Unit of competency

Modification History

Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to assist with an aerial rescue where an injured person is in a tree or on an elevated work platform (EWP).

Aerial rescue is likely to be undertaken in emergency situations and involves close, effective team-work to ensure the safety of all personnel and the public during a rescue or the management of an aerial casualty.

The unit applies to ground based workers who undertake defined activities with specialised tools and methods, work in structured and changing contexts, apply knowledge and skills to demonstrate autonomy and limited judgement, and provide solutions to a limited range of predictable problems. Work is implemented with low risk work procedures and to comply with Safe Work Method Statement documentation.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction. Specific determination should be sought through the relevant State or Territory.

Pre-requisite Unit

HLTAID003 Provide first aid

AHCARB207 Perform ground based rigging*

AHCARB311 Tie, dress, set and finish arborist knots

Unit Sector

Arboriculture (ARB)

Elements and Performance Criteria

Foundation Skills

Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range of Conditions

Unit Mapping Information

New unit - no equivalent.

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72

Assessment requirements

Modification History

Performance Evidence

The candidate must be observed assisting in a rescue from an EWP and participating in the rescue of a climber from the ground. The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.

The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:

• identifying site hazards, assessing risks and reporting to supervisor
• confirming emergency communication system is working
• confirming emergency services contact numbers are documented
• selecting and checking suitable safety equipment, rescue kit and personal protective equipment
• positioning rescue and first aid equipment for easy access
• clarifying own role in rescue situations
• confirm first aid, rescue personnel, equipment and rescue plan procedures with work team prior to undertaking work
• selecting and using personal protective equipment
• communicating with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals
• attempting communication with casualty
• determining condition of casualty as accurately as possible
• calling emergency services and electricity supply authority as required before assisting with rescue
• determining if the EWP is in contact or closer than ‘safe approach distances’ with electrical wires and apparatus
• determining EWP is structurally stable
• maintaining ‘safe approach distances’
• accessing EWP only if safe to do so
• accessing truck-based controls and lowering bucket to ground if safe to do so
• determining if tree or climber is in contact or closer than ‘safe approach distances’ with electrical wires and apparatus
• maintaining communications with rescuer and casualty, work team and emergency personnel
• keeping all ropes clear and free
• observing rescue route and provide feedback to rescuer
• assisting with managing casualty as they approach ground
• determining if tree or climber is in contact or closer than ‘safe approach distances’ with electrical wires and apparatus
• informing climber of presence of electrical wires
• providing rescue equipment requested by the climber
• installing or use existing high point as instructed
• informing climber of lowering procedure
• installing or using existing friction device to raise and lower the climber as required to lowering the climber to the ground
• applying necessary first aid once casualty is on ground until medical professionals arrive
• securing worksite and control entry until appropriate authorities inspect and release site
• follow procedures for reporting accidents
• isolating equipment involved in accident for potential investigation and preventing re-use until checked
• removing all rescue equipment in a controlled manner
• cleaning and storing rescue equipment
• cleaning and storing personal protective equipment
• maintaining records of aerial rescue in appropriate format
• use of industry-standard terminology.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

• emergency procedures to assist in ground-based rescues of EWP and climbing workers
• hazard identification methods
• risk assessment systems
• Safe Approach Distances
• recognition of live electrical wires or apparatus
• electrical wires and apparatus safety
• first aid procedures
• contents of a first aid kit
• use of a first aid kit
• emergency services communication systems
• emergency services contact numbers
• emergency plans
• appropriate placement of rescue equipment
• rescue kits
• rescue personnel, equipment and rescue plan procedures
• how to control risk to rescuer, victim and others
• types of reporting required after rescue
• personal protective equipment
• how to deal with an emergency
• lowering mechanisms for an aerial rescue
• work health and safety records with regards to incident reporting.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment must be demonstrated consistently over time in a suitable range of contexts and have a productivity-based outcome. No single assessment event or report is sufficient to achieve competency in this unit.

Assessment may be conducted in a simulated or real work environment, however determination of competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.

The mandatory equipment and materials used to gather evidence for assessment include:

• equipment:

• rescue kit
• rescue dummy
• high decibel whistle
• rigging equipment
• static and dynamic rope kit
• harness
• lowering and friction devices
• personal protective equipment (PPE)
• first aid and emergency kit
• traffic management kit
• signage – work zone
• trees

• materials:

• hazard identification and risk control form
• equipment and PPE check form
• emergency preparation form
• rescue assistance form
• work communications form

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs in the assessment of arboriculture units of competency.

Assessment must be conducted only by persons who have:

• arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
• current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed

Links

Companion Volume implementation guides are found in VETNet - https://vetnet.gov.au/Pages/TrainingDocs.aspx?q=c6399549-9c62-4a5e-bf1a-524b2322cf72