Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to carry out emergency disease or plant pest control activities at a site affected by an emergency disease outbreak or plant pest incursion. This may require some supervision and coordination of a team, under the direction and supervision of the Infected Premises (IP) site supervisor.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to personnel who have been appointed or engaged to undertake a role within an emergency disease or plant pest incursion response.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare for emergency disease or plant pest control activities

1.1. Work instructions received from IP site supervisor are clarified in preparation for carrying out control procedures.

1.2. Appropriate equipment and materials are selected and prepared to undertake control activities in line with IP site supervisor work instructions and associated safety requirements.

1.3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is selected and prepared according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

2. Implement emergency disease or plant pest control activities

2.1. Control activities are implemented in line with work instructions, OHS requirements and standards and protocols.

2.2. Log of activities carried out on the IP is maintained according to instructions from IP site supervisor.

2.3. PPE is used as instructed by IP site supervisor and according to OHS requirements and manufacturer instructions.

2.4. Within own area of responsibility, work instructions are given and received.

3. Check and adjust emergency disease or plant pest control activities

3.1. Control activities within own area of responsibility are regularly checked to ensure compliance with work instructions, OHS requirements, and standards and protocols.

3.2. Reports are provided to IP site supervisor as required.

3.3. Any variations from work instructions, and standards and protocols, or failure to achieve objectives are reported to IP site supervisor and remedial action is undertaken within one's scope of authority.

3.4. Any recommendations for adjusting work instructions are communicated to IP site supervisor.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• adhering to security procedures in line with specific emergency disease or plant pest control strategies
• coordinating a team, if team leader
• correctly preparing and using equipment and materials for control procedures
• correctly preparing and using PPE
• ensuring animal welfare when working with animals
• following guidelines and protocols for control procedures in an emergency disease or plant pest response
• keeping records
• making written and oral reports
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, follow sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legible information collected and select and apply procedures for a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation, including questioning techniques, active listening, clarifying information and consulting with supervisors as required
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to work with and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• OHS requirements for working in an emergency disease or plant pest control situation, including safe use of equipment and material
• PPE requirements
• record-keeping requirements
• relevant provisions of the control strategy for particular emergency disease or plant pest being controlled
• reporting requirements.

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 

This unit of competency could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units of competency relevant to the job function.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

The critical requirements for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below. Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

• follow instructions
• comply with OHS requirements
• monitor own performance
• observe and report variations from work instructions or standards and protocols.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will most appropriately be assessed in an emergency disease or plant pest response simulation or in responses to emergency disease outbreak or plant pest incursion.

The candidate must also have access to the following resources:

• actual or simulated IP
• PPE.

Method of assessment 

For valid assessment, one must have opportunities to participate in exercises, case studies and other real and simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge required to carry out emergency disease or plant pest control procedures at an IP.

Guidance information for assessment 

To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.

The skills and knowledge required to carry out emergency disease or plant pest control procedures at an IP must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts, including the ability to deal with unplanned events.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole.

Emergency diseases or plant pests may include:

• diseases that may affect animals, fish and other marine animals including:

• diseases that are exotic to Australia
• serious infectious diseases of or uncertain cause
• severe outbreaks of known endemic diseases that are considered to be of national significance with serious social or trade implications
• variants of endemic diseases

• species, biotypes or strains of invertebrate pests or pathogens which are injurious to plants or plant health.

Information covered in work instructions may involve:

• stipulations relating to standards, protocols and specific IP site requirements, and may cover:

• administration
• collection of biological samples
• decontamination
• destruction of livestock or crop
• disposal of carcasses and infectious material
• gate control
• inventory and valuation
• mapping of location of affected plants or crops
• pest control
• team leader duties
• wild animal control.

Control procedures may include:

• containment of livestock or crop and other materials
• decontamination and disinfection of premises, equipment and staff leaving premises
• destruction and slaughter
• disposal of livestock or crop and other materials
• gate control
• pest control
• sample collection
• use of chemicals
• vaccination and treatment
• wild animal control.

OHS requirements may include:

• administration of treatments and vaccinations
• animal handling and use of approved restraints where required
• correct techniques for manual handling
• policies relating to livestock or crop destruction and disposal
• procedures for dealing with risks associated with working in areas where there may be an accumulation of airborne dusts or gases, such as ammonia, methane and carbon dioxide
• procedures for dealing with risks that may arise when working in buildings or yards that have been damaged in the course of implementation of control procedures
• processes for avoiding needle stick injuries and safe use of biohazard containers for disposal of sharps
• safe operation of machinery and equipment, including consideration of layout, buildings, terrain, location and prevailing weather conditions
• safe use and handling of chemicals
• use of firearms for livestock destruction
• use of PPE and clothing.

Relevant standards and protocols may include:

• approved standard operating procedures
• Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN) or Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (PLANTPLAN) or similar protocols
• damage minimisation policies
• environmental policies
• OHS legislation
• relevant commonwealth, state and territory legislation.

Unit sector 

Biosecurity

Co-requisite units 

Competency field