Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to continually monitor and assess the potential of fire during normal work activities. The unit includes implementing basic fire prevention measures

General workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publication

This unit replaces FPICOR3203A Evaluate fire potential and prevention

Application of the unit 

The unit involves the evaluation of fire potential and prevention in a variety of work settings including a forest environment, saw mill, wood chip mill, veneer mill, board/plywood mill, timber treatment plants, downstream processing of timber, forest products factory, forest products sales and service, horticultural, domestic, local council, emergency services environment

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for fires

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to the evaluation of fire potential and fire prevention  are identified and followed

1.2. Types  and potential of fire  are constantly evaluated and documented through risk assessment

1.3. Equipment  is selected appropriate to potential work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations

1.4. Evaluation processes  are planned in line with site procedures

1.5. Communication  with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

2. Assess fire potential

2.1. Weather  conditions are monitored and reports inspected for changing conditions such as storms and high winds

2.2. Equipment conditions are monitored for overheating and electrical sparking and acted upon immediately

2.3. Hazardous and flammable substances  are monitored to assess the potential for spillage and combustion

2.4. Potential of fire is reported to appropriate personnel 

3. Prevent fires

3.1. Fire risks and hazards  are controlled  and monitored in line with workplace procedures

3.2. Fire extinguishing equipment  is regularly checked to ensure it is serviceable for emergencies

3.3. Hazardous or flammable substances are handled in line with OHS and environmental management regulations 

3.4. Signs of fire potential  are recognised and alarm raised to alert appropriate personnel

3.5. Fire potential and prevention procedures are recorded and reported  in line with workplace procedures

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment.
• Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace
• Literacy skills sufficient to accurately record and report workplace information
• Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate, measure and calculate time required to complete a task
• Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures, efficiently and safely evaluate fire potential and prevention

Required knowledge 

• Applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for evaluating fire potential and prevention
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures relevant to evaluating fire potential and prevention
• Fire types and potential methods of ignition
• Environmental risks and hazard prevention
• Fire awareness and prevention techniques
• Recognised tools such as threat and risk analysis
• Established communication channels and protocols
• Problem identification and resolution strategies and common fault finding techniques
• Types of tools and equipment and procedures for their safe use and maintenance
• Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks
• Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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

Overview of assessment 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently evaluate fire potential and prevention

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 of this unit and include demonstration of:

• following applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to fire potential and prevention evaluation
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to fire potential and prevention evaluation
• following applicable licensing or certification requirements
• evaluation of fire potential and prevention in line with environmental legislation and workplace procedures
• effective communication and safe work practices

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
• Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
• Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
• Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
• The following resources should be made available:

• workplace location or simulated workplace
• materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit
• specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment 

• Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package
• Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge
• Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills
• Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge
• Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
• Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances
• Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
• The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
• Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
• Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
• Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

OHS requirements :

are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

• personal protective equipment and clothing
• safety equipment
• first aid equipment
• fire fighting equipment
• hazard and risk control
• fatigue management
• elimination of hazardous materials and substances
• safe forest practices including required actions relating to forest fire
• manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying
• machine isolation and guarding
• hot work permits to be issued by authorised personnel
• protective shields for welding and grinding activities
• written/displayed evacuation procedures
• appropriate fitness for the task

Environmental requirements may include :

• legislation

• organisational policies and procedures

• workplace practices

Legislative requirements :

are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

• award and enterprise agreements
• industrial relations
• Australian Standards
• confidentiality and privacy
• OHS
• the environment
• equal opportunity
• anti-discrimination
• relevant industry codes of practice
• duty of care
• heritage and traditional land owner issues

Organisational requirements  may include:

• legal
• organisational and site guidelines
• policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility
• quality assurance
• procedural manuals
• quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
• OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures
• ethical standards
• recording and reporting requirements
• equipment use and maintenance and storage requirements
• environmental management requirements (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Fire prevention  may include:

• cutting of fire breaks
• clearing of undergrowth
• ensuring equipment is far enough away from combustible materials
• housekeeping to ensure work area is clear of waste and that waste is stored in line with workplace procedures
• providing suitable fire extinguishing equipment
• undertaking regular evacuation training
• maintaining an ordered work area to ensure access and exit
• assessing equipment to ensure it is serviced as required in line with workplace procedures
• quarantining equipment to be serviced in line with workplace procedures

Types of fires  may include:

• wildfires
• electrical storm induced fires
• arson
• accidental fires
• electrical fires
• mechanical fires

Potential of fires  may include:

• assessing environmental conditions and operating procedures for any possible aspects which may cause fire
• monitoring changes and forecasting potential changes (where possible) to environmental conditions which may cause fire
• keeping appropriate personnel informed of changes and potential changes to environmental conditions which may cause fire

Equipment  may include:

• any plant and equipment used in harvesting or forest growing activities

Evaluation processes  may include:

• referring to available information (via MSDSs , HAZCHEM codes and signs) for chemical-based fires
• continuous monitoring of environmental, weather and equipment conditions and changes
• continuous monitoring of the impact of activities on the environment

Communication  may include:

• verbal and non-verbal language
• constructive feedback
• active listening
• questioning to clarify and confirm understanding
• use of positive, confident and cooperative language
• use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences
• control of tone of voice
• body language

and may relate to:

• evacuation
• visitors or members of the public on site

Weather  may include:

conditions such as:

• high winds
• electrical storms
• lightning strikes
• excessive heat and low humidity

Hazardous and flammable substances  may include:

• engine oils
• fuels
• treatment substances
• cleaning products

Appropriate personnel  may include:

• fire wardens
• fire response personnel
• supervisors
• suppliers
• clients
• colleagues
• managers
• emergency evacuation committee

Fire risks and hazards  may include:

• weather conditions which induce fire
• welding or grinding sparks
• dry undergrowth
• potential of equipment use and unsafe work practices to create fire
• combustible materials such as dry or dead scrub, tall grasses, rubbish, oily rags
• waste material proximity to equipment
• flammable liquids
• inappropriate storing of materials and equipment
• blocked or no access and exit

Controlled  may include:

• controlling vegetation (such as grass, heath, scrub and forest undergrowth) to minimise risk
• cutting of firebreaks (including clearing areas which are slashed or ploughed and clear of any combustible material, wide enough to prevent fires jumping the break)
• housekeeping to ensure flammable, combustible or waste materials are in safe proximity to machinery

Fire extinguishing equipment may include :

• extinguishers for electrical, chemical, gas, mechanical, paper, wood or natural fires

and may also include:

• fire trucks
• fire reels
• fire hydrants and hoses
• manual fire fighting instruments
• fire service approved fire suppression extinguishing agents, such as foam and retardants

Environmental management regulations :

eliminate or minimise exposure to hazards within the workplace and may cover:

• environmental monitoring and audit plan
• emissions - hazardous substances
• air quality
• noise pollution
• dangerous goods/hazardous substances
• risk of fire
• waste minimisation
• reuse and recycling

Signs of fire potential  may include:

• lightning strikes
• high winds
• smoke
• flames
• storms
• equipment overheating
• flammable liquid spills
• electrical ignition
• changes to environmental conditions

Records and reports  may include:

• environmental care and fire prevention procedures such as risk, hazards, incidents, equipment malfunctions

and may be:

• manual
• using a computer-based system or another appropriate organisational communication system

Competency field 

Core