Hazardous Areas Competency Standards

Competency Standards are an industry agreed statement used to describe the knowledge and skills required to carry out a particular job or task.
Once you have been awarded a competency in your field of study, you are considered to have all the necessary knowledge and skills required and you are able to apply this knowledge and skills effectively in the workplace. You are considered competent because you can: apply your knowledge and skills in a range of situations simultaneously manage the different activities that make up the competency deal with the responsibilities and expectations of the workplace.

1. National Coding System

The National Coding System is used to identify each unique Training Package, unit of competency and qualification consistently across Australia and its educational institutions. The competencies for Working With Electrical Equipment for Hazardous Areas are made up of curriculum modules and work performance modules. The selection of these modules are based on the competencies required. Download a copy of the National Coding System.

2. Existing and new Units of Competency

The curriculum modules provide the knowledge and skills underpinning competency. Work performance modules are used to show that you have achieved the levels of performance specified in the Unit of Competency. They provide methods and criteria for gathering evidence. Download a copy of the Table of Comparison. The following Australian Standards are covered in the various Units of Competency - Classification of Hazardous Areas: AS/6N2S 60079.10.1 GAS AS/NZS 61241.10. DUSTS Construction Standards: AS 2380 Series (superseded) AS/NZS 60079 Series AS/NZS 61241 Series Selection, Installation and Maintenance: AS 2381 Series (will be withdrawn September 2011) AS/NZS 60079 Series AS/NZS 4871 Series AS/NZS 3007 Series AS/NZS 3008 AS/NZS 3000 Overhaul and Repair: AS/NZS 3800 AS/NZS 2290.1 Quality Systems: AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008

AS/NZS 4761 - Units of Competency

If you have specific needs, we can work with you to tailor training programs around the following Units of Competency to suit your business. Report on the Integrity of Explosion-protected Equipment in Hazardous Areas (now Clause 2.2) (UTE NES 010): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of plant and machinery operation and maintenance. It requires the ability to visually identify any damage or deterioration of explosion-protected equipment, monitor changes in the explosion hazard and to implement procedures established to limit the risk of an explosion. Attend to Breakdowns in Hazardous Areas (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.3) (UTE NES 012): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of attending to a breakdown in a hazardous area or of explosion-protected and associated equipment. It requires the ability to ascertain the nature of a breakdown, the extent of repairs required and the personnel needed to repair the breakdown. Use and Maintain Integrity of Portable Gas Detection Devices (now Clause 2.4) (UTE NES 020): This competency standard unit cover the gas detection aspects of ensuring a work place is safe from explosive and toxic gases and vapours. It requires the ability to use measuring instruments accurately, follow written instructions and to write instructions for others. Install Explosion-protected Equipment and Wiring Systems (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.5) (UTE NES 107): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects for installing explosion-protected and associated equipment and wiring systems. It requires the ability to match equipment with that specified for a given location, work safely, and to installation Standards and complete the necessary installation documentation. Install and Maintain Integrity of Fixed Gas Detection Equipment (now Clause 2.6) (UTE NES 116): This competency standard unit covers the installation, calibration and response checking of permanent gas detection equipment. It requires the ability to match equipment with that specified for a given location and to use manufacturer's manuals to maintain accuracy of gas monitoring devices. Maintain Equipment in Hazardous Areas (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.7) (UTE NES 214): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects for maintaining explosion-protected and associated equipment and wiring systems. It requires the ability to follow a maintenance program, work safely, carry out maintenance to Standards and manufacturer's instructions and complete the necessary maintenance documentation. Overhaul and Repair Explosion-protected Equipment(endorsement*) (now Clause 2.8) (UTE NES 215): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of overhauling and repairing explosionprotected equipment. It requires the ability to establish and document the level of work required, arranging for the overhaul / repair to be carried out, verify compliance of overhauled/repaired equipment and complete the necessary documentation. Assess Explosion-protected Equipment for Compliance with Standards (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.9) (UTE NES 407): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of assessing compliance of electrical equipment. It requires the ability to assess and to report on the integrity of equipment, gather assessment and test documentation from accredited testing bodies and prepare submission to accredited certification bodies. Test Installation in Hazardous Areas (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.10) (UTE NES 408): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects for electrical installations for hazardous areas. It requires the ability to select, prepare and use appropriate testing devices, work safely and to Standards and to interpret and record test results.

Conduct Close Inspection of Existing Hazardous Areas Installations (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.11) (UTE NES 409): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protected aspects for conducting visual and close inspection of electrical installations for hazardous areas. It requires the ability to follow inspection programs, work safely, and identify conditions that affect the integrity of explosion-protection and document inspection findings. Conduct Detailed Inspection of Existing Hazardous Areas Installations (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.12) (UTE NES 410): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of conducting initial, periodic and sample audit inspections of explosion-protected equipment and installations. It requires the ability to audit a verification dossier, work safely in a hazardous area, inspect against Standards and report and act on inspection results. Develop and Manage Maintenance Programs for Hazardous Area Electrical Equipment (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.13) (UTE NES 609): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of plant maintenance schemes. It requires the ability to develop and manage maintenance programs incorporating strategies for inspection, repair/overhaul/replacement of components and recording of maintenance outcomes. Ensure the Safety of Hazardous Areas (now Clause 2.14) (UTE NES 610): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of ensuring that explosive atmospheres, generated by production, processing or servicing activities, do not pose a hazard to persons, property or the environment. Design and Develop Modifications to Explosion-Protected Equipment (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.15) (UTE NES 705): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of designing and developing modifications to explosion-protected equipment. It requires abilities in technical design and compliance assessments and documentation. Classify Hazardous Areas (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.16) (UTE NES 706): This competency standard unit covers knowledge and skills to classify areas where explosion materials may exist. It requires the ability to gather and analyse data relative to explosion hazards, determine the extent of risk and to establish and document zones delineating the levels of risk. Plan Electrical Installations in Hazardous Areas (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.17) (UTE NES 707): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of planning electrical installations for hazardous areas. It requires the ability to identify hazardous area zones from classification diagrams, or from examples of previously classified areas such as those given in Standards, and to select and locate explosionprotected equipment and wiring systems and other items that may influence the explosion-protection technique. Design Explosion-Protected Electrical Systems (endorsement*) (now Clause 2.18) (UTE NES 708): This competency standard unit covers the explosion-protection aspects of designing electrical systems. It requires the ability to establish briefs and to pursue economical and effective design solutions. Design Gas Detection Systems (now Clause 2.19) (UTE NES 711): This competency standard unit covers the selection aspects of gas detection equipment for the design of gas detection systems for hazardous areas. It requires the ability to establish equipment parameters and to evaluate these against manufacturer's specifications. ENDORSEMENT* Competency standards have attached endorsements related to the explosion protection equipment/environment in which the competency has been demonstrated. More than one endorsement is achievable. Endorsements are designated by suffixes as follows:

Ex d Ex e Ex n Ex i Ex p Ex tD (DIP) Ex pD Ex m D Ex iD

Flameproof Increased safety Non-sparking Intrinsic safety Pressurization Protection by enclosure - Dusts Pressurization - Dusts Encapsulation - Dusts Intrinsic safety - Dusts

Classification of hazardous areas Dusts Classification of hazardous areas Endorsement* Competency standards have attached endorsements related to the explosion protection equipment / environment in which the competency has been demonstrated. More than one endorsement is achievable. Endorsements are designated by suffixes as follows:

Ex d Ex d Ex e Ex n Ex i Ex p Ex tD (DIP) I Gases Dusts ELV

Flameproof Flameproof (enclosures only) Increased safety Non-sparking Intrinsic safety Pressurization Protection by enclosure - Dusts Group I equipment only Gas hazards only Dust hazards only For equipment and systems operating a extralow voltage only