Release 1.  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 operate a specialist appliance at an incident.

A specialist appliance is a vehicle designed for a specific purpose which may include hazardous materials response, mobile communication, heavy rescue, salvage or specialist mechanical support.

The unit applies to personnel who are required to safely operate specialist appliances in emergency response and firefighting situations. It should be noted that individuals may be required to demonstrate competence to organisational standards to be deemed an operator of a specific specialist vehicle.

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  

Site specialist appliance 

1.1 

Specialist appliance and ancillary equipment is sited, in accordance with organisational procedures, to minimise hazards which may impact on safe working operations

1.2 

Specialist appliance is positioned, in accordance with organisational procedures, to support operational requirements and to prevent injury to personnel or damage to equipment and facilities

1.3 

Personal protective clothing and equipment is selected and worn, in accordance with organisational procedures and Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) guidelines

1.4 

Specialist appliance equipment is deployed, in accordance with organisational procedures and WHS/OHS guidelines

2 

Operate specialist appliance 

2.1 

Specialist appliance is operated, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' specifications

2.2 

Safe clearances are maintained to ensure that personnel are not injured by the operation of specialist appliance

2.3 

Performance of specialist appliance is monitored and adjusted, as required, in response to changed conditions and to achieve determined strategies and objectives

2.4 

Action is taken to rectify any deficiencies in the operation of specialist appliance, as required

2.5 

Specialist appliance is operated in a manner that prevents injury to personnel or damage to equipment and facilities

2.6 

Fire spread, onsite hazards and atmospheric conditions including potential impact on specialist appliance operations are monitored and relevant information is referred to appropriate personnel

2.7 

Communication is established and maintained through the chain of command

3 

Conclude specialist appliance operations 

3.1 

Ancillary equipment is collected and stowed, in accordance with organisational procedures and WHS/OHS guidelines

3.2 

Specialist appliance is checked and maintained, and any faults or deficiencies are reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3 

Participate in debriefing sessions

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.

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUAFIR318 Operate specialist appliance.

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 and performance criteria on at least one occasion and includes

• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements
• checking and maintaining equipment and reporting faults
• concluding specialist appliance operations
• identifying and avoiding hazards
• implementing safe work practices
• operating specialist appliance
• operating equipment located on specific appliances
• siting specialist appliance
• using approved communication methods
• working with ancillary equipment
• wearing personal protective clothing and equipment

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

• ancillary equipment
• communication methods on fire ground
• hazards including atmospheric conditions such as wind direction and strength, fire explosion, fire spread, hazardous atmospheres such as smoke and toxic gases and structural collapse
• impact of weather on operation of specialist appliance
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures for use in specialist appliances
• personal protective clothing and equipment
• potential hazards
• principal features and components of specialist appliance
• safe working operations including compliance with manufacturers' specifications, organisational operational procedures and WHS/OHS guidelines
• specialist appliance including breathing apparatus unit, command unit, firefighting appliance either non-water or foam, foam or water tender, HAZMAT (hazardous materials) response unit, hose layer, lighting and salvage units and rescue tender
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements including risk mitigation

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, tools, equipment and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry including

• organisational specialist appliances and site suitable for assessment

• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.