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 undertake rescues in confined spaces as a member of a single organisation or team involving multiple organisations.

A confined space is determined by the hazards associated with a set of specific circumstances and not just because work is performed in a small space. A confined space means an enclosed or partially enclosed space that

• is not designed or intended primarily to be occupied by a person, and
• is, or is designed or intended to be, at normal atmospheric pressure while any person is in the space, and
• is or is likely to be a risk to health and safety from

• an atmosphere that does not have a safe oxygen level, or
• contaminants, including airborne gases, vapours and dusts, that may cause injury from fire or explosion, or
• harmful concentrations of any airborne contaminants, or engulfment.

The unit is applicable to a range of confined space rescue situations undertaken by personnel from the emergency services, volunteer organisations and/or organisations where confined space work is performed. Permits may be required to perform work in a confined space in various jurisdictions.

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

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.

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

PUAFIR306 Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident

PUASAR022 Participate in a rescue operation

Search and Rescue

Not applicable

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1  

Prepare for confined space rescue operation 

1.1 

Appropriate rescue equipment is identified and selected based on incident information, as directed by the supervisor

1.2 

Operation and task information is obtained through a briefing, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.3 

Personal protective clothing and equipment is selected relevant to the nature of the confined space rescue operation

1.4 

Any further details of the nature of the rescue received en route is assessed

1.5 

Anticipated hazards and associated risks are discussed with rescue team members while en route, in accordance with organisational procedures

2 

Assess and manage confined space rescue 

2.1 

Confined space is assessed, hazards and risks are identified and appropriate control measures and ongoing monitoring processes are put in place, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2 

Physical features of confined space rescue scene are assessed before deploying rescue resources

2.3 

Confined space rescue is managed by controlling access and maintaining a safe operational environment, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.4 

Communication with other personnel on site is established and maintained throughout the rescue

3 

Determine location and condition of casualties 

3.1 

Assessment of confined space incident scene is undertaken to determine possible location of casualties

3.2 

Appropriate equipment is used to assist in the location of casualties

3.3 

Evidence of the location of casualties within confined space is collected and reported to appropriate personnel

3.4 

Condition of casualties and nature of entrapment is ascertained, as required

3.5 

Hygiene precautions are applied, in accordance with organisational procedures

4 

Gain entry to confined space 

4.1 

Entry permit is located and relevant information is obtained, as required

4.2 

Entry procedures are implemented, in accordance with organisational requirements

4.3 

Atmosphere is monitored, in accordance with organisational procedures and industry standards

4.4 

Appropriate ventilation procedures are implemented, as required, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.5 

Appropriate respiratory protection equipment is used in hazardous atmospheres

4.6 

Confined space rescue techniques and equipment are employed to access casualties

4.7 

Located casualties are treated, in consultation with medical personnel and in accordance with organisational procedures

5 

Remove casualties 

5.1 

Casualties are removed, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.2 

Appropriate actions are taken to preserve confined space incident scene

6 

Conclude rescue operations 

6.1 

Appropriate actions are taken to preserve the incident scene, in accordance with organisational procedures

6.2 

Equipment is recovered, cleaned and serviced, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' guidelines

6.3 

Hygiene precautions are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

6.4 

Decontamination procedures are followed, in accordance with organisational procedures

6.5 

Operational debriefing is participated in, in accordance organisational procedures

6.6 

Operational documentation including post incident report is completed, in accordance with organisational procedures

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 PUASAR025A Undertake confined space rescue.

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 hygiene precautions
• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements
• assessing and managing confined space rescue
• collecting evidence
• completing operational and organisational documentation
• concluding confined space rescue operations
• determining location and condition of casualties
• extricating casualties whilst minimising further injury to casualties, self and others
• following organisational policies and procedures
• gaining entry to confined space
• identifying situational and environmental hazards and applying risk mitigation and control procedures
• participating in and contributing to briefings and debriefings
• preserving incident scene and collecting evidence
• using personal protective clothing and equipment
• using rescue 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

• characteristics and limitations of equipment
• confined space industry standards
• confined space rescue and other relevant personnel
• engulfment
• falls from heights or into depths
• field notes, logbooks, rope logs, exposure records and post incident report requirements
• heat exhaustion or hypothermia
• hygiene precautions
• lock, tag out and isolation procedures
• movement of machinery either electrical or mechanical
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures including atmospheric monitoring, entry control, entry permits and equipment procedures
• personal protective clothing and equipment
• processes and procedures for briefings and debriefings
• scene preservation of evidence
• selection, use and maintenance of respiratory devices
• sewers and stormwater canals
• situational and environmental control measures
• situational or environmental hazards including engulfment, falls from heights or into depths; hazardous atmospheres including oxygen enrichment and/or deficiency; atmospheric contaminants such as hydrogen sulphide; methane and carbon dioxide; hazardous materials; heat exhaustion or hypothermia; moving machinery either electrical or mechanical; sewers and stormwater canals and stored energy
• types of rescue equipment including atmospheric monitoring equipment, communications, escape sets and harnesses, marking systems, life rescue lines, litters and stretchers, isolation equipment, ropes and tapes, self-contained breathing apparatus and airline, tripod and edge management, ventilation and purging equipment
• use of ropes and knots for accessing confined spaces
• ventilation procedures
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) 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 must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in in organisationally approved simulated workplace operational situations that replicate 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 relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations

• in a confined space environment

• relevant and appropriate materials, rescue tools, rescue and communications equipment, and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry
• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry guidelines, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operations manuals.