UEPOPS348A
Respond to Critical Incidents

1) This unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to respond to incidents of a critical nature that may impact on the operational effectiveness of the plant or system, endanger human life or property, or have an adverse impact on the environment.

Application

3)

This unit is intended to augment formally acquired competencies. It is suitable for employment-based programs under an approved contract of training.

License to practise

3.1)

The skills and knowledge described in this unit do not require a licence to practise in the workplace. However, practice in this unit is subject to regulations directly related to Occupational Health and Safety and where applicable contracts of training such as apprenticeships.


Prerequisites

Prerequisite Unit(s)

2)

Competencies

2.1)

There are no prerequisite units.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1

Identify critical incident and consequences

1.1

Information and documentation to determine system status is assessed and evaluated in accordance with system requirements

1.2

Fault location is determined by establishing, monitoring and evaluating system configuration and operational pre-requisites in accordance with enterprise procedures

1.3

Fault information is collated in accordance with procedures to evaluate type and cause of failure

1.4

System limitations and performance, including location and external influences, are identified

1.5

Where appropriate, the teams and individuals roles and responsibilities within the team are identified and, where required, assist in the provision of the on-the-job training

2

Stabilise the system/s

2.1

Appropriate response techniques are identified and used in accordance with requirements.

2.2

Appropriate personnel and external stake holders are consulted with in accordance with enterprise procedures prior to further action

2.3

Implications of personnel and key stake holder actions are monitored and analysed

2.4

System requirements are assessed, evaluated and controlled to maintain stability and system integrity

2.5

Corrective actions to rectify abnormalities are implemented following analysis of data in accordance with system procedures

3

Restore the system

3.1

Specialised assistance is identified and attended to where required in accordance with enterprise procedures

3.2

Strategies to restore system integrity are identified, evaluated and communicated in accordance with procedures to appropriate personnel

3.3

Restoration strategy is undertaken, monitored, evaluated and adjusted in accordance with procedure

4

Review response to incident and instigate preventative procedure

4.1

Effectiveness of response is evaluated in accordance with system procedures

4.2

Stakeholder responses and perspective of incident are obtained, recorded and analysed

4.3

Alternative responses/contingencies are identified and assessed in accordance with system procedures

4.4

Incident and alternative preventive measures are documented in accordance with procedures

4.5

Improvements for managing future critical incidents are recommended and approved

4.6

Relevant findings are communicated to appropriate key stake holders

Required Skills

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

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired of responding to critical incidents for a permit to work.

The extent of the Essential Knowledge and Associated Skills required follows:

Evidence shall show that knowledge has been acquired for safe working practices of:

Relevant occupational health and safety regulations;

Relevant statutory legislation;

Relevant enterprise/site safety procedures;

Enterprise/site emergency procedures and techniques;

Plant status;

Relevant plant and equipment, it's locations and operating parameters;

Enterprise recording procedures; System/network characteristics;

Contingency plans;

Supervisory, alarm, protection and control equipment;

Switchgear operation;

Load shedding principles;

Communication principles;

Control and data acquisition systems;

Computers and software;

Switching practices and procedures

Specific skills needed to achieve the Performance Criteria:

Apply relevant occupational health and safety regulations;

Apply relevant statutory legislation;

Apply relevant enterprise/site safety procedures;

Apply enterprise/site emergency procedures and techniques;

Apply enterprise recording procedures;

Manager and control system/network;

Identify plant status;

Communicate effectively;

Apply data analysis techniques and tools;

Identify and respond to abnormal system operating conditions;

Plan and prioritise work;

Co-ordinate the operation of system/network to maintain plant integrity, personnel safety, continuity of supply and optimum efficiency;

Use diagrams, drawings and symbols;

Apply stress management techniques;

Direct and co-ordinate personnel;

Select appropriate load shedding;

Apply diagnostic techniques.

Evidence Required

8) This provides essential advice for assessment of the unit of competency and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria and the Range Statement of the unit and the Training Package Assessment Guidelines.

The Evidence Guide forms an integral part of this Competency Standard Unit and shall be used in conjunction with all components parts of this unit and, performed in accordance with the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Overview of Assessment

8.1)

Longitude competency development approaches to assessment, such as Profiling, require data to be reliably gathered in a form that can be consistently interpreted over time. This approach is best utilised in Apprenticeship programs and reduces assessment intervention. It is the Industry's preferred model for apprenticeships. However, where summative (or final) assessment is used it is to include the application of the competency in the normal work environment or, at a minimum, the application of the competency in a realistically simulated work environment. It is recognised that, in some circumstances, assessment in part or full can occur outside the workplace. However, it must be in accord with Industry and, Regulatory policy in this regard.

Methods chosen for a particular assessment will be influenced by various factors. These include the extent of the assessment, the most effective locations for the assessment activities to take place, access to physical resources, additional safety measures that may be required and the critical nature of the competencies being assessed.

The critical safety nature of working with electricity, electrical equipment, gas or any other hazardous substance/material carries risk in deeming a person competent. Hence, sources of evidence need to be 'rich' in nature so as to minimise error in judgment.

Activities associated with normal every day work have a bearing on the decision as to how much and how detailed the data gathered will contribute to its 'richness'. Some skills are more critical to safety and operational requirements while the same skills may be more or less frequently practised. These points are raised for the assessors to consider when choosing an assessment method and developing assessment instruments. Sample assessment instruments are included for Assessors in the Assessment Guidelines of this Training Package.

Critical aspects of evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

8.2)

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all prerequisites shall be met.

Evidence for competence in this unit shall be considered holistically. Each element and associated Performance Criteria shall be demonstrated on at least two occasions in accordance with the "Assessment Guidelines - UEP06". Evidence shall also comprise:

A representative body of Performance Criteria demonstrated within the timeframes typically expected of the discipline, work function and industrial environment. In particular this shall incorporate evidence that shows a candidate is able to:

Implement Occupational Health and Safety workplace procedures and practices including the use of risk control measures as specified in the Performance Criteria and Range Statement

Apply sustainable energy principles and practices as specified in the Performance Criteria and Range Statement

Demonstrate an understanding of the essential knowledge and associated skills as described in 6) Essential Knowledge and Associated Skills of this unit

Demonstrate an appropriate level of skills enabling employment

Conduct work observing the relevant Anti Discrimination legislation, regulations, polices and workplace procedures

Demonstrated performance across a representative range of contexts from the prescribed items below:

Knowledge and application of relevant sections of: Occupational Health and Safety legislation; Statutory legislation; Enterprise/site safety procedures; Enterprise/site emergency procedures

Preparing for system stabilisation

Stabilising and restoring system operations

Coordination requirements

Identifying and responding to abnormal system operating conditions

Policies for system incident and follow up procedures

Generation/transmission capability limits

Impact of actions

Dealing with an unplanned event by drawing on essential knowledge and skills to provide appropriate solutions incorporated in the holistic assessment with the above listed items

Context of and specific resources for assessment

8.3)

This unit should be assessed as it relates to normal work practice using procedures, information and resources typical of a workplace. This should include:

OHS policy and work procedures and instructions.

Suitable work environment, facilities, equipment and materials to undertake actual work as prescribed by this unit.

Competency Standards should be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace and under the normal range of workplace conditions.

Assessment of this unit will be supported with documentary evidence, by means of endorsement stating type and application of work.

In addition to the resources listed above in Context of assessment', evidence should show competency working, in limited spaces, with different types of plant and equipment as well as different structural/construction types and methods and in a variety of environments.

Method of assessment

8.4)

This unit shall be assessed by methods given in Volume 1, Part 3 Assessment Guidelines.

Note: Competent performance with inherent safe working practices is expected in the Industry to which this unit applies. This requires that the specified essential knowledge and associated skills are assessed in a structured environment which is primarily intended for learning/assessment and incorporates all necessary equipment and facilities for learners to develop and demonstrate the essential knowledge and skills described in this unit.

Concurrent assessment and relationship with other units

8.5)

There are no recommended concurrent assessments with this unit, however in some cases efficiencies may be gained in terms of learning and assessment effort being concurrently managed with allied competency standard units where listed.

Nil

Key competencies

8.6)

Evidence that particular key competencies have been achieved within this unit is in the context of the following Performance Criteria of evidence. See Volume 2, Part 4 for an explanation of Key competencies and levels of this Training Package.

Key competencies

Example of Application

Performance Level

How are ideas and information communicated within this competency?

Refer to the following example of application:

2

Explain ideas and actions, make suggestions for alternative actions and deal with contingencies and non-routine situations.

How can information be collected, analysed and organised?

Refer to the following example of application:

2

Information with regard to operations, faults and maintenance may be observed and monitored for analysis and organised into records and reports.

How are activities planned and organised?

Refer to the following example of application:

1

Planning the required activity, to include co-ordination and use of equipment, materials and tools to avoid backtracking and rework.

How is team work used within this competency?

Refer to the following example of application:

2

Share tasks and provide appropriate support to other team members in completion of work tasks to meet the team's goals.

How are mathematical ideas and techniques used?

Refer to the following example of application:

1

Calculation of time to complete tasks, estimation of distances, levels, loads and material requirements.

How are problem solving skills applied?

Refer to the following example of application:

2

Determine solutions which focus on long and short-term resolution of work task problems.

How is use of technology applied?

Refer to the following example of application:

1

Access, communicate, measure and record information with regard to operations and performance of plant and equipment.

Skills Enabling Employment

8.7)

Evidence that competency in this unit incorporates skills enabling employment is in the context of the following performance. See Volume 2, Part 5 for definitions and an explanation of skills enabling employment.

Skills for Employment

Example of Application

1

Developing and using skills within a real workplace

Refer to the following example of application:

Completion of tasks within an acceptable timeframe and performance with some supervision.

2

Learning to learn in the workplace

Refer to the following example of application:

Comprehension and application of theoretical knowledge to well-developed skills.

3

Reflecting on the outcome and process of work task

Refer to the following example of application:

Focused on improvement in own and other team member's performance in the workplace.

4

Interacting and understanding of the context of the work task

Refer to the following example of application:

Working understanding of the processes and systems which apply to the workplace.

5

Planning and organising the meaningful work task

Refer to the following example of application:

Achieving work tasks in a timely manner and ensuring that the work team achieves its stated work goals.

6

Performing the work task in non-routine or contingent situations

Refer to the following example of application:

Seek advice and apply solutions to problems relevant to the workplace environment.


Range Statement

7) This relates to the unit of competency as a whole providing the range of contexts and conditions to which the Performance Criteria apply. It allows for different work environments and situations that will affect performance.

Safety standards may include relevant sections of Occupational Health and Safety legislation, enterprise safety rules, relevant state and federal legislation, national standards for plant.

Information and documentation sources may include verbal or written communications; enterprise safety rules documentation; enterprise operating instructions; dedicated computer equipment; enterprise/site standing and operating instructions; enterprise log books; manufacturer operation and maintenance manuals; and equipment and alarm manuals

Technical and operational indicators may include stimuli (audio, smell, touch, visual), local indicators and recorders, computers and alarms (visible and or audible).

Communications may be by means of telephone, two way radio, pager, computer (electronic mail) and operating logs (written or verbal).

Appropriate personnel, team members/other authorities may include supervisor/team leader or equivalent, power plant operations personnel or equivalent, technical and engineering officers or equivalent, maintenance staff, other operating staff or equivalent, system controller, field operators, restricted operators, emergency personnel, network controllers/coordinators, generation controllers, plant operators, field operators, support staff, fire service, police, ambulance, emergency services, enterprise and site representatives, consumers and independent power producers.

Operating environment may be: remote from plant and equipment being operated (operation is assisted by remote indicators of plant status and other parameters monitored), during inclement or otherwise harsh weather conditions, in wet/noisy/dusty areas or during night periods.

Unit operations may include spurious faults in automatic systems, automatic systems operating out of range, failure of automatic system components and routine plant movement.

Types of incident may include localised blackout, interconnected/isolated power system potential power system threat, accidents, life threatening situations, generation plant and auxiliary plant faults/failure and loss of network and generation components.

System conditions may be: voltage profiles, spare plant, generation/transmission capability limits, variation from normal trends and switching.

Documentation may include policy, procedure, standard operating instructions, contingency plans and emergency switching programs.

Liaison with key stake holders may be system/network controllers/coordinators, oncoming shift change, field operators, support staff, asset centres, patrolmen, customers, other government bodies, co-generation authorities, generation plant operators, on call staff, police, fire and emergency services and private systems.

Post incident debrief may be: probable fault/failure cause, strategic/contingency plan, environmental implications, economic factors, policy, procedure, training, safety factors and emergency switching programs.

Generic terms are used throughout this Training Package for vocational standard shall be regarded as part of the Range Statement in which competency is demonstrated. The definition of these and other terms are given in Volume 2, Part 1.


Sectors

Not Applicable


Employability Skills

Refer to the Evidence Guide


Licensing Information

Not Applicable