Unit of competency details

Modification History

Not Applicable

Unit Descriptor

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required for an inspector of fire safety systems and associated fire safety sub-systems to work safely on client work sites, that is:

• identify and follow relevant occupational health and safety (OHS) duty of care legislation
• assess potential or actual site safety hazards related to the inspection of fire safety system and associated fire safety sub-systems.

These work functions are carried out without supervision.

Note: It is a prerequisite of this unit of competency that fire safety system inspectors demonstrate the relevant technical skills and knowledge prior to inspecting fire safety systems and associated fire safety sub-systems.

Application of the Unit

Not Applicable

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Not Applicable

Pre-Requisites

Not Applicable

Employability Skills Information

Not Applicable

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Not Applicable

Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills and Knowledge

Refer to Evidence Guide

Evidence Guide

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide identifies the requirements to be demonstrated to confirm competence for this unit. Assessment must confirm sufficient ability to use appropriate skills and knowledge to follow on-site OHS requirements. Assessment of performance should be conducted within an agreed timeframe, covering all categories within the range statement applicable to normal work requirements.

Critical aspects of competency 

• Identify and interpret mandatory OHS duty of care requirements relevant to a specific work site.
• Assess site safety risks, hazards and other requirements that impact on site-specific fire safety system inspections.
• Assess the risks of identified potential safety hazards using appropriate risk assessment tools.
• Identify, report and discuss potential safety hazards with site management, clients and other stakeholders.
• Adhere to work site safety requirements and signage.
• Identify and wear appropriate items of PPE according to relevant workplace fire safety system inspection tasks.
• Identify and apply site-specific emergency evacuation procedures and verbal safety instructions given by authorised site personnel.
• Demonstrate appropriate techniques that reduce the risk of injury from manual handling tasks.

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria 

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements embedded in performance include those listed below.

• Basic understanding of employer/employee responsibilities, rights and obligations relevant to OHS in the workplace.
• Implications of not following safety procedures, requirements and instructions.
• Type and purpose of workplace safety signs and complying with the requirements of the signs.
• How to maintain items of PPE.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria 

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These include the following.

• Effective networking.
• Active listening techniques.
• Effectively presenting information.
• Effective telephone techniques.
• Recording and storing information.
• Organising, collecting and collating information.
• Basic word-processing skills.
• Identifying and using correctly appropriate items of PPE.
• Manual handling techniques.
• Inspecting and assessing site safety hazards relevant to the inspection of fire safety systems and associated fire safety sub-systems.
• Communicating identified potential or actual site safety hazards to site management.
• Language, literacy and numeracy skills necessary to process written and verbal information and perform basic calculations related to the job.

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit 

This unit of competency can be assessed on its own or in conjunction with any practical unit.

Gaining evidence to assess this unit 

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor.

The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations, which may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

Assessment of competency may be made through written or oral examination, practical demonstration in the work environment or in a simulated work environment.

Key competency levels 

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added.

Information below highlights how these processes are applied in this unit of competency.

Range Statement

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement links the required knowledge and organisational and technical requirements to the workplace context. It describes any contextual variables that may be used or encountered when applying the competency in work situations. It allows for different work practices and work and knowledge requirements as well as for differences between organisations and workplaces. The following variables are listed in alphabetical order and may be present for this particular unit.

Items of personal protective equipment  may include:

• ear muffs or ear plugs
• hard hats and gloves
• safety boots or shoes
• safety glasses or goggles.

Manual handling tasks  may include:

• handling the contents of a container
• holding, pushing, pulling, moving, lifting, throwing, turning, twisting, restraining and carriage of materials
• lowering and setting down materials
• repetitive tasks including packing, typing, assembling, and cleaning and sorting.

Relevant standards , codes and legislative requirements  may include:

• Australian Dangerous Goods Code
• Australian Standards
• Building Code of Australia
• building surveyor requirements
• client and other stakeholder requirements
• dispensations from fire and other regulatory authorities
• enterprise operating procedures
• federal/state/territory/local government legislation and regulations, including:

• state or territory building legislation and regulations
• state or territory environmental regulations
• state or territory fire service legislation and regulations

• industry codes of practice
• international fire system and equipment standards
• product manufacturer's technical manuals and data sheets
• workplace codes of practice.

Risk assessment tools  may include:

• checklists, worksheets and matrix models
• government and/or industry hazard or safety alerts
• instruments to assess the severity of identified hazards and ranking by severity
• job and work system assessment
• job hazard analysis
• job safety analysis
• manufacturers' guidance information and manuals
• reviews of OHS records
• safety and hazard audits
• workplace inspection checklists.

Site management  may include site managers and site supervisors.

Types of site safety signs  may include:

• requirement to wear a hard hat
• requirement to wear eye and hearing protection
• requirement to wear foot protection.

Unit Sector(s)

Not Applicable