Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to identify and avoid workplace hazards and risks, to maintain personal safety and to report identified issues to supervisors and team members.

It is designed as an introduction to safe work practices and is specifically relevant to a workplace requiring personnel to be involved in incidents, prescribed burns and/or operational aspects of emergency management. It includes identifying, implementing and monitoring effectiveness of workplace hazards and risk control procedures.

The unit applies to personnel who work as a member of a team. Work at this level is undertaken under direct supervision and instruction.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations 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.

Not applicable.

Fire

Fire

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1  

Identify workplace hazards and risks, and advise others 

1.1 

Procedures and practices are followed to identify hazards and risks in the workplace

1.2 

Identified hazards and risks in the work area are communicated to team members and supervisors

1.3 

Identified risk factors which may create or escalate the immediate risk to life, property or the environment are reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

2 

Implement hazard and risk control procedures 

2.1 

Personal protective clothing and equipment is selected and donned, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2 

Hazard identification and risks controls are implemented, in accordance with Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines and organisational procedures

2.3 

Equipment appropriate for dealing with a hazard is selected for use and checked, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.4 

Personal health and welfare is managed, in accordance with organisational policy

3 

Monitor effectiveness of hazard and risk control procedures 

3.1 

Situation awareness is maintained to ensure the continued effectiveness of hazard and risk control procedures

3.2 

Changes in incident behaviour and conditions are reported immediately through the chain of command, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3 

Activities and debriefings regarding hazard and risk control procedures are participated in, as appropriate

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 Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

personal protective clothing and equipment must include

• eye and head protection
• turn out uniform and gloves

controlling risks must include

• dynamic risk assessment
• safe person approach

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUAFIR215 Prevent injury.

Release 1.  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, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and includes

• applying safe work practices in accordance with organisational Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) policies and procedures
• identifying hazards and using risk control measures
• identifying workplace hazards and risks and advising others
• implementing hazard and risk control procedures
• monitoring effectiveness of hazard and risk control procedures
• selecting equipment pertinent to incidents, prescribed burning and/or operational aspects of emergency management
• working with organisational procedures including the selection and use of personal protective equipment

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

• basic principles of a dynamic risk assessment and safe person approach
• hazards, including heat illness, fire, structural, aerial operations, hazardous materials and vehicles
• methods of hazard identification, risk control reporting and debriefing
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures for hazard and risk management
• personal protective clothing and equipment requirements
• risks to life, community, property and the environment
• situational awareness actions that support safety in the work place
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements including occupational hazards and risks encountered in the workplace, safety assessments, risk mitigation processes and risk control measures such as eliminate, isolate and substitute

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

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.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in industry approved simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, equipment, tools and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry
• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.