Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
24/07/2026 2:20 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.

Undertake dam safety surveillance

Undertake dam safety surveillance

Unit of competency
National Code
UEPOPS328B
State Code
WE351
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
25/07/2012
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
22/07/2014
Field of Education
030907 - Water And Sanitary Engineering
Original Release Date
22/07/2014
Nominal Hours
27
Description
1)Scope:1.1) DescriptorThis unit deals with the skills and knowledge required to conduct ongoing surveillance of water storage facilities to ensure structural integrity and water quality is maintained.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Plan and Prepare for the Work
  • 1.1 Occupational Health and Safety standards, statutory requirements, relevant Australian standards, codes of practice, manufacturer specifications, environmental requirements and enterprise procedures are identified, applied and monitored throughout the work procedure.
  • 1.2 Work requirements are identified from request/works orders or equivalent and clarified/confirmed with appropriate parties or by site inspection.
  • 1.3 Resources required to satisfy the work are identified, obtained and inspected for compliance in accordance with enterprise procedures.
  • 1.4 Potential hazards are identified and prevention and/or control measures are selected in accordance with the work plan and site procedures.
  • 1.5 Work is planned in detail including sequencing and prioritising and considerations made, where appropriate, for maintenance of plant security and capacity in accordance with system/site requirements.
  • 1.6 Co-ordination requirements, including requests for isolations where appropriate, are resolved with others involved, affected or required by the work.
2 Undertake dam safety surveillance
  • 2.1 Surveillance of dam structures is undertaken in accordance with site/enterprise procedures and guidelines.
  • 2.2 Recordings of leakage are reported to appropriate authorities in accordance with site/enterprise procedures.
  • 2.3 Special inspections are undertaken following abnormal events in accordance with enterprise procedures.
3 Sample and record water quality
  • 3.1 Water samples are collected using appropriate equipment and techniques in accordance with site/enterprise procedures.
  • 3.2 Perform basic testing using laboratory and/or field equipment in accordance with enterprise/site requirements.
  • 3.3 Test results are recorded and abnormal results are communicated to appropriate personnel in accordance with site/enterprise requirements.
4 Complete the work
  • 4.1 Documentation is updated in accordance with enterprise procedures.
  • 4.2 Test equipment/tools is/are maintained and stored in accordance with enterprise procedures.
RANGE STATEMENT
10) 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.
Work in this unit is typically carried out under general guidance.
Surveillance sites may include earthen walls, concrete walls, spillways, reservoir perimeter, weirs, tunnels and galleries.
Samples may be taken form dams, rivers, weirs and water conveyance assets and equipment, and testing may be pollution, pH, turbidity.
Recordings may be in the form of log sheets or through electronic media.
Dam safety surveillance will mostly be of a visual nature but not necessarily limited to such.
Appropriate personnel may include hydro station operating staff, local councils, irrigation concerns, control centres, maintenance staff, emergency services personnel, downstream landowners.
Abnormal events may include floods, landslides and earthquakes.
Communication may be by means of telephone/fax, two way radio, logs, verbal.
Extreme weather conditions may be encountered over varied terrain requiring the use of 4WD vehicles.
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 Section 2.1 Preliminary Information and Glossaries.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
9) 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
9.1)

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
9.2)

Before the critical aspects of evidence are considered all pre-requisites 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 - UEP12”. Evidence shall also comprise:
A representative body of work performance 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 employability skills
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
Preparation of planning of work
Surveillance of hydro electric dams and associated equipment
Basic testing and taking of water samples.
Completion of work procedures.
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
9.3)

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
9.4)

This unit shall be assessed by methods given in Section 1.3.00 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
9.5)

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
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
S5214 UEPOPS328A Undertake Dam Safety Surveillance Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OAH00 UEPOPS328 Undertake dam safety surveillance Unit of competency