Elements and Performance Criteria

Gas Systems may include:
Natural gas transmission, distribution and storage; liquefied petroleum gas tanker and ship transport, storage and processing terminals and distribution systems

Legislative compliance may include:
Occupational Health & Safety legislation; government acts and regulations; Australian Standards and Codes of Practice; environmental legislative requirements

Environmental issues may include:
Political, legal, community and aesthetic impact of installations

Safety issues may include:
Occupational health and safety of operatives, ongoing maintenance of facilities: emergency plans, safety cases and environmental impact assessments

Relevant personnel may include:
Managers; other supervisors; inter-company departments; other utilities; council representatives; producers, transporters/shippers; consultants; government bodies/agencies; refinery personnel; customers; land owners

Relevant authorities and other stakeholders may include:
Government authorities, land owners both current and traditional, local councils, land management groups, other utilities, in-house quality control groups and management

Critical aspects of evidence
These will include application of environmental management principles to the gas system; identification of gas system their potential hazards and their control strategies; interpretation, application, and compliance of relevant legislation and related regulations; Australian Standards; codes of work practice and company standard operating procedures; environmental and safety management plans to ensure safety in gas storage/processing operations; authorisation and process requirements for relevant documentation to permit activities to be undertaken, cancelled or completed; relevant negotiation and communications skills associated with gas systems compliance, acquisition, compensation and easement requirements

Context of assessment
Assessment of competency, including attainment of relevant knowledge and skills may be made through practical demonstration in an on-the-job or off-the-job work environment or simulation of such an environment. Assessment may be carried out by day or night and in varied weather conditions, but must adhere to defined safety and regulatory guidelines.

Pre-requisites
This unit requires, as an entry, attainment of either Certificate III in Gas Operations, Certificate IV in Gas Operations or Diploma of Gas Operations. Entry may also be accepted from those with relevant diplomas of engineering and/or science. As such they would be expected to have sufficient underpinning knowledge and skills in mathematics and science which should accelerate their progress through this unit which leads to the Advanced Diploma in Gas Systems. However, should this not be the case a suitable bridging program is to form part of the entry requirement.

Knowledge and Skills
A knowledge of:
Relevant authorities and their compliance requirements; awareness of cultural and community standards and sensitivities, sacred sites; the purpose and form of environmental and safety management plans; the impact of gas installations on the environment; operating and maintenance principles of gas system; relevant understanding of chemistry; transportation of both LPG and natural gas; company standard operating procedures; site specific safety legislation and safety requirements; emergency response systems; risk management strategies; types of work permits and their applications.
Knowledge of the chemical and physical behaviour of natural and liquefied petroleum gas, including hazards in production, storage, handling, transport, transmission and distribution.
The ability to:
Manage sensitive negotiations and communicate with diverse groups of stakeholders, adhere to legislative requirements, interpret and use drawings and plans, coordinate and manage work groups including specialist consultants, convene and manage meetings and prepare reports and submissions.