Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit covers the competency required to coordinate environmental health operations within the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

Application of the Unit 

The unit includes coordinating personnel and resources within an environmental health team to implement and monitor team tasking to provide environmental health support to a dependent organisation participating in ADF activities .

This unit of competency is applicable to environmental health personnel. This function is limited to the performance of tasks in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Pre-requisite Unit /s 

Nil

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Plan environmental health tasking for individuals within a team 

1.1 Instructions for environmental health support are obtained, interpreted and where necessary, clarified with team supervisor

1.2 Task objectives are identified as consistent with the identified health threat  and the operating environment

1.3 Tasking  allocation is determined according to operational priorities and time requirements, to complete tasks in appropriate order and to minimise duplication of effort

1.4 Resources are allocated within tasking allocation to ensure tasks are achievable and to make efficient use of resources

1.5 Workplace safety is considered within tasking allocation to ensure tasks may be completed free from preventable injury or illness

1.6 Tasking is issued to personnel in accordance with organisational policies and procedures 

2. Implement and monitor environmental health tasking 

2.1 Liaison with relevant persons  at the dependent organisation  is undertaken to inform about and gain consent to, the occurrence of tasking

2.2 Tasks are executed in accordance with plan and organisational policies and procedures

2.3 Tasking is monitored to ensure progress is consistent with operational priorities, time requirements and resource allocation

2.4 Actual task outcomes are identified and compared with planned objectives, task instructions, time allocations to allow adjustment of tasking as required

2.5 Tasking allocation is revised as required, to meet planned objectives

2.6 Tasking is modified to meet unforeseen requirements, resources are reallocated and the extent of change is communicated to team supervisor

2.7 Technical advice relating to environmental health is communicated to personnel within the dependent organisation

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required Skills 

• communicate appropriately about, consult on and impart knowledge of:
• application of the permethrin/DEET repellent system
• causes of disease transmission
• causes of manpower wastage
• control measures of disease transmission
• food storage and distribution standards
• risk management principles
• water quality assurance measures
• establish and maintain administrative systems
• manage workplace issues and problems
• prioritise tasking

Required Knowledge 

• administrative systems
• application of the permethrin/DEET repellent system
• best use of available resources
• causes of disease transmission
• causes of manpower wastage
• control measures of disease transmission
• documentation processes relevant to own workplace
• food storage and distribution standards including the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach to food control
• health surveillance system
• legal rights and responsibilities
• methods of establishing field hygiene and waste facilities
• organisational policies and procedures
• pathophysiology of common communicable diseases
• planning and control systems
• process of disease
• risk management principles
• role and capabilities of other health care providers including environmental health team
• team leadership management principles
• time management strategies to set priorities
• water quality assurance measures

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

• determine a tasking plan which is achievable and make best use of available resources
• coordinate tasking of at lease two team members to achieve desired outcomes.
• Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated on a minimum of two occasions.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Context of assessment 

Competency should be assessed in an actual workplace situation or in a simulated situation or scenario.

Specific resources for assessment 

Access is required to:

• appropriate equipment and stores
• range of notional health threats based on recent and historical experience, to tailor tasking
• dependent personnel
• relevantorganisational policies and procedures.

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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

ADF activities may include 

ADF exercises in Australia or overseas

ADF operational deployment

Civil aid to the community task

In a field or urban setting

Training activities

Health threats may include 

Environment health threats:

• animal
• disease
• terrain
• vegetation
• weather

Occupational health threats:

• road traffic accident
• industrial injury

Operational health threats:

• chemical/biological injury
• combat injury
• psychiatric injury

Tasking may include 

Applying the permethrin protection system

Assisting in the ongoing health threat assessment and health surveillance

Collecting water samples for laboratory analysis

Contributing to epidemiologic quick assessment of disease

Contributing to organisational compliance with occupational health and safety and industrial hygiene policy/procedures

Coordinating field waste management

Implementing strategies to control the transmission of disease

Inspecting and monitoring water distribution for safe water handling practices

Monitoring food hygiene and preventing the transmission of disease via ingested sources

Operating pesticide dispersal equipment

Performing a water quality survey of an established water distribution point

Performing chlorine dosing of water at the point of supply

Organisational policies and procedures may include 

Clinical standards (state/territory and national)

Codes of ethics

Codes of practice

Environmental health policy

Health and hygiene guidelines

Health surveillance policy documents

Industry professional body standards

Industry standards (state/territory and national)

Organisational health policy directives

Pesticides manual

Relevant Australian Standards

Relevant Commonwealth Acts

Workplace safety guidelines

Relevant persons may include 

Area commander

Coordinating personnel

Organisational commander

Section commander

Team leaders

Dependent organisation may include 

Company sized group

Deployed ADF team

Own organic organisation

Co-requisite Unit /s 

Nil