Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 1:09 AM AWST

Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.

Operate heat plant

Operate heat plant

Unit of competency
National Code
FPICOT3232B
State Code
D5941
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
20/05/2011
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
08/06/2011
Field of Education
030717 - Plant And Machine Operations
Original Release Date
08/06/2011
Nominal Hours
37
Description
This unit describes the outcomes required to start up, operate, shut down and store an energy producing heat plant, including tasks associated with handover, maintenance, inspection and safetyGeneral workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publicationThis unit replaces FPICOT3232A Operate heat plant
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for operation
  • 1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to operating a heat plant are identified and followed
  • 1.2. Work order is reviewed and clarified with appropriate personnel
  • 1.3. Quantity of energy to be generated is assessed and set for the allocated process
  • 1.4. Equipment is selected appropriate to work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer recommendations
  • 1.5. Heat generation is planned in line with site procedures and environmental requirements
  • 1.6. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements
2. Operate and monitor heat plant
  • 2.1. Pre-operational safety and pre-startup checks are carried out on equipment in line with statutory requirements, manufacturer recommendations and plant operating procedures
  • 2.2. Plant is started and brought safely on line and recent heat plant performance is clearly communicated to other personnel
  • 2.3. Continued operation of heat plant is assessed against pre-operational checks, maintenance requirements and operating conditions
  • 2.4. Heat plant operation and status are monitored and diagnosed and adjustments conducted to maintain safe and efficient operation
  • 2.5. Emergency shutdown procedures are followed in case of a fire or likelihood of fire
  • 2.6. Fuel efficiency recordings, calculations, operating log, plant operation and equipment faults are recorded and reported to the appropriate personnel
3. Shut down and store heat plant
  • 3.1. Shutdown and lock-out procedures are followed in line with OHS legislation and statutory regulations
  • 3.2. Condition of heat plant is checked and maintenance requirements are recorded and reported
  • 3.3. Heat plant is prepared for inspection process, with valves and fittings removed, in line with statutory requirements
  • 3.4. Heat plant is cleaned internally and externally in line with statutory and environmental requirements
  • 3.5. Mode of storage is selected and plant is stored in line with statutory requirements
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.
OHS requirements:
are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:
personal protective equipment and clothing
safety equipment
first aid equipment
fire fighting equipment
hazard and risk control
fatigue management
elimination of hazardous materials and substances
safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire
manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying
Environmental requirements may include:
legislation
organisational policies and procedures
workplace practices
Legislative requirements:
are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:
award and enterprise agreements
industrial relations
Australian Standards
confidentiality and privacy
OHS
the environment
equal opportunity
anti-discrimination
relevant industry codes of practice
duty of care
Organisational requirements may include:
legal
organisational and site guidelines
policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility
quality assurance
procedural manuals
quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures
ethical standards
recording and reporting requirements
equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements
environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)
Work order is to include:
instructions for heat generation, quantity and time-span
and may include:
instructions for the environmental monitoring of work and procedures
environmental care requirements relevant to the work
Appropriate personnel may include:
supervisors
suppliers
clients
colleagues
managers
Energy
is derived from boiling water, creating heat and expansion within the plant and therefore pressure or energy
Equipment is to include:
energy generating heat plants
and may include:
thermal oil heating systems
gas burners
dust systems, including extraction
solid fuel systems
steam generators
fuel intake
water intake
oil flow (pump operation)
hydraulic systems
blowing down steam generators
Communication may include:
verbal and non-verbal language
constructive feedback
active listening
questioning to clarify and confirm understanding
use of positive, confident and cooperative language
use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences
control of tone of voice
Pre-startup checks
are conducted to ensure:
equipment has been set up correctly
systems are performing accurately
equipment is operating to optimum performance
Diagnosis is to include:
use of (together with fuel testing):
audio
visual
written information
Emergency shutdown
is the immediate shutting off of the equipment to prevent an accident or damage to the machine or product
Records and reports may include:
fuel efficiency recordings
calculations
operating logs
storage location
quality outcomes manual
hazards
incidents
equipment malfunctions
and may be:
manual
a computer-based system
other appropriate organisational communication system
Storage is to include:
close down time the heat plant is inactive
procedures for shutdown
EVIDENCE GUIDE
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
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently operate a heat plant in line with organisational requirements
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:
following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to operating a heat plant
following organisational policies and procedures relevant to operating a heat plant
starting, operating, monitoring and shutting down a heat plant in line with statutory requirements and standard operating procedures
handing over operation of a heat plant to other personnel
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
The following resources should be made available:
workplace location or simulated workplace
materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit
specifications and work instructions
Method of assessment
Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package
Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge
Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills
Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge
Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances
Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
S4620 FPICOT3232A Operate heat plant Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AXL31 FWPCOT3232 Operate heat plant Unit of competency
State Code National Code Title Type
J467 FPI30311 Certificate III in Sawmilling and Processing Qualification
J468 FPI30411 Certificate III in Wood Panel Products Qualification