Release 1.0  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to supervise the preparation and loading of product into aircraft for dispersal as part of an incident response strategy. It includes ensuring safety of support personnel, supervising storage and handling of product, reviewing environmental considerations, supervising preparation and loading of product, supervising storage of prepared product, overseeing transfer of product into an aircraft and supervising the response to a spillage.

The unit is applicable to personnel at an airbase who are responsible for preparing products such as fire retardant or fire suppressant such as foam, gel, water (without additives) or an oil spill dispersant and loading it into fixed wing or rotary wing aircraft. Work is performed independently or under limited supervision as a single operator or within a team environment. Authorisation to perform this role is subject to organisational policies and procedures.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or agencies that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

It is essential that the prerequisite units listed below are obtained prior to the issuance of this unit to individuals with the fire sector or the units contributing to the attainment of a fire qualification.

PUAFIR010 Operate small equipment to prepare and load product into aircraft

Fire

Fire

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1 

Ensure safety of support personnel  

1.1 

Initial briefing is obtained from air base manager and communication is maintained throughout operation

1.2 

Support personnel involved in the preparation and loading of product are briefed, tasked and their performance is monitored

1.3 

Site and job hazards are identified, risks are assessed and control measures are implemented

1.4 

Trained personnel who are unfamiliar with product and equipment are identified and provided with information, instruction and supervision on safe techniques

1.5 

Liaison is maintained with pilots and task supervisors on product quality and loading requirements of aircraft

2 

Supervise storage and handling of product 

2.1 

Emergency and first aid procedures on Safety Data Sheets for product being handled are identified and followed

2.2 

Storage requirements for product are identified and established

2.3 

Handling procedures for product are implemented and complied with

3 

Review environmental considerations 

3.1 

Site is confirmed after consideration of environmental factors and organisational requirements

3.2 

Preventative actions are identified for protecting water supplies and are implemented, as required

4 

Supervise preparation and loading of product 

4.1 

Equipment for preparing product is set up and operated in accordance with manufacturers' instructions

4.2 

Equipment issues are resolved through systematic checking of operation

4.3 

Quality of prepared product is tested using approved equipment and adjustments are made, as required

5 

Supervise storage of prepared product 

5.1 

Product is stored in accordance with manufacturers' instructions and organisational requirements

5.2 

Quality of stored product is monitored in accordance with manufacturers' requirements, as required

5.3 

Storage tank is flushed and waste material is collected for disposal when a contaminant is detected

6 

Oversee transfer of product into aircraft 

6.1 

Attaching transfer equipment and transferring product to the aircraft is conducted under pilot supervision

6.2 

Equipment is cleaned at the conclusion of the transfer operation, as required

7 

Supervise response to spillage 

7.1 

Organisational procedures are implemented for product spillage

7.2 

Emergency and first aid procedures on Safety Data Sheet for product are followed

7.3 

Personnel affected by spillage of fire control chemicals are washed using eye, hand and shower facilities, as appropriate, and a report is filed

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the PUA Public Safety Training Package Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

This is a newly created unit, there is no equivalent unit.

Release 1.0  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least one occasion and includes

• ascertaining which trained personnel are unfamiliar with product and/or equipment and providing information, instruction and supervision on safe handling techniques
• assessing risks and implementing control measures
• attaching transfer equipment and transferring product to the aircraft under pilot supervision
• briefing and tasking support personnel
• cleaning equipment
• ensuring personnel affected by spillage are washed appropriately and a report is filed
• flushing storage tank and collecting waste material for disposal when contamination is detected
• following emergency and first aid procedures on Safety Data Sheet
• identifying and establishing product storage requirements
• identifying hazards
• implementing organisational procedures for site confirmation and product spillage
• maintaining communication with air base manager and liaising with pilots on product quality and loading requirements
• monitoring the performance of support personnel
• obtaining briefings from the air base manager
• resolving issues with the operation of small equipment
• setting up equipment for preparing product
• storing product and monitoring quality
• supervising teams preparing and loading product into aircraft
• testing quality of prepared product and making adjustments.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and includes knowledge of

• associated risks of contact with products
• how to clean and flush equipment, where required
• measurement of product quality
• organisational equipment used
• organisational procedures for product spillage
• personal protective clothing and equipment suitable for specific products
• potential issues with product - cause and solution
• product contamination
• range of other types of equipment including

• foam injection unit
• gel injection unit
• retardant mixers

• risk management principles and control measures
• risks of product near water sources and preventative actions
• roles and responsibilities in an air operations unit
• safe working procedures around aircraft
• storage and handling requirements for different products
• types of aircraft used for applying products
• use and content of Safety Data Sheets for products
• use, composition and risks of water, foam, gel, fire retardants and other products
• Work Health and Safety (WHS)/ Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements.

Assessors must hold credentials specified within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence and all regulatory requirements included within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment must occur in operational situations or in simulated operational training situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of exercises and case studies and/or simulations
• appropriate personnel, materials, equipment and tools currently used in industry including

• an aircraft for loading
• product
• equipment for preparing product
• team to supervise
• personal protective clothing and equipment suitable for product
• operating procedures

• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice, Safety Data Sheets for products and manufacturers' operating instructions for product and equipment.