Bulk storage terminal technician

Bulk storage operations – role, critical national infrastructure designation, and importance. Types of employers: product owners, third party storage. Supply chain and types of customers and stakeholders. Business environment and location factors. Range of products and services.

Bulk storage technician’s role. Limits of responsibility. Escalation procedures.

Health and safety, regulations, standards and guidance - requirements and impact on role: Control of Major Accident Hazards (COMAH) Regulations, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations, Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR), Display Screen Equipment Regulations, Electrical safety and compliance, Fire safety, Human factors, Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER), Lone working, Manual handling regulations, Health and Safety at Work Act, Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER), The Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR), working at height, and working in confined spaces.

Health and safety management systems. Process safety management. Process safety performance indicators. Learning from incidents and principles of incident investigation.

Control of Work (CoW) requirements.

Principles of safety instrumented systems (SIS) and functional safety. Role of emergency shut down systems (ESD).

Bulk storage potential hazards and risks and mitigation methods.

Different types of risk assessments.

Safe systems of work and their role in mitigating incidents. Safety critical tasks and safety critical equipment.

Personal protective equipment (PPE): selection, use and care.

Emergency procedures.

Personal wellbeing, physical, and mental health awareness.

Security requirements.

Environmental regulations and standards – impact on role: Environment Permitting Regulations, Environmental Management Systems standard, Environmental Protection Act, and Hazardous Waste Regulations.

The UK's net zero commitment. Principles of sustainability: resource (energy, water, and waste) efficiency, reuse of materials, and recycling.

Waste management procedures.

Business operation considerations: quality, cost, and delivery.

Planning, prioritising, and time management techniques.

Numerical approximations and unit conversion tables. Volumes, pressure, ullage, density, and flow rates calculations.

Conventions for drawings and graphical information.

Sources of work information.

Standard operating procedures - what they are and how to use them; change control requirement.

Chemical and physical properties of substances. Purpose of safety data sheets.

Principles of material compatibility in bulk storage operations.

Bulk storage plant and equipment: application and operation.

Methods of bulk transfer: to and from ship, via internal and external pipeline, to and from road tanker, to and from rail tanker, tank to tank, and via airport. Principles of bulk transfer operations: route, ullage, product, and transfer rates. Principles of jetty operations.

Stock management principles, practice, and documentation: product movement sheets, labelling, and Bill of Lading (BoL).

Principles for maintaining product parameters and safe storage.

Principles that underpin the treatment and blending of bulk products.

Contamination control requirements.

Cleaning equipment methods.

Clearing equipment methods.

Quality assurance management systems.

Quality control sampling and testing requirements. Sampling and dipping techniques.

Documentation requirements: documentation control and auditable records.

Planned preventative maintenance strategy, schedules, and practice.

Requirements for shutting down bulk storage plant and equipment.

Requirements for reinstating bulk storage plant and equipment.

Common tank storage and process faults and causes.

Problem solving and fault-finding techniques.

Continuous improvement techniques.

Teamwork principles.

Principles of equity, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

Non-written communication techniques.

Written communication techniques.

Information technology software packages. Management information systems. General data protection regulation (GDPR). Cyber security.

Application of automation of control systems in the bulk storage industry.

Identify hazards and risks in the workplace and mitigation measures.

Apply health, safety, and environmental procedures. For example, safe systems of work and PPE.

Apply signage and access restriction measures.

Conduct task health and safety checks. For example, check PPE, review safety data sheets, check gas monitors, check weather conditions, and review control spillage procedures.

Conduct emergency equipment and system checks. For example, check safety shower, first aid kits, fire alarms, safety instrumented system, and emergency response equipment.

Follow security procedures.

Follow emergency response procedures. For example, make area safe, and evacuate.

Conduct task environmental checks. For example, bunds, inceptors, spill kits, sump alarms, and kits.

Apply sustainability principles. For example, minimising waste and recycling.

Manage waste streams.

Review information. For example, work instructions and handover notes.

Uses planning, prioritising, and time management techniques to plan tasks.

Identify and organise resources with consideration for safety, environmental impact, quality, cost, and delivery.

Conduct process parameter calculations.

Interpret drawings and graphs. For example, pipeline and instrumentation diagrams.

Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Select, check, and prepare materials. For example, weigh, measure, blend, and transfer.

Select tools and equipment; conduct visual and physical checks. For example, corrosion and damage checks.

Connect and align equipment. For example, connect pipelines, add hoses, and open or close values.

Disconnect equipment.

Store tools and equipment.

Conduct final process pre-start safety checks.

Start up process operation on agreed parameters.

Monitor process operation. For example, take readings and conduct line walks.

Adjust process parameters.

Shut down and conduct post process procedures. For example, volume and quantity checks, visual inspection, and storage.

Clean equipment. For example, washing, inerting, purging, and gas scrubbing.

Clear equipment. For example, pigging and line clearing.

Take samples for testing. For example, density, water levels, Ph levels, and conductivity checks.

Apply planned preventative maintenance practices. For example, filter changes, lubrication, oil checks, functional testing, leak repairs, and pipeline inspections.

Identify equipment for handover.

Shut down and isolate process, systems, and equipment. Complete isolation checks.

Empty equipment. For example, drain, purge, vent, and de-pressure.

Complete equipment reinstatement checks. For example, fill, pressurise, and leak test.

Connect service utilities. For example, water, air, nitrogen, and steam.

De-isolate the process and systems.

Identify issues. For example, defects, deviations, process variance, and maintenance requirements.

Apply problem-solving and fault-finding techniques to identify root cause.

Escalate issues outside limits of responsibility. For example, defects.

Apply continuous improvement techniques to identify improvement suggestions.

Plan how to meet personal development needs. Carry out and record planned and unplanned learning and development activities.

Apply team working principles.

Communicate with others. For example, colleagues and stakeholders.

Record or enter information - paper based or electronic.

Produce documents. For example, handover notes or emails, management of change requests, and near miss incident reports.

Use information technology. For example, word processing, databases, spreadsheet, email, virtual learning platforms, and document sharing platforms. Comply with GDPR and cyber security requirements.

Prioritise safe working practices.

Consider sustainability in their work.

Take responsibility for the quality of their own work.

Respond and adapt to work demands.

Team-focus to meet work goals including support for equity, diversity and inclusion.

Committed to continued professional development.