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 provide safety advice at a rural and/or land management incident.

The unit applies to wildfire and land management field based Safety Officers, who are responsible for providing advice to commanders and/or supervisors about safety issues and the implementation of safety procedures at a rural and/or land management incident. This unit also involves observing potential or existing hazards and providing advice on available and viable risk management options. Authorisation to perform this role is subject to organisational policies and procedures.

The Incident Controller has the ultimate responsibility for the safety and welfare of operational crews, supporting personnel and members of the public who may be involved in an incident. Providing a safe working environment for people at an incident is the shared responsibility of the Incident Controller, each member of the Incident Management Team and at their respective levels all persons involved at the incident.

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  

Contribute to safety, health and welfare of personnel involved in an incident 

1.1 

Initial briefing is obtained and Incident Controller's intent is confirmed and any questions are asked

1.2 

Identity of safety officers providing strategic safety advice at the incident is established and all communication methods are confirmed

1.3 

Requirements for safety, health and welfare of crews/teams at the incident are identified

1.4 

Assessment of information relating to safety, health and welfare is collected, collated and analysed

1.5 

Safety, health and welfare priorities are obtained and confirmed through the chain of command throughout the incident

1.6 

Safety, health and welfare of operational and other associated personnel is monitored and reviewed throughout the incident

1.7 

Mitigation strategies for risks that may not have been controlled elsewhere in the Incident Action Plan (IAP) are identified and developed

1.8 

Adequacy of procedures is assessed and issues identified are reported through the chain of command

2 

Support incident action planning 

2.1 

Distribution of IAP is monitored to ensure it reaches all personnel and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

2.2 

Provision of maps and sector assignment orders to ground staff is monitored and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

2.3 

Briefings are participated in and assessed to ensure appropriate safety messages are conveyed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

2.4 

Issues addressing health, safety and welfare of personnel are identified and communicated to assist in the preparation of the IAP for the next shift

3 

Support operations at an incident 

3.1 

Supervisors are assisted to identify any outlying operations where they are responsible for health, safety and welfare

3.2 

Information about developments at the incident is regularly obtained

3.3 

Potential or developing risks to health, safety or welfare of personnel are identified and revised risk analysis is undertaken from information obtained

3.4 

Supervisors are assisted to monitor the application of safe working practices and wearing of personal protective clothing and equipment

3.5 

Implementation of the communications plan is monitored for effectiveness and adequacy

3.6 

Monitoring and reporting of safety events is undertaken

3.7 

Safety issues are reported to incident personnel through the chain of command, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.8 

Safety events and investigations are participated in and recommendations are made, as required

3.9 

Incoming field safety advisor is briefed

4 

Complete documentation 

4.1 

Arrangements are made for a log and/or record of activities and decisions to be kept

4.2 

Information is compiled to facilitate preparation of an end of shift summary report

4.3 

Information is compiled for participation in incident debriefing or other performance improvement forums

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 PUAFIR410A Provide safety advice at a rural/land management incident.

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
• assessing adequacy of briefings and debriefings
• completing documentation including reports and logs
• maintaining awareness of active and developing rural and/or land management situations
• managing and communicating information
• monitoring risk management procedures and processes
• participating in and contributing to briefings contributing to the safety, health and welfare of personnel involved in a rural and/or land management incident
• participating in initial safety event investigation
• providing WHS/OHS advice to develop the Incident Action Plan
• recognising issues, activities and events that require safety advisor action
• working within the chain of command

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

• hazard identification encountered at rural and/or land management incidents
• incident or accident investigation and reporting processes and procedures
• initial briefings formats including Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration, Commands (SMEAC)
• operational procedures, practices and implementation including Lookout, Awareness, Communications, Escape routes, Safety zones (LACES)
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures
• planning processes
• risk assessment and management principles
• roles and responsibilities of Incident Controllers, incident management teams and personnel at a rural/land management incident
• safety events including accidents, breach of safety requirements or procedures, near miss or hit and WHS/OHS incidents
• 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, equipment, tools and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry including

• actual or simulated workplace environments

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