Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers supervising activities on infected premises and defines the standard required to: develop a schedule for implementation of emergency disease or plant pest control activities; effectively supervise the range of activities required to achieve emergency disease or plant pest control in an outbreak or incursion; effectively communicate and give directions.

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. Where work requires the use of load-shifting or other equipment, appropriate training/certification must be provided according to state and territory safety and licensing requirements.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan emergency disease or plant pest control activities on an IP

1.1. Emergency disease or plant pest control activities are planned under direction from Infected Premises (IP) operations manager and in consultation with property owner/manager.

1.2. All IP procedures are confirmed with IP operations manager and communicated to property owner/manager.

1.3. Schedule for implementation of emergency disease or plant pest control activities is developed and resources required for planned activities are requested according to instructions from IP operations manager.

1.4. Reporting processes are established according to instructions from IP operations manager.

1.5. Staff rosters are established to support activities in a cost-effective manner and with minimal stress on personnel.

2. Oversee emergency disease or plant pest control activities

2.1. Personnel are assigned to team leader and worker positions according to IP operations functions to be performed and are given directions about tasks to be performed.

2.2. Emergency disease or plant pest control activities are conducted in ongoing consultation with IP operations manager and property owner/manager.

2.3. Emergency disease or plant pest control activities are overseen to ensure that they are cost-effective, make effective use of resources, and avoid unnecessary property damage and livestock or crop destruction.

2.4. Valuations of materials requiring destruction, use of plant, equipment and materials, and all IP service provision are monitored to ensure they adhere to relevant standards, protocols and contract requirements.

2.5. Supplies of materials and resources are monitored to ensure that they are adequate to meet needs of control activities.

2.6. Incident log is maintained that includes details of all activities undertaken and contractors' hours and performance.

2.7. Effective communications with IP operations manager and property owner/manager are established and maintained throughout operation.

2.8. Personnel are supervised and motivated to carry out specific emergency disease or plant pest control activities to the standard required and according to Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and legislative requirements.

3. Check effectiveness of emergency disease or plant pest control activities

3.1. Effectiveness and progress of control activities are monitored and compared with planned objectives.

3.2. Inspections of teams on site are carried out with sufficient regularity to ensure that standards are applied in line with required standards and protocols.

3.3. Progress reports are provided to IP operations manager according to agreed reporting schedule and format.

3.4. Records are kept as required by standards and protocols.

4. Revise site-specific emergency disease or plant pest control activities

4.1. Control activities are revised as required to address relevant protocols, maintain cost-effectiveness (including appropriate resource allocation) and contain wider impacts.

4.2. Revisions to activities are communicated promptly to Local Control Centre (LCC).

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• operating effectively under stress
• managing people
• supervising application of emergency disease or plant pest control measures on an IP, in line with relevant response plan
• use literacy skills to read, interpret and follow organisational policies and procedures, develop sequenced written instructions, record accurately and legibly information collected and select and apply procedures to a range of tasks
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification, negotiating solutions and responding to a range of views
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine and more complex workplace measures and data
• use interpersonal skills to work with others and relate to people from a range of cultural, social and religious backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• appropriate standards and protocols for the emergency disease or plant pest e.g. Australian Veterinary Emergency Plan (AUSVETPLAN) or Australian Emergency Plant Pest Response Plan (PLANTPLAN)
• OHS and other legislative requirements in an emergency disease or plant pest incursion response
• principles underpinning control procedures
• procedures necessary to ensure that environmental values are protected during and after emergency disease or plant pest control program
• OHS, environmental and biosecurity legislation, codes of practice and enterprise procedures
• record keeping requirements
• reporting requirements
• safety practices related to use of equipment and materials used in emergency disease or plant pest control.

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 

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:

• effectively supervise range of activities required to achieve emergency disease or plant pest control in an outbreak or incursion
• effectively communicate and give directions.

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 simulation exercise or in responses to outbreaks or incursions.

The skills and knowledge required to supervise activities on IP must be transferable to a range of work environments and contexts, including the ability to deal with unplanned events.

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 supervise activities on IP.

The candidate must also have access to either real or simulated 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 supervise activities on 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:

• disease that is exotic to Australia
• serious infectious disease of unknown or uncertain cause
• severe outbreak of a known endemic disease that is considered to be of national significance with serious social or trade implications
• variant of an endemic disease

• species, biotype or strain of invertebrate pest or pathogen injurious to plants or plant health.

IP procedures may include

• collection of emergency disease or plant pest information
• decontamination
• destruction
• disposal
• eradication
• mustering
• property security and quarantine
• sentinel restocking
• valuation and inventory
• vector control.

Resources required may include:

• personnel
• plant, facilities, equipment and materials for livestock or crop destruction, disposal, cleaning and disinfection
• staff amenities.

Factors to take into account when overseeing IP control activities may include:

• cost
• direction by LCC
• effectiveness of emergency disease or plant pest control operations
• OHS requirements
• relevant standards and protocols
• staff welfare
• wider impact on things such as:

• animal welfare
• environment
• industry
• local businesses
• local community
• neighbouring properties
• other non-susceptible livestock or crops
• property owners and managers.

Relevant standards and protocols may include:

• animal welfare codes of practice
• approved standard operating procedures
• AUSVETPLAN or PLANTPLAN protocols
• commonwealth, state and territory legislation
• environmental legislation
• impact on and potential for damage to property
• OHS requirements and legislation.

Progress reports may include information about:

• estimated completion dates
• problems encountered
• recommendations for change to priorities or procedures
• resource requirements
• successful solutions
• work completion and work in progress.

Records may be kept of:

• any other records relevant to outbreak or incursion
• authorisations for personnel and equipment to enter and leave IP
• damage to equipment and property
• inventories of livestock or crops alive/destroyed
• materials and stockfeed destroyed
• personnel employed
• stores ordered and supplied
• work done by private contractors.

Unit sector 

Biosecurity

Co-requisite units 

Competency field