COMPETENCY COMPETENCY CERTIFICATION WITHIN CERTIFICATION WITHIN

THE INDUSTRYTHE INDUSTRY

Hazardous Area Standardisation - A case sHazardous Area Standardisation - A case study from Australiatudy from Australia

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What is CompetencyWhat is Competency Competency comprises the Competency comprises the

specification of specification of knowledge knowledge and and skills skills and the application of that and the application of that knowledge and skill to the standards knowledge and skill to the standards of performance required in the of performance required in the workplace.workplace.

Competency includes all aspects of Competency includes all aspects of work performance and not only work performance and not only narrow skills.narrow skills.

Meaning of CompetencyMeaning of Competency

Competency involves three elements.Competency involves three elements.

(i) Qualifications (Off the Job)(i) Qualifications (Off the Job)

(ii) Experience (On the Job)(ii) Experience (On the Job)

(iii) Recent and Relevant Training(iii) Recent and Relevant Training (Off and On the Job) (Off and On the Job)

Assessing CompetencyAssessing Competency

Assessor must gather evidence which Assessor must gather evidence which must be :must be :

ValidValid DirectDirect AuthenticAuthentic CurrentCurrent SufficientSufficient

What is CompetencyWhat is Competency

The four components of competency The four components of competency are:are:

1. Task Skills1. Task Skills2. Task management skills2. Task management skills3. Contingency management 3. Contingency management

skillsskills4. Job/role environmental skills4. Job/role environmental skills

What is CompetencyWhat is Competency

The concept of competency focuses The concept of competency focuses on what is expected of an employee on what is expected of an employee in the workplace rather than the in the workplace rather than the learning process.learning process.

It embodies the ability to transfer It embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments.new situations and environments.

Owner’s Responsibilities Owner’s Responsibilities (Hazardous Areas)(Hazardous Areas)

•Electrical legislation states that the owner is responsible and accountable for the design, installation and maintenance of electrical installations within their plant that they are electrically safe.

WHY DO WE NEED IT

AS/NZS2381 PART 1 STATESAS/NZS2381 PART 1 STATES‘You ‘You SHALLSHALL employ competent employ competent personnel to work in hazardous personnel to work in hazardous areas’areas’

An owner or occupier then faces the An owner or occupier then faces the decision as to how they ensure their decision as to how they ensure their personnel are competent.personnel are competent.

In addition it prevents problems that In addition it prevents problems that are shown in the following slides.are shown in the following slides.

Consequences of not using Consequences of not using competent personscompetent persons

Ex d switch.Ex d switch. New larger switch New larger switch

has been fittedhas been fitted Hole cut in the back Hole cut in the back

of the enclosure to of the enclosure to accommodate it.accommodate it.

Enclosure will not Enclosure will not contain an contain an explosionexplosion

Consequences of not using Consequences of not using Competent personsCompetent persons

Ex e Increased Ex e Increased safety Terminal safety Terminal boxbox

Non-certified Non-certified components -components -Relays added later.Relays added later.

Box is now unsafe Box is now unsafe & potential source & potential source of ignitionof ignition

Consequences of not using Consequences of not using Competent personsCompetent persons

Use of Fused Use of Fused terminals in an Ex terminals in an Ex e Increased safety e Increased safety boxbox

Terminals are Terminals are arcing devices and arcing devices and are not certified as are not certified as Ex e components.Ex e components.

HOW DO WE GET COMPETENCYHOW DO WE GET COMPETENCY

An owner or occupier can accept the An owner or occupier can accept the responsibility of deeming his own responsibility of deeming his own personnel as competent however they personnel as competent however they would face the consequences if there was would face the consequences if there was an incident.an incident.

Alternatively they could ensure their Alternatively they could ensure their personnel were deemed competent to personnel were deemed competent to AS/NZS4761AS/NZS4761

In the future there will be a new path In the future there will be a new path through the IECEX certified persons through the IECEX certified persons schemescheme

Attributing CompetencyAttributing Competency

Competency is attributed on the Competency is attributed on the basis of basis of EvidenceEvidence and this evidence and this evidence must be:must be:1. 1. Sufficient Sufficient to show competency to show competency2. 2. Current.Current. It must be current at It must be current at

the time. the time.3. 3. Authentic.Authentic. It must be genuine It must be genuine and relate to the and relate to the person.person.

Attributing CompetencyAttributing Competency

A person can be deemed competent A person can be deemed competent in one of two ways:in one of two ways:

By training and assessment by an By training and assessment by an RTORTOoror

By assessment for RPL (Recognition By assessment for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning).This must be of Prior Learning).This must be carried out by an accredited RTOcarried out by an accredited RTO

Attributing CompetencyAttributing Competency

Once deemed competent a person Once deemed competent a person must maintain their competency by must maintain their competency by regular use of their skills, keeping up regular use of their skills, keeping up with changes to standards and by with changes to standards and by attendance at seminars relating to attendance at seminars relating to their skills ortheir skills or

By regular refreshers & assessments.By regular refreshers & assessments.

AS/NZS4761 Units of AS/NZS4761 Units of CompetencyCompetency

Competency can only be given by an Competency can only be given by an RTO (Registered Training RTO (Registered Training Organisation) accredited to do so.Organisation) accredited to do so.

RTO’s must be accredited by the RTO’s must be accredited by the state governments through the state governments through the VETAB in each state.VETAB in each state.

What is a Unit of CompetencyWhat is a Unit of Competency

A unit of competency is the A unit of competency is the competency required for a useful competency required for a useful work function and which resides with work function and which resides with an individual.It covers both theory an individual.It covers both theory and practical skills.and practical skills.

This should not be confused with a This should not be confused with a job description which will invariably job description which will invariably comprise a number of units of comprise a number of units of competency.competency.

What is a Unit of CompetencyWhat is a Unit of Competency

The specification of a Unit of The specification of a Unit of Competency comprises:Competency comprises:

ScopeScopePrerequisitesPrerequisitesElements and performance Elements and performance

criteriacriteriaRange statementRange statementEvidence GuideEvidence GuideEssential knowledge & skillsEssential knowledge & skills

AS/NZS Units of CompetencyAS/NZS Units of Competency

There are a total of 28 units in There are a total of 28 units in AS/NZS4761 some examples as AS/NZS4761 some examples as follows:follows:Unit codeUnit code Unit titleUnit titleUEENEE001B Report on the integrity of Ex UEENEE001B Report on the integrity of Ex

equipment in hazardous areasequipment in hazardous areasUEENEE002B Attend to breakdowns in hazardous UEENEE002B Attend to breakdowns in hazardous

areasareasUEENEE004B Install explosion-protected UEENEE004B Install explosion-protected

equipment and wiring systems.equipment and wiring systems.UEENEE011B Conduct detailed inspection of UEENEE011B Conduct detailed inspection of

hazardous area hazardous area installationsinstallations

AS/NZS4761 Units of AS/NZS4761 Units of CompetencyCompetency

In addition there are units covering:In addition there are units covering:Design Electrical installationsDesign Electrical installationsRepair & overhaul of equipmentRepair & overhaul of equipmentArea ClassificationArea ClassificationGas DetectionGas DetectionMaintain equipmentMaintain equipmentPlus specific units for the Plus specific units for the

Underground coal mining indstry Underground coal mining indstry

AS/NZS4761 Units of AS/NZS4761 Units of CompetencyCompetency

Competency applies to operators as Competency applies to operators as well as tradespersons and some units well as tradespersons and some units are specifically designed for are specifically designed for management and operators.management and operators.

Some units must be endorsed for the Some units must be endorsed for the explosion protection techniques explosion protection techniques e.g Ex d , Ex e, Ex i etc.e.g Ex d , Ex e, Ex i etc.

IECEx Cert Persons Scheme - OverviewIECEx Cert Persons Scheme - Overview

Testing of knowledge

Assessment of experience

Surveillance Re-assessment

Person prepares application

IECEx Certification Body (ExCB)

Certified Person

By ExCB

According to ISO/IEC 17024 + IECEx Rules + Operational Docs

New Scheme for Personnel

IECEx Certified Persons SchemeIECEx Certified Persons Scheme

Australia has played a major part in Australia has played a major part in developing this scheme.developing this scheme.

Scheme only covers assessment of Scheme only covers assessment of persons for This competency.persons for This competency.

There are only 10 units of There are only 10 units of competency for persons to be competency for persons to be assessed to.assessed to.

IECEx Certified Persons SchemeIECEx Certified Persons Scheme

LIST OF UNITS OF COMPETENCY

Reference Title

Unit Ex 001 - Apply basic principles of protection in explosive atmospheres Unit Ex 002 - Perform classification of hazardous areas Unit Ex 003 - Install explosion-protected equipment and wiring systems Unit Ex 004 - Maintain equipment in explosive atmospheres Unit Ex 005— Overhaul and repair of explosion-protected equipment Unit Ex 006 - Test electrical installations in or associated with explosive

atmospheres Unit Ex 007- Perform visual & close inspection of electrical installations in

or associated with explosive atmospheres Unit Ex 008 - Perform detailed inspection of electrical installations in or

associated with explosive atmospheres Unit Ex 009 - Design electrical installations in or associated with explosive

atmospheres Unit Ex 010— Perform audit inspection of electrical installations in or

associated with explosive atmospheres

IECEx Certified Persons SchemeIECEx Certified Persons Scheme

At this time the scheme is in its At this time the scheme is in its Formative stages and no certifyting Formative stages and no certifyting bodies have been accredited.bodies have been accredited.

However it is anticipated that this will However it is anticipated that this will happen by the end of 2009happen by the end of 2009

Watch the IECEx website for news of Watch the IECEx website for news of progress.progress.

IECEx Certified Persons SchemeIECEx Certified Persons Scheme

This new scheme covers assessment This new scheme covers assessment only and separates the assessment only and separates the assessment process from the training.process from the training.

Training if needed must be Training if needed must be undertaken as a separate process undertaken as a separate process and with a specialist training and with a specialist training provider.provider.

The Rules are written to ensure that The Rules are written to ensure that assessments are consistent across all assessments are consistent across all service providers.service providers.

IECEx Certified Persons SchemeIECEx Certified Persons Scheme

The IECEx scheme will be accepted The IECEx scheme will be accepted internationally by all member internationally by all member countries.countries.

The AS/NZS 4761 scheme is only The AS/NZS 4761 scheme is only accepted in Australia and New accepted in Australia and New ZealandZealand

The new scheme offers another The new scheme offers another option for industry to ensure and option for industry to ensure and maintain competency in their maintain competency in their workplacesworkplaces

SummarySummary

Standards for hazardous locations Standards for hazardous locations require the use of special equipment require the use of special equipment to avoid ignition of the atmosphere.to avoid ignition of the atmosphere.

If that special equipment is installed If that special equipment is installed incorrectly it can negate its explosion incorrectly it can negate its explosion protection properties and cause the protection properties and cause the installation to be unsafe.installation to be unsafe.

SummarySummary

The use of Competent persons The use of Competent persons ensures that maintenance will be ensures that maintenance will be carried out correctly and maximise carried out correctly and maximise service life.service life.

Competent persons are able to Competent persons are able to identify faults which could be identify faults which could be potential sources of ignition.potential sources of ignition.