Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the management of wildfire hazard reduction programs and defines the standard required to: rate wildfire hazards to the environment, buildings, structures and cultural sites according to fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility and ecology; develop strategies for wildfire hazard reduction; coordinate hazard reduction plans, strategies and operational procedures with other agencies and reviewed; maintain records of pesticides and chemical agents used, hazard reduction and fore incidents.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to those whose job role includes managing wildfire hazard reduction programs through planning, advising and monitoring the performance of operational personnel undertaking fire prevention activities.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Develop wildfire prevention strategies

1.1. Potential wildfire hazards to the environment are rated according to fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility, ecology and organisational priorities.

1.2. Risks to buildings, structures and cultural sites from wildfires are rated in accordance to adjacent fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility and organisational priorities.

1.3. Wildfire hazard reduction strategies take into account the local fire history, fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility, geophysical systems, ecology, organisational procedures and priorities, Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), local fire agencies and legislative requirements.

1.4. Proposed wildfire hazard reduction strategy has local community support where appropriate.

1.5. Strategies for wildfire hazard reduction proposed are in accordance with organisational priorities, local fire agencies and legislative requirements.

1.6. Strategies comply with OHS, relevant regulatory requirements and enterprise guidelines.

2. Implement and monitor wildfire hazard reduction

2.1. Hazard reduction strategies implemented are appropriate to the enterprise's objectives, the nature of the site, location, resources and environmental conditions.

2.2. Hazard reduction is undertaken in accordance with organisational plans and procedures, OHS, local fire agencies, and legislative requirements.

2.3. Hazard reduction activities are coordinated with other relevant agencies.

2.4. Progress of hazard reduction activities is monitored.

2.5. Hazard reduction plans, strategies and operational procedures are reviewed and recommendations for change are processed in accordance with organisational procedures.

3. Process records

3.1. Suggested and/or required changes to plans and strategies are reported in accordance with organisational procedures.

3.2. Records document quantities and type of chemicals/biological agents used and where they were applied.

3.3. Records document hazard reduction actions taken and where.

3.4. Incident reports are processed in accordance with organisational procedures.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• develop wildfire prevention strategies
• implement and monitor wildfire hazard reduction
• process records
• use literacy skills to fulfil job roles as required by the organisation. The level of skill may range from reading and understanding documentation to completion of written reports
• 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 complex workplace measures
• 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 

• wildfire prevention strategies.
• organisational environment and relative values.
• •organisational procedures, legislative and OHS requirements.
• local authorities, agencies and other land users.
• hazards associated with wildfire prevention strategies.
• fire behaviour in a rural/bush environment.
• range of equipment applicable to wildfire hazard reduction.
• approved, safe use of equipment.
• environmental, public health and safety issues.
• types of chemical and biological hazards and how they should be handled.

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 evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to workplace operations and satisfy holistically all of the requirements of the performance criteria and required skills and knowledge and include achievement of the following:

• rate wildfire hazards to the environment, buildings, structures and cultural sites according to fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility and ecology
• develop strategies for wildfire hazard reduction
• coordinate hazard reduction plans, strategies and operational procedures with other agencies and reviewed
• maintain records of pesticides and chemical agents used, hazard reduction and fore incidents.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions. Selection and use of resources for some worksites may differ due to the regional or enterprise circumstances.

RANGE STATEMENT 

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

Wildfire hazards may include:

• the amount of flammable vegetation
• type of vegetation (e.g., grass, heath, peat, crops, scrub or forest)
• buildings
• structures
• mobile property.

Wildfire hazard reduction strategies may include:

• slashing
• clearing vegetation
• animal grazing
• spraying vegetation with chemical and biological agents
• insurance
• community education
• regular facilities and building maintenance
• safe storage or removal of hazardous materials.

Unit sector 

Fire

Co-requisite units 

Competency field