Enhancing Workplace Competency: Importance and Application

2. COMPETENCY CERTIFICATION WITHIN THE INDUSTRY

3. What is Competency • Competency comprises the specification of knowledge and skills and the application of that knowledge and skill to the standards of performance required in the workplace. • Competency includes all aspects of work performance and not only narrow skills. Hazardous Area Standardisation - A case study from Australia

4. Meaning of Competency • Competency involves three elements. • (i) Qualifications (Off the Job) • (ii) Experience (On the Job) • (iii) Recent and Relevant Training (Off and On the Job)

5. Assessing Competency • Assessor must gather evidence which must be : • Valid • Direct • Authentic • Current • Sufficient

6. What is Competency • The four components of competency are: 1. Task Skills 2. Task management skills 3. Contingency management skills 4. Job/role environmental skills

7. What is Competency • The concept of competency focuses on what is expected of an employee in the workplace rather than the learning process. • It embodies the ability to transfer and apply skills and knowledge to new situations and environments.

8. Owner’s Responsibilities (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.

9. WHY DO WE NEED IT • AS/NZS2381 PART 1 STATES‘You SHALL employ competent personnel to work in hazardous areas’ • An owner or occupier then faces the decision as to how they ensure their personnel are competent. • In addition it prevents problems that are shown in the following slides.

10. Consequences of not using competent persons • Ex d switch. • New larger switch has been fitted • Hole cut in the back of the enclosure to accommodate it. • Enclosure will not contain an explosion

11. Consequences of not using Competent persons • Ex e Increased safety Terminal box • Non-certified components -Relays added later. • Box is now unsafe & potential source of ignition

12. Consequences of not using Competent persons • Use of Fused terminals in an Ex e Increased safety box • Terminals are arcing devices and are not certified as Ex e components.

13. HOW DO WE GET COMPETENCY • An owner or occupier can accept the responsibility of deeming his own personnel as competent however they would face the consequences if there was an incident. • Alternatively they could ensure their personnel were deemed competent to AS/NZS4761 • In the future there will be a new path through the IECEX certified persons scheme

14. Attributing Competency • Competency is attributed on the basis of Evidence and this evidence must be:1. Sufficient to show competency2. Current. It must be current at the time.3. Authentic. It must be genuine and relate to the person.

15. Attributing Competency • A person can be deemed competent in one of two ways: • By training and assessment by an RTOor • By assessment for RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning).This must be carried out by an accredited RTO

16. Attributing Competency • Once deemed competent a person must maintain their competency by regular use of their skills, keeping up with changes to standards and by attendance at seminars relating to their skills or • By regular refreshers & assessments.

17. AS/NZS4761 Units of Competency • Competency can only be given by an RTO (Registered Training Organisation) accredited to do so. • RTO’s must be accredited by the state governments through the VETAB in each state.

18. What is a Unit of Competency • A unit of competency is the competency required for a useful work function and which resides with an individual.It covers both theory and practical skills. • This should not be confused with a job description which will invariably comprise a number of units of competency.

19. What is a Unit of Competency • The specification of a Unit of Competency comprises: Scope Prerequisites Elements and performance criteria Range statement Evidence Guide Essential knowledge & skills

20. AS/NZS Units of Competency • There are a total of 28 units in AS/NZS4761 some examples as follows:Unit code Unit titleUEENEE001B Report on the integrity of Ex equipment in hazardous areasUEENEE002B Attend to breakdowns in hazardous areasUEENEE004B Install explosion-protected equipment and wiring systems.UEENEE011B Conduct detailed inspection of hazardous area installations

21. AS/NZS4761 Units of Competency • In addition there are units covering: Design Electrical installations Repair & overhaul of equipment Area Classification Gas Detection Maintain equipment Plus specific units for the Underground coal mining indstry

22. AS/NZS4761 Units of Competency • Competency applies to operators as well as tradespersons and some units are specifically designed for management and operators. • Some units must be endorsed for the explosion protection techniques e.g Ex d , Ex e, Ex i etc.

23. IECEx Cert Persons Scheme - Overview According to ISO/IEC 17024 + IECEx Rules + Operational Docs Person prepares application IECEx Certification Body (ExCB) Testing of knowledge Assessment of experience Surveillance Re-assessment By ExCB Certified Person New Scheme for Personnel

24. IECEx Certified Persons Scheme • Australia has played a major part in developing this scheme. • Scheme only covers assessment of persons for This competency. • There are only 10 units of competency for persons to be assessed to.

25. IECEx 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

26. IECEx Certified Persons Scheme • At this time the scheme is in its Formative stages and no certifyting bodies have been accredited. • However it is anticipated that this will happen by the end of 2009 • Watch the IECEx website for news of progress.

27. IECEx Certified Persons Scheme • This new scheme covers assessment only and separates the assessment process from the training. • Training if needed must be undertaken as a separate process and with a specialist training provider. • The Rules are written to ensure that assessments are consistent across all service providers.

28. IECEx Certified Persons Scheme • The IECEx scheme will be accepted internationally by all member countries. • The AS/NZS 4761 scheme is only accepted in Australia and New Zealand • The new scheme offers another option for industry to ensure and maintain competency in their workplaces

29. Summary • Standards for hazardous locations require the use of special equipment to avoid ignition of the atmosphere. • If that special equipment is installed incorrectly it can negate its explosion protection properties and cause the installation to be unsafe.

30. Summary • The use of Competent persons ensures that maintenance will be carried out correctly and maximise service life. • Competent persons are able to identify faults which could be potential sources of ignition.