other regulations

Culture or holding structures may include:

cages, pontoons, enclosures and pens, including associated moorings, anchors, floats and markers

dams, ponds and pools

display tanks, aquaria and aquascapes

greenhouses, hothouses and igloos

grow out facilities, hatcheries and nurseries

harvesting swimways, canals or channels

live holding tanks, bins, cages and pens

longlines, posts, racks and rails, rafts, fences, socks, trays, sticks, baskets, modules, barrels, bags and panels

open, flow-through, closed and semi-closed systems

pest, predator and disease control structures

purging or depurating systems

tanks, raceways and recirculating systems

water supply and disposal or effluent systems, including pumps, pipes, canals, channels, settlement ponds and storage dams

Associated equipment may include:

blowers, aerators, paddlewheels and aspirators

anchors and moorings

buoys

chains

clamps

floats

ropes and lines

shackles

weights

Lifting may include:

air bag

block and tackle

boom

capstan

chain hoist

crane

Slings may include:

multiple leg

pulley

single strop

Tools may include:

cold chisel

files

hacksaw

hammers

knives

netting needles

open and ring spanners

screwdrivers

shackle spanners

shifting spanners

Auxiliary devices may include:

pressure cleaners

remotely operated vehicles

underwater propulsion devices:

shark-proof cages

underwater scooters


Sectors

Diving operations


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor