Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the outcomes required to patrol a forest estate and inspect visitor site facilities. The unit includes identifying and assessing risks and hazards, and collecting evidence in line with prescribed formats and procedures

Compliance with licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may be required in various jurisdictions

This unit replaces FPIFGM3210A Patrol forest

Application of the unit 

The unit involves patrolling in a forest environment

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority

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 for patrol

1.1. Applicable occupational health and safety  (OHS), environmental , legislative  and organisational requirements  relevant to patrolling a forest are identified and followed

1.2. Patrol requirements  are identified in line with work instructions

1.3. Necessary equipment  is accessed, prepared and stored in patrol vehicle in line with work instructions and organisational requirements

1.4. Communication links  are established and appropriate personnel  notified of intended activities

1.5. Contingency plans  are made and communicated to appropriate personnel in line with organisational environmental requirements

2. Carry out patrol

2.1. Patrol is conducted in line with work instructions, and environmental, heritage and OHS requirements

2.2. Risks and potential consequences to staff, the public and forest estate  are identified and assessed

2.3. Control measures are promptly implemented in line with OHS requirements and organisational procedures

2.4. Appropriate follow-up action is implemented and documented in line with organisational procedures

3. Respond to complaints or breaches

3.1. Complaints or breaches of legislation  are assessed for further action in line with OHS, environmental, heritage and organisational requirements

3.2. Evidence  is collected and documented in line with organisational and legislative requirements and formats

3.3. Appropriate follow-up action is taken in line with organisational requirements

3.4. Forest patrol outcomes are recorded and reported  to the appropriate personnel

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Required skills 

• Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment, including communications equipment; assess risks and hazardous situations; demonstrate time and project management
• Communication skills sufficient to use appropriate communication and interpersonal techniques and methods with colleagues and others; use appropriate questioning techniques to gather verbal evidence
• Literacy skills sufficient to collect and document evidence; prepare a range of reports, documentation and submissions where precise meaning is required; read and interpret maps; record and report workplace information; maintain documentation
• Numeracy skills sufficient to measure, estimate and calculate time required to complete a task
• Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems and equipment faults; demonstrate appropriate response procedures

Required knowledge 

• Applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for patrolling a forest
• Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material, minimising environmental impact, and returning the environment to its original or near to original condition on completion of activity
• Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for patrolling a forest
• Environmental risks and hazards
• Types, use and maintenance of communications equipment
• Types of maps
• Geography of patrol area
• Formats, procedures and legislative requirements for collecting and documenting evidence
• Typical complaints and breaches, and appropriate response procedures and follow-up actions
• Organisational public relations guidelines
• Role and interrelationship of government agencies controlling patrol area
• Established communication channels and protocols
• Problem identification and resolution strategies, and common fault finding techniques
• Types of tools and equipment, and procedures for their safe use and maintenance
• Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks
• Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

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 

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently carry out a patrol and respond to complaints and breaches of legislation

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, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

• following applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to patrolling a forest
• following organisational policies and procedures relevant to patrolling a forest
• following applicable licensing or certification requirements
• preparing for a patrol ensuring communication links are established, appropriate notification of intended patrol route, and area and contingency plans
• carrying out a patrol, identifying and assessing risks and hazards, and demonstrating appropriate response procedures
• responding to complaints and breaches of legislation using appropriate questioning techniques, and documentation procedures and formats to collect evidence

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

• Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace
• Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints
• Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context
• Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements
• The following resources should be made available:

• workplace location or simulated workplace
• materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit
• specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment 

• Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package
• Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge
• Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills
• Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge
• Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process
• Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances
• Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency
• The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate
• Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English
• Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment
• Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role

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.

OHS requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

• personal protective equipment and clothing
• safety equipment
• first aid equipment
• fire fighting equipment
• hazard and risk control
• fatigue management
• elimination of hazardous materials and substances
• safe forest practices, including required actions relating to forest fire
• manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

Environmental requirements  may include:

• legislation
• organisational policies and procedures
• workplace practices

Legislative requirements :

are to be in line with applicable commonwealth, state or territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

• award and enterprise agreements
• industrial relations
• Australian Standards
• confidentiality and privacy
• OHS
• the environment
• equal opportunity
• anti-discrimination
• relevant industry codes of practice
• duty of care

Organisational requirements  may include:

• legal
• organisational and site guidelines
• policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility
• quality assurance
• procedural manuals
• quality and continuous improvement processes and standards
• OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures
• ethical standards
• recording and reporting requirements
• equipment use, maintenance and storage requirements
• environmental management requirements (waste minimisation and disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Patrol requirements  may include:

• defining routes and patrol area
• determining and minimising potential impact on the environment

Equipment  may include:

• maps
• forms and documents
• communications equipment, such as telephones and radios (hand-held or installed in vehicles)

Communication links  may include:

• base and other work centres
• supervisors
• co-workers
• appropriate authorities

Appropriate personnel  may include:

• supervisors
• co-workers
• appropriate authorities

Contingency plans  may include:

• search and rescue of lost members of the public and colleagues
• recovery of vehicles
• clearing of roads
• evacuation plans
• bush fire control assistance to emergency services or other government agencies
• administration of first aid

Forest estate  may include:

• all areas within and immediately adjacent to the forest boundaries
• enterprise assets, such as offices and accommodation
• structures, such as fences, roads and forest products
• visitor sites, including developed and undeveloped camping
• bush camping areas
• day use areas
• other recreational activity areas

Breaches of legislation  may include:

• unauthorised use of roads to which public access is restricted
• unauthorised use of firearms by members of the public
• damage or theft of the forest estate by members of the public
• illegal activities by members of the public, particularly in campsites

Evidence  may include:

• physical
• written
• verbal

Records and reports  may include:

• evidence collected and clearly written
• accurate and complete reports in a format that may be presented in court

and may be:

• manual
• a computer-based system
• other appropriate organisational communication system

Competency field 

Forest Growing and Management