Work must be carried out in accordance with relevant state/territory environmental protection regulations and workplace procedures.

Work is performed under some supervision generally within a team environment. It involves the application of basic environmental protection principles and regulations to work undertaken during rail infrastructure maintenance and construction activities.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Minimise the effects of pollution during work

1.1 Precautions are taken to ensure spilt fuel, lubricants, chemicals and noxious plants do not pollute the environment

1.2 Equipment and vehicles are operated efficiently to minimise pollution of the air environment through excessive exhaust emissions

1.3 Unnecessary running of engines/equipment is avoided to minimise pollution of the air environment

1.4 Worksites are kept clean and tidy during work operations and the disposal of waste is in accordance with environmental regulations and workplace procedures

1.5 Contaminant from worksites is contained by use of appropriate traps and barriers

1.6 Noise pollution from work is minimised

2Minimise the effects of pollution during maintenance

2.1 Suitable precautions are taken during maintenance and construction activities not to pollute the environment by implementing housekeeping and environmental protection precautions and procedures

2.2 Rubbish is deposited in designated rubbish disposal bins

3Avoid environmental damage

3.1 Sensitive sites in the vicinity of work are identified

3.2 Suitable precautions are taken to avoid damage to sensitive sites

4Transport/handle environmentally hazardous materials safely

4.1 The instructions contained in material safety data sheets in regard to safe transportation requirements are followed in accordance with government regulations and workplace requirements

4.2 Contaminant is disposed of in accordance with relevant regulations, workplace procedures and guidelines

4.3 Environmentally hazardous materials are handled and moved in accordance with relevant regulations, workplace procedures and guidelines aimed at minimising the risk of environmental pollution

5Complete reports and documentation

5.1 Environmental breaches are reported

5.2 Documentation is completed in accordance with relevant regulations and workplace procedures

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS

This describes the essential knowledge and skills and their level required for this unit.

Required knowledge:

Relevant safety, OHS and environmental protection regulations

Workplace procedures and guidelines for the care of the environment during rail infrastructure maintenance and construction

Environmental risks when undertaking rail infrastructure maintenance and construction and related precautions to control the risk

Environmental protection standards required during rail infrastructure maintenance and construction activities

Site layout including location of rubbish disposal bins and run-off protection measures

Application of relevant environmental protection regulations and requirements including site specific licence and trade waste requirements

Service and maintenance procedures

Procedures and processes for waste and effluent regulation where applicable

Environmental hazards and toxicity of materials typically carried in loads

Emission control checking requirements for vehicles and relevant equipment where fitted

Typical problems that can occur when caring for the environment, and appropriate action that can be taken to prevent or solve them

Required skills:

Read and interpret instructions, procedures and information relevant to the care of the environment during rail infrastructure maintenance and construction activities

Interpret and follow operational instructions and perform work tasks in required sequence

Complete documentation related to the care of the environment during rail infrastructure maintenance and construction activities

Promptly report and/or rectify any identified problems that may arise when caring for the environment during rail infrastructure maintenance and construction activities in accordance with regulatory requirements and workplace procedures

Implement contingency plans for unanticipated situations that may occur when caring for the environment during rail infrastructure maintenance and construction activities

Modify activities depending on differing operational contingencies, risk situations and environments

Recognise potential pollution risks and ways of minimising them

Identify and correctly use equipment and vehicles in accordance with environmental protection regulations and guidelines

Follow routine service and maintenance procedures for equipment and vehicles

Adapt to differences in equipment and operating environment in accordance with standard operating procedures

Select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OH&S standards

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required knowledge and skills, the range statement and the assessment guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria of this unit and include demonstration of applying the following:

the underpinning knowledge and skills

relevant legislation and workplace procedures

an understanding of the precautions to be undertaken to prevent pollution to the environment within workplace and job role

an understanding of the requirements within the workplace procedures and regulatory requirements for the handling and moving of pollutants

an understanding of the requirements for the disposal of waste and effluent in accordance with regulations and workplace procedures

identification of the pollution likely to affect the workplace and the effect on the job role

Assessment must include exercises which demonstrate competent performance of the following in a range of situations:

minimising the effects of a number of different pollutants during work in a variety of situations

identifying sensitive sites

disposing of contaminants in accordance with relevant regulations, workplace procedures and guidelines

completing documentation in accordance with workplace procedures

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Performance is demonstrated consistently over a period of time and in a suitable range of contexts

Resources for assessment include:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulated practical and knowledge assessment, and/or

access to an appropriate range of relevant operational situations in the workplace

In both real and simulated environments, access is required to:

relevant and appropriate materials and equipment, and

applicable documentation including workplace procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals

Method of assessment

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken by a registered training organisation

As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral tests

Practical assessment must occur:

through activities in an appropriately simulated environment at the registered training organisation, and/or

in an appropriate range of situations in the workplace

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance.

Operations may be conducted:

by day or night

in all weather conditions

Workplaces may comprise:

large, medium or small worksites in the maintenance and construction of rail infrastructure

Environment may include:

indoor

outdoor

marine or other waterways

atmospheric

Sensitive sites may include:

culturally sensitive sites

bio sites

environmentally sensitive sites

Pollutants may include:

exhaust fumes

oils and lubricants

gas

smoke

chemicals and detergents

noxious weeds

contaminated soils

rubbish

noise

wastes

Equipment/vehicles may include:

motor vehicles or trucks

fixed equipment emitting exhaust fumes/gases

on-track vehicles

off-track plant

small machinery

Cleanup equipment may include:

spill kits

bio-degradable detergents

hay bales

silt traps

Personnel in the work area may include:

workplace personnel

site visitors

contractors

official representatives

Work may involve:

exposure to chemicals, and dangerous or hazardous substances

movements of equipment, goods and vehicles

Liaison may include:

internal or external personnel from other work areas (e.g. train controllers)

local authorities

Communication systems may include:

two-way radios

telephones/mobile phones

agreed audible or hand signal

Depending on the type of organisation concerned and the local terminology used, workplace procedures may include:

company procedures

enterprise procedures

organisational procedures

established procedures

Depending on workplace context, personal protective equipment may include:

high visibility clothing

hearing protection

gloves

sunscreen

sunglasses

safety glasses

insect repellent

safety headwear

safety footwear

portable radios/mobile phone

hand lamps

flags

safety devices

Information/documents may include:

OH&S and environmental protection regulations

regulations and policies concerning noise, waste disposal/reprocessing, handling of dangerous goods/hazardous substances and other environmental protection issues

local authority regulations and procedures

workplace housekeeping procedures and policies

codes of practice for environmental protection

material safety data sheets

policies and procedures for entry and work in confined spaces

manufacturers instructions concerning the use and servicing of equipment

supplier and/or client instructions

emergency procedures manuals

goods identification numbers and codes

manifests, bar codes, goods and container identification

relevant legislation, regulations and related documentation

award, enterprise bargaining agreement, other industrial arrangements

standards and certification requirements

quality assurance procedures

licence conditions

Applicable regulations and legislation may include:

legislated rail safety requirements including acts and regulations from each applicable state and territory together with any nationally approved compliance codes and/or guidelines

relevant Australian Standards and related requirements, including AS 4292

relevant state/territory environmental protection legislation

relevant state/territory OH&S legislation

workplace relations regulations

This unit contains employability skills.