Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit covers the competency to establish local support for interaction between an isolated facility and appropriate agencies, initiation of a muster, development of advice to assist the search and rescue, provide details of local weather, contact the search controller and activate incident response system.

Application of the unit 

This person would typically respond to an incident coordinator.

The search and rescue operation may arise from an incident over land or sea. Such incidents could involve aircraft or vessels or, in some cases, land searches.

Generally the person would be a senior technician, team leader or a manager and would need to liaise with all relevant internal and external personnel during the search and rescue.

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. Establish a search and rescue support plan related to the facility

1.1. Identify possible search and rescue scenarios in liaison with relevant personnel

1.2. Identify relevant local (or other) agencies

1.3. Identify key contacts with relevant agencies

1.4. Liaise with relevant agencies to develop/review site/agency interaction plan(s) for a search and rescue

1.5. Assess plan(s) for operability and practicality

1.6. Assess proposed plans with relevant agencies for compatibility with each other and own systems

1.7. Negotiate and resolve conflicts

1.8. Ensure site emergency plans are consistent with agreed agency interaction plans.

2. Activate search and rescue support plan

2.1. Recognise that a search and rescue is required

2.2. Obtain information required by the procedures and determine relevant agency/agencies to contact

2.3. Contact relevant agency/agencies and activate search and rescue

2.4. Provide all relevant and available information to the agency

2.5. Activate site incident response system relevant to the incident.

3. Liaise with search and rescue agency/agencies

3.1. Monitor local situation and advise agency of any relevant changes

3.2. Monitor search and rescue progress and provide relevant information to site incident response team

3.3. Advise relevant personnel in own organisation of progress

3.4. Negotiate issues with agency/agencies and own organisation

3.5. Determine the need for additional/different resources and negotiate their timely acquisition

3.6. Identify problems/potential problems with the search and rescue and develop solutions in liaison with the agency/agencies and own organisation.

4. Conclude search and rescue support

4.1. Negotiate a conclusion to the search and rescue with the agency/agencies and own organisation

4.2. Collect and preserve all relevant information

4.3. Debrief with relevant people involved

4.4. Complete reports as required

4.5. Identify items for improvement and take action to have improvements implemented/built into support plans.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

Competence includes an understanding of search and rescue techniques and the capability of relevant search and rescue agencies and platforms and the ability to recognise and resolve problems. In particular it includes and ability to:

• negotiate with relevant agencies
• access and collate information and determine information relevant to the search and rescue
• interpret the search and rescue plans for different agencies and determine interfaces with own organisation/site/facility
• keep required records before, during and after a search and rescue incident
• effectively communicate and consult with a range of individuals by a range of means, including fax, telephone and face-to-face.

Required knowledge 

Competence includes knowledge of:

• relevant communication systems
• organisational search and rescue procedures
• external support agencies and their roles
• types and limitations of rescue vessels, aircraft or motor vehicles
• local weather conditions
• response times
• available local resources.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

Assessment for this unit of competency will be by way of simulation (eg Search and Rescue Exercise - SAREX) or under incident conditions. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which can include a variety of incident circumstances.

Simulations must, as closely as possible, approximate actual incident conditions and should be based on the actual facility. Assessments should include walk-throughs of the relevant competency components and may include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of 'what-if' scenarios both in the facility (during demonstration of normal operations and walk-throughs of abnormal operations) and off the site.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate responsive action. The emphasis should be on the ability to deal effectively with the incident or to contribute effectively to the recovery from the incident.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:

• communication links with agencies are established
• a log of relevant information is routinely maintained
• information required is able to be quickly accessed and communicated to relevant agency
• different agencies and their capabilities is known.

These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations which may have been generated from past workplace incident history, incidents in similar workplaces around the world, hazard analysis activities and/or similar sources.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment will require (1) access to an accurately simulated environment in the absence of an on-site incident environment, or (2) a suitable method of gathering evidence of responding ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what-ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Method of assessment 

In all facilities it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with other relevant units

Guidance information for assessment 

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.

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. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.

Codes of practice / standards 

Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.

Context 

This unit does not involve the development of search and rescue plans, nor the conduct/coordination of a search and rescue, but rather relates to the site/facility person who will need to provide organisation input to the specialist search and rescue organisations. Rescue scenarios may include:

• lost plane/helicopter transporting crew
• lost supply vessel
• lost truck/vehicle
• individual or groups requiring rescue
• hazardous or non-hazardous goods
• Relevant agencies may include:
• national maritime search and rescue
• SES
• police

Information required may include:

• last known position
• expected route and arrival and departure times
• local weather conditions
• relevant conditions at site such as landing facilities

Conclusion to a search and rescue may be because:

• object of search found and rescued
• agencies recommend search be called off

Health , safety and environment  (HSE )

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or Federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

Relationship to Major Hazard Facility Legislation 

Organisations within the Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Oil Refining industries may find themselves falling under the provisions of various Major Hazard Facilities legislation. In developing this unit consideration has been given to the requirements of Sections 8 and 9 of the National Standard for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:1014(2002)] and the National Code of Practice for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:2016(1996)].

This unit will assist individuals to meet some of their obligations under the relevant State or Territory legislation. Responsibility for appropriate contextualisation and application of the unit to ensure compliance however, remains with the individual organisation.

Unit sector 

Support/generic

Competency field 

Co-requisite units