Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the ability to plan, prepare for and work safely in isolated and remote situations and defines the standard required to: develop and maintain operating and emergency plans for working remotely; source and interpret maps of the area; implement workplace procedures for notifying management of location, activities and travel in remote areas; prepare provisions to cover essential and emergency needs; prepare for emergencies and carry communication equipment to send a request for help; use bushcraft skills to modify the living environment and reduce risk of mishap in remote areas.

Application of the unit 

This unit applies to all workers in agricultural, horticultural and land management industries that have to work in remote areas. Work is carried out under routine supervision and may involve operating in a team environment.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan for operating in remote environments

1.1. Information relating to the operating environment and location is collated and recorded to meet established enterprise policy.

1.2. Detailed operating and travel plans, including a disaster plan and fallback position requirements are established in consultation with supervising staff.

1.3. Appropriate authorities are notified of the action plans and time schedules according to enterprise policy.

1.4. Relevant maps are identified and sourced.

2. Prepare for operating in remote environments

2.1. Personal needs are prepared for activities or travel in remote areas.

2.2. Transportation and equipment are prepared for use in prescribed work location or along prescribed routes.

2.3. Relevant maps are obtained and studied prior to departure.

2.4. Planned activities and itinerary are accurately reported and recorded prior to departure in accordance with enterprise requirements.

3. Prepare for emergency situations

3.1. Provisioning meets expected operational and possible emergency needs.

3.2. Initial planning and regular monitoring ensures structured usage of available provisions and resources.

3.3. Operating plan is structured to include training in remote area survival techniques prior to operating in remote situations.

3.4. Emergency management procedures are included as an integral part of operating plans and enterprise policy.

4. Operate in remote environment

4.1. Activities are completed according to instructions and established time schedules.

4.2. All activities carried out in remote situations are executed in accordance with prescribed procedures.

4.3. Emergency situations are handled in accordance with prescribed procedures and enterprise policy.

4.4. Established reporting procedures are followed on completion of planned activities and on return to base in line with enterprise policy.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• plan for operating in remote environments
• prepare for operating in remote environments
• prepare for emergency situations
• operate in remote environments
• use literacy skills to follow sequenced written instructions and record information accurately and legibly
• use oral communication skills/language competence to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning, active listening, asking for clarification and seeking advice from supervisor
• use numeracy skills to estimate, calculate and record routine workplace measures
• use interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and with a range of physical and mental abilities.

Required knowledge 

• map reading and navigation skills including direction finding (e.g., GPS, use of compass, stars or watch)
• local topography, nearby inhabitants and locations within that area
• survival techniques and human needs relating to survival situations
• clothing requirements for sun or heat protection
• basic first aid
• bush craft including making a fire, cooking and wild food gathering
• water supplies, sources and generation methods
• emergency vehicle and mechanical equipment repair
• the operation of communication equipment (e.g., field communications by two-way, satellite telephony and HF radio), and distress signalling including use of signalling mirrors
• weather and weather indicators
• basic rope skills including useful knots (reef, clove hitch, truckie's hitch, bowline); simple lashings and tying down loads.

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:

• develop and maintain operating and emergency plans for working remotely
• source and interpret maps of the area
• implement workplace procedures for notifying of location, activities and travel in remote areas
• prepare provisions to cover essential and emergency needs
• prepare for emergencies and carry communication equipment to send a request for help
• use bushcraft skills to modify the living environment and reduce risk of mishap in remote areas.

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.

Workplaces may include:

• any workplace where the ability to get help because of distance is such that personal safety may be at risk.

Unit sector 

Work

Co-requisite units 

Competency field