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

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to provide strategic advice to the Incident Controller on issues related to safety, health and welfare at an incident. This unit applies to a person who is appointed to the role of safety officer. It includes contributing to safety, health and welfare of all personnel involved in an incident, providing strategic advice to personnel on mitigating safety, health and welfare risks, managing safety team and resources, contributing to planning processes and supporting the management of safety event investigations.

A person performing the role of Safety Officer is appointed by the Incident Controller. If appointed the safety officer will report directly to the Incident Controller however, the Incident Controller may elect to have the role report directly to a Deputy Incident Controller. The authorisation to perform this role is subject to organisational policies and procedures.

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.

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

Not applicable

Operations

Public Safety

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 at incident 

1.1 

Initial briefing is sought and obtained from the Incident Controller with Incident Controller's intent confirmed and questions asked

1.2 

Identity and location of field based safety officers is established and communication methods are confirmed

1.3 

Safety team priorities are obtained and confirmed with Incident Controller throughout the incident

1.4 

Safety, health and welfare requirements at the incident are identified

1.5 

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

1.6 

Information relating to incident safety, health and welfare is collected, collated and analysed

1.7 

Predictions and forecasts are made about safety, health and welfare environment at the incident

1.8 

Mitigation strategies for risks that may not have been identified in the planning process are developed

1.9 

Safety roles are identified

1.10 

Oversight of adequacy of procedures related to safety is maintained throughout the incident

1.11 

Meetings and briefings are monitored for adequacy of safety, health and welfare information

2 

Provide strategic advice on mitigating safety, health and welfare risks 

2.1 

Personnel are informed of actions or conditions that have the potential to place lives or safety at risk

2.2 

Mitigation actions are recommended where actions or conditions have the potential to place any person's life, safety, health or welfare at risk

2.3 

Work is undertaken with incident management team personnel to ensure safety, health and welfare issues are addressed throughout the incident

2.4 

Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) advice is provided and is documented throughout the incident

2.5 

Incident Controller is alerted to unsafe work practices and alternative strategies and/or mitigations are recommended

3 

Manage safety resources 

3.1 

Safety team resources are established, in accordance with Incident Controller's direction and incident risk profile

3.2 

Safety resources are adjusted to meet the predicted and actual safety demands of the incident

3.3 

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

3.4 

Performance of the safety team is monitored, in accordance with organisational procedures and the demands of the incident

3.5 

Operational plans are produced for the safety team and all members are briefed on their roles and responsibilities

3.6 

Work undertaken by the safety team is supervised, monitored and reviewed

3.7 

Demobilisation of the safety team is planned

3.8 

Handover briefings are prepared and delivered

4 

Contribute to planning processes 

4.1 

Meetings, briefings and debriefing sessions are attended, and safety issues are identified

4.2 

Liaison is undertaken with the incident management team to produce an operational plan that addresses safety requirements

4.3 

Safety advice is provided for the development of the Incident Action Plan (IAP) and complementary plans in relation to incident safety

4.4 

Relevant sections of the IAP are reviewed as they are developed

4.5 

Participation in the development and dissemination of specific plans is undertaken

5 

Support management of safety event investigations 

5.1 

Safety related incidents are reported to participating and/or pertinent organisations, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.2 

Initial investigation and/or analysis of safety event is commenced 

5.3 

Interaction is maintained with personnel during and following a safety event

5.4 

Information is referred to Incident Controller in relation to safety event investigations at the incident and any impact this may have on operations

5.5 

Information relating to safety event cause including recommended mitigation processes and procedures is referred to the Incident Controller

5.6 

Hazards and risks associated with safety events are analysed to determine control strategies have been identified and put in place

5.7 

Safety event report and recommendations for the prevention of similar occurrences is submitted to Incident Controller

5.8 

Follow up actions for safety events are included, where appropriate, in demobilisation and recovery plans

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 PUAOPE026A Provide strategic safety advice at an incident.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the 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

• analysing operational plans for potential to compromise safety
• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements
• assessing safety hazards and risks at an incident
• attending meetings with Incident Controller and personnel
• complying with legislation and codes of practice
• contributing safety advice to complementary plans including catering, communication, division and sector, facility, fatigue management, medical, recovery, resource management, traffic and transport
• contributing to planning processes
• contributing to the safety, health and welfare of personnel involved in an incident
• identifying issues related to safety, health and welfare of personnel and actions to mitigate and/or control risks
• identifying potential issues and maintaining a strategic focus when providing safety advice
• implementing organisational documentation, policies and procedures
• investigating and managing safety events
• maintaining strategic focus on safety in conditions of high operational demand
• managing personnel, information and resources
• preparing reports
• providing advice to Incident Controller and personnel on mitigating safety, health and welfare risks
• providing briefings and debriefings to the incident management team
• recording observations and recommendations and reporting on safety issues to Incident Controller and members of incident management team
• reviewing sections of the incident action plan
• supporting management in investigation of safety events
• using complimentary plans

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

• Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS) and principles
• complementary plans including catering, communication, division and sector, facility, fatigue management, medical, recovery, resource management, traffic and transport
• incident action plans including planning processes
• incident management team meeting processes and procedures
• methods for monitoring safe work practices at incidents organisational documentation, policies and procedures principles of span of control
• processes for briefings and debriefings using Situation, Mission, Execution, Administration/logistics, Command/control and Safety (SMEACS) plus questions
• relevant personnel at an incident
• risk management and mitigation processes
• safety events and investigations
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements

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.