Course Overview
The Hyperbaric Lock Operator course is an extension of the Tunnel Worker course and is designed to meet the needs of lock operators who are required to enter the compressed air environment on pressurised tunnel boring machines.
Hyperbaric tunneling is relatively new in Australia with the first pressurized tunnel boring machine (TBM) starting operation in 1996. Since then the industry has grown rapidly and the training requirements for the Hyperbaric Workers and Lock Operators is specified in the Australian standard AS4774.1.
Course Standards
The course meets the requirements of:
- Partial completion of Certificate IV in Hyperbaric Operations (Hyperbaric tunnelling). National Qualification Code 11006NAT.
Note: If you study at an ADAS training establishment outside of Australia you may not be eligible for this Australian Qualifications Framework certificate. The ADAS licence, however, is issued at all ADAS training establishments.
- All ADAS schools teach to the ADAS standard, this means that graduates of non-VET accredited schools may apply to ADAS for a VET qualification through a Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process. Contact ADAS for more information about this process.
Student Prerequisites
Applicants for the hyperbaric workers program must:
- Hold a Hyperbaric Worker – Tunnelling certification.
- Hold either a recognised current Diver Medic Technician certificate or a current First Aid certificate from an accredited training organization (i.e. has been certified within 3 years of the conclusion of the proposed training program) and CPR and oxygen resuscitation skills must have been refreshed within the 12 month period prior to the conclusion of the training program. The student’s First Aid qualifications must meet the competency requirements of AS/NZS 2299.1 Occupational diving operations standard operational practice.
- Are in possession of a valid certificate of medical fitness to dive (see AS/NZS 2299.1) issued, after examination, by a doctor trained and experienced in underwater medicine in accordance with the requirements in AS/NZS 2299.1, and that certification remains valid until the scheduled completion date of the training being undertaken. If the applicants’ health has changed significantly since the medical certificate was issued, the applicant shall seek an appropriate medical review.
Competencies
The following units of competency are included:
- NAT11006001 Work safely in hyperbaric operations
- NAT11006036 Apply knowledge of basic physics and decompression tables to hyperbaric work
- NAT11006037 Assist with prevention and treatment of hyperbaric related illnesses
- NAT11006038 Prepare, operate and maintain twin-lock compression chamber
- NAT11006045 Work safely and effectively in hyperbaric tunnelling operations
- NAT11006046 Operate lock as part of a team in hyperbaric tunnelling operations
- NAT11006065 Apply knowledge of basic physics, anatomy, physiology and psychology to hyperbaric work
- Elective: NAT11006050 Use Normoxic Trimix in hyperbaric tunnelling operations
Delivery & Assessment
The Lock Operator – Tunneling course is usually delivered on the work-site of the company requesting the training.
The course is to be delivered in five 8 hour days and requires the students to have first completed the Hyperbaric Worker – Tunneling course.
