Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit outlines the skills and knowledge required by a person who contracts to perform an outdoor fireworks display. It requires the ability to identify mandatory requirements and hazards associated with a display, establish procedures to manage risk and emergencies, ensure the operation of a work team, and negotiate with and communicate procedures and requirements to all persons involved.

All elements must be undertaken in accordance with the provisions of relevant State/Territory legislation and licensing requirements.

Achievement of this unit does not automatically qualify a person to obtain a licence to operate in any Australian State or Territory.

Those developing training to support this unit, and those seeking to assess competency in this unit, must undertake consultation with the relevant State/Territory licensing authority, and work within the requirements and guidelines set down by those authorities.

This unit is closely based on work completed by the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

Application of the unit 

Individuals in middle or senior management positions apply the skills and knowledge outlined in this unit. When contracting to stage an outdoor fireworks display, they must be able to demonstrate their ability to establish safe systems and procedures for the operation of displays.

On the implementation side, they are responsible for the purchase, transport and storage of fireworks, for planning and designing displays from a client's brief, and ensuring the safety and health of workers and other persons involved in the display. During the display they are responsible for directing the activities of the display operator within legislative and organisational guidelines where direct supervision may be limited.

This unit has linkages to other firework safety and health units, and combined assessment and/or training may be appropriate.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Prepare organisational and procedural documentation to manage an outdoor fireworks display

1.1. Develop an organisational  policy for safety and health requirements in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

1.2. Develop a safety  management system in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

1.3. Conduct emergency planning and develop emergency procedures  in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

1.4. Implement a quality management system in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

2. Establish procedures for handling of fireworks

2.1. Implement and develop procedures in relation to purchasing in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

2.2. Develop procedures in relation to storage in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

2.3. Develop procedures in relation to transport of fireworks in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

2.4. Develop procedures in relation to use of fireworks at a display in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

3. Convert a client's needs to a contractual brief for an outdoor fireworks display

3.1. Determine key objectives of a client's proposed event and confirm in relation to workplace risks, organisational and legislative constraints and requirements

3.2. Develop details of a proposal  including design, budget, workplace risks and legal issues

3.3. Present the proposal to the client for negotiation

3.4. Complete the proposal as a contractual brief

4. Plan a fireworks display in relation to a given brief

4.1. Assess and choose an appropriate display site

4.2. Select fireworks for suitability at the site and in accordance with the client's brief

4.3. Make relevant statutory notifications in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

4.4. Prepare planning documentation in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

4.5. Organise insurance in accordance with State/Territory regulatory requirements

5. Implement safety policy and procedures

5.1. Implement organisational policy, safety and quality management and emergency procedures

5.2. Ascertain organisational training need in relation to developed organisational policy and procedures, including procedures for handling fireworks

5.3. Develop and implement organisational training

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• ability to design and implement organisational policy and procedures within the legislative framework
• negotiate the design and realisation of a display within a client's brief
• supervise team members in all relevant activities
• continuously monitor the work environment, and evaluate the effectiveness of existing procedures and controls
• apply additional risk control measures relevant to the situation
• provide support to colleagues using training and mentoring skills

Required knowledge 

• risk and systems management to at least the standards required in relevant State / Territory codes of practice
• legislative requirements in relation to purchase, transport, storage and handling of fireworks including relevant licensing provisions
• insurance requirements, including public liability and workers compensation
• legislative requirements in relation to planning, designing and obtaining approval for conducting a fireworks display
• relevant fireworks product knowledge
• other statutory requirements and current industry best practice

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 following evidence is critical to the judgement of competence in this unit:

• ability to identify non-quality assured fireworks
• capacity to develop organisational policy, a safety management system including operational and emergency procedures, and implement a quality system
• ability to implement organisational procedures for purchase, transport, storage and handling of fireworks
• negotiation of relevant aspects of a fireworks display with a client
• design and plan of a complete display incorporating organisational policy and procedures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Significant health and safety issues impact on the delivery and assessment of skills in pyrotechnics. Assessment of these skills must therefore be undertaken in consultation with State/Territory licensing authorities. Assessors must be aware of and consult with authorities on matters regarding safety of personnel, safety of crowds and spectators, storage and transportation of pyrotechnic materials and weather conditions. Assessors may need to meet additional requirements if any are stipulated by State/Territory regulations.

The assessment context must provide for:

• practical demonstration of skills in a range of situations
• specific assessment requirements as identified by local licensing authorities
• development of organisational policy, plans and procedures to the extent that an organisation's commercial confidentiality is not compromised
• a completed display plan to a given set of client's needs.

Method of assessment 

Assessment may incorporate a range of methods to assess performance and the application of essential underpinning knowledge, and might include:

• assessment in a training or workplace setting that provides for the conditions of performance described in the elements, performance criteria and range statement
• assessment in designing a fireworks display taking into account the range statement affecting performance
• examination of folio
• written and oral questioning
• active participation in group activities.

Guidance information for assessment 

Assessment of this unit requires access to:

• relevant legislative, administrative, specific technical material and prescribed forms and documents
• a set of client's needs to develop a display brief
• a typical client brief for planning a display.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Development of organisational  systems and operational procedures for fireworks must include consideration of:

• emergency planning and procedures development as described in relevant State/Territory codes of practice
• implementation (to be included in the display plan) to include resources, responsibility and accountability, training and competency, consultation, communication and reporting, documentation, document and data control and hazard identification, risk assessment and control of risks (see AS4801)
• planning to include planning the identification of hazards, risk assessment and control, legal and other requirements, objectives and targets and OHS management plans (see AS4801)
• procedures development as described in relevant State / Territory codes of practice
• quality systems development as described in relevant State/Territory codes of practice
• systems development as described in relevant State/Territory codes of practice
• systems to address policy, planning, implementation, measurement and evaluation and management review

Safety  matters to be addressed while planning a display include:

• availability of temporary storage facilities
• control of risks to workers and other persons
• determination for effects of wind
• determination of clearance distances
• First aid and firefighting requirements
• identification of nearby hazards and sensitive sites
• identifying relationships to the event organizer, the artistic director, landowner and neighbours
• implementation of environmental guidelines
• insurance requirements, including public liability and workers compensation
• licensing, selection, limitations, training and procedural requirements in relation to operator
• notification of neighbours and statutory authorities
• selection of appropriate fireworks
• suitability of site in relation to safety risks

Development of procedures  for handling, purchasing, storing and transporting of fireworks should include consideration of:

• ensuring identification of licensing relationships in relation to sale and possession
• ensuring identification of record keeping in relation to purchase and possession
• identification of relationship to licensed transport operator general storage requirements, maximum limits and prohibited activities in accordance with current versions of the Explosives Act and Australian Explosives Code (Dangerous Goods Code)
• selection of quality complainant fireworks and a quality accredited supplier
• transport obligations in relation to vehicle, maximum unlicensed limits, use of day/ready box, loading/unloading and prohibited activities in accordance with current versions of the Explosives Act and Australian Explosives Code

Procedural matters to be addressed while developing a proposal  for a client include:

• analysis of client's information
• clarification of client's needs in terms of a broad scope of a design brief incorporating organisational and legal constraints
• negotiation and finalisation of brief with client
• preparation of display plan from contract
• presentation of proposal to client

Unit sector 

Competency field 

Media and entertainment production - pyrotechnics

Co-requisite units