Elements and Performance Criteria

Stream: Production Plant

Field: Operations

Equivalencies: N/A

Work in this unit is typically carried out under general guidance.
Surveillance sites may include earthen walls, concrete walls, spillways, reservoir perimeter, weirs, tunnels/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, 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.

Critical aspects of Evidence
The knowledge an application of relevant sections of occupational health and safety legislation, statutory legislation, environmental protection legislation, enterprise/site safety procedures, enterprise/site emergency procedures.
The preparation of planning of work.
The surveillance of hydro electric dams and associated equipment.
The basic testing and taking of water samples.
Completion of work procedures.

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

Interdependent assessment of unit
Nil

Knowledge and Skills
A knowledge of:
Relevant occupational health and safety standards, relevant statutory requirements and codes of practice, relevant site/enterprise procedures and standards, equipment and materials required to perform the work, general layout of work site and associated equipment, early warning signs and causes of dam failures, basic knowledge of dam types and construction, water sampling procedures, recording procedures, communication equipment and principles.

The ability to:
Apply occupational health and safety standards, relevant statutory requirements and codes of practice, apply relevant site/enterprise procedures and standards, select and utilise equipment and materials required to perform the work, recognise work site and relevant associated equipment, identify early warning signs and causes of dam failures, undertake water sampling and recording procedures, communicate effectively.