Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit covers the competency required to identify and prevent the development of workplace emergency situations, or to minimise their consequences, and to report if emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems are compromised.

For this unit the term workplace is defined as the area encompassed by an individual's responsibilities.

This unit:

• has been developed to cover the broad range of emergencies  and workplaces  as considered in Australian Standard 37452002
• covers the work required before the emergency services or specialist response team arrives
• does not cover the specific use of equipment to prevent workplace emergency situations
• is part of a suite of eleven workplace emergency response units of competency that has three streams
• is part of the prevention stream.

Application of the Unit 

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisite Unit /s 

Nil

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Identify , monitor and report situations that could lead to workplace emergencies 

1.1 Situations that could lead to workplace emergencies  are identified and reported according to workplace procedures and accepted safe practices

1.2 Immediate work area is routinely checked for any situations that could lead to emergencies

1.3 Hazardous work  is monitored to ensure precautions and workplace procedures are followed

2. Identify , report and correct situations that could prevent workplace emergencies from being safely handled 

2.1 Principles of operation of relevant emergency protection systems  are identified

2.2 Principles of operation of relevant emergency control equipment  are identified

2.3 Evacuation systems  are identified

2.4 Immediate work area is routinely checked according to workplace procedures and accepted safe practices for any situations that could lead to emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems being made inoperable

2.5 Situations that could lead to emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems being made inoperable are identified, corrected and/or reported according to workplace procedures and accepted safe practices

2.6 Workplace procedures and accepted safe practices are regularly monitored and followed to ensure operability of emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills 

• communicate effectively according to workplace procedures and accepted safe practices
• identify hazards in the workplace that reduce the effectiveness of emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems
• monitor the work area to identify new and emerging risks on an on-going basis

Required Knowledge 

• basic types, principles of operation and limitations of emergency protection systems and emergency control equipment typically installed in the workplace
• hazards in the workplace that reduce the effectiveness of emergency protection systems and emergency control equipment
• procedures for identifying, minimising or preventing, correcting and reporting situations within the organisation that may lead to workplace emergencies
• safe practices applicable to the workplace that help to prevent emergencies
• situations in the workplace that may lead to emergencies
• situations that may make emergency protection systems and emergency control equipment inoperable

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Assessment must confirm the ability to identify emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems; to identify and report situations that may lead to or contribute to workplace incidents and/or emergencies

Consistency in performance 

Competency should be demonstrated in the workplace

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Context of assessment 

Competency should be assessed in the workplace

Specific resources for assessment 

Access to:

• scenarios that reflect a range of emergency situations that may be expected in the workplace
• appropriate emergency protection systems and emergency control equipment
• relevant standards and workplace procedures

Guidance information for assessment 

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

RANGE STATEMENT 

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised  wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Emergencies must include those emergencies identified by the workplace hazard analysis , which may include 

Animal or livestock emergencies

Bomb threat

Building invasion/armed invasion

Chemical, biological and radiological

Civil disorder

Criminal acts

Cyclones, including storm surge

Deliberate self-harm

Earthquake

Failure of utilities

Fire

Flood

Hazardous substances incidents

Hostage situations

Industrial accident

Letter bomb

Medical emergency

Severe weather/storm damage

Structural instability

Terrorism

Transport accident

Toxic emission

Veterinary emergencies

Wildfire

Workplaces include 

Workplaces, buildings and structures as outlined in Australian Standard 37452002

Situations that could lead to workplace emergencies may include 

Deficient or ineffective security arrangements

Failure to follow safe practices

Fire/smoke hazards

Poor maintenance

Unreported faults

Unsafe practices

Unsafe storage and handling of dangerous goods and hazardous materials

Unsafe use of electrical or mechanical equipment

Hazardous work includes the hazards identified in the hazard analysis and may include 

Handling dangerous goods and hazardous materials (including waste)

Hot work

Manufacturing

Unsafe manual handling

Using, mixing and/or moving chemicals

Working at heights, in confined spaces, in poorly ventilated spaces or around noise

Working around traffic

Working with plant and machinery

Working with unstable equipment or equipment that has deteriorated

Emergency protection systems may include 

Automatic fire/leak/spill/movement detectors

CCTV

Communications systems

Manual alarms

Passive installations, fire/smoke doors, fire walls

Security infrastructure

Special hazard identification systems

Spill/leak containment systems

Sprinkler and deluge systems

Warning systems

Emergency control equipment may include 

Communications equipment

Escape equipment

Fire/smoke detection, alarm, mitigation and suppression systems

First-aid kits

Forcible entry tools

Initial response firefighting equipment

Isolation barriers

Personal protection kits

Shower and eyewash

Spill control kits/equipment

Evacuation systems include 

Access, egress

Exits

Procedures

Situations that could lead to emergency protection systems , emergency control equipment and evacuation systems being made inoperable may include 

Blocking egress

Compromising security infrastructure or integrity

Emergency lighting and/or exit lighting being damaged, missing or under service

Locking or blocking exits

Impairing exits and/or pathways to exits

Interfering with alarm systems

Not replacing or replenishing used emergency equipment

Not reporting damage to emergency control equipment or facilities

Propping open fire/smoke doors

Co-requisite Unit /s 

Nil