Description

Pre Requisites

Application

•     understanding the permit system and the individual permit's requirements
•     observing work being performed
•     noting any change in conditions and taking required action.

Performance Criteria

Required Skills & Knowledge

•     observation
•     decision making
•     communication
•     leadership

•     hazards associated with the job and the plant
•     hazard analysis and control
•     HSE legislative requirements related to plant
•     incident response procedures
•     permit principles and procedures.

Range Statement

Codes of practice/ standards    
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.

Context    

This competency covers any work permits which requires a safety observer. Permits are called clearances by some organisations. Typical types of permit requiring a safety observer include:

•     excavation
•     hot work
•     confined space
•     other relevant permits.

Requirements identified on the permit may include testing of atmospheric conditions, ventilation and control measures such as isolation, barriers, tag out/lockout signs, communications, incident response.

'A competent person' is a person who has, through a combination of training, education or experience, acquired knowledge and skills enabling that person to correctly perform a specified task.  

Safety structures and controls may include automatic plant shut down buttons, cords/lanyards, alarms, barriers, guards, earth leakage devices, tag out/lock out procedures, warning lights.

Incident response    
The required incident response may include:

•     first response to fire
•     some initial rescues
•     first aid/CPR
•     other responses

Evidence Guide

Overview of assessment    
Assessment of this unit should demonstrate competence on actual plant and equipment in a work environment. 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 assessment of parts of this unit. 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.
This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of what if scenarios both on the plant (during demonstration of normal operations and walk throughs of abnormal operations) and off the plant.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit    
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to specify the requirements and then select the best solution to meet the necessary and desirable requirements.

Context of and specific resources for assessment    
Assessment will require access to a plant or workplace 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 other relevant units.

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.