Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit covers the competency required to recognise emergencies in the workplace, to report emergencies and to take appropriate action.

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

This unit:

• applies to all personnel within an organisation
• has been developed to cover the broad range of emergencies  and workplaces  as considered in Australian Standard 37452002
• is part of a suite of eleven workplace emergency response units of competency that has three streams
• is part of the workplace evacuation 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. Prepare for emergency situations 

1.1 Current workplace emergency procedures to be used by employees and other workplace occupants are identified and followed

1.2 Emergency resources in the workplace are identified and located

1.3 Emergency response exercises  are participated in according to workplace emergency procedures

2. Report emergencies and potential emergencies 

2.1 Emergencies and potential emergencies are identified and reported according to workplace emergency procedures

2.2 People in any immediate danger from the emergency or potential emergency are alerted according to workplace emergency procedures

3. Respond to emergency warnings and advice 

3.1 Emergency warnings  and advice are responded to according to workplace emergency procedures

3.2 Instructions  from emergency control response personnel are complied with during an emergency

3.3 Sources of additional information are identified and information is sought from relevant people if the situation is not clear

4. Evacuate from the work area 

4.1 Need to evacuate from the work area is determined according to the level of immediate danger or instruction issued under the workplace emergency procedures

4.2 Work area is prepared for evacuation according to workplace emergency procedures and the nature of the emergency

4.3 Area of danger is evacuated according to workplace emergency procedures

4.4 Where it is safe to do so, assistance is provided to people who may require assistance 

4.5 Evacuation procedures and instructions from emergency control organisation or emergency response personnel  are followed

4.6 Alternative pathways or methods of evacuation are identified, assessed and chosen according to workplace emergency procedures if usual means of evacuation are blocked or endangered

4.7 Communication systems are used according to workplace procedures

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required Skills 

• communicate effectively in an emergency situation as outlined in the workplace emergency procedures
• identify an emergency/potential emergency

Required Knowledge 

• circumstances where evacuation may need to be modified
• emergency reporting systems and procedures used on site
• emergency warning system, signals and instructions used on site
• evacuation alarms and workplace emergency procedures used at the workplace
• location of assembly areas and post-evacuation actions
• location of emergency equipment in the workplace
• procedures for reporting emergencies
• roles, responsibilities and authority of emergency personnel, emergency control organisation and emergency response team
• types of emergencies, the hazards and the evacuation actions associated with each one

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to apply workplace procedures; to maintain own safety and the safety of others in emergency situations; and to follow workplace emergency procedures and the advice of emergency control organisation members

Consistency in performance 

Competency should be demonstrated over time with a range of emergencies that could be expected in the workplace including assisting people who may need assistance

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Context of assessment 

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace

Specific resources for assessment 

Access to:

• scenarios that reflect a range of emergency situations that may be expected in the workplace
• appropriate emergency resources
• range of communication equipment relevant to the workplace
• workplace emergency procedures and documentation

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

Emergency response exercises may include 

Briefings

Debriefings

Emergency exercises, simulations and reviews

Table/desk top exercises

Emergency warnings may include 

Audible/visual alarms

Audible or vibrating pagers

Coded or uncoded public address announcements

E-mail

Screen alerts

Stench alarms

Providing assistance to people who may require assistance is part of the indemnification as specified in AS 3745 2002 and may include 

Guidance

Reassurance

Support

People who may require assistance may include 

Babies and children

People with a mobility, intellectual, visual, auditory or sensory impairment, either temporary or permanent, who require assistance during an emergency response

People from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds

People who are injured

People who are not able to comprehend the instructions given

Pregnant women

Instructions may include 

To evacuate

Not to evacuate

To partially evacuate

Alternative evacuation

Any guidance from emergency response team

Designated assembly area

Evacuation routes and destination

Not to re-enter the evacuated area until directed by emergency personnel

Protection in place/lockdown

Use of response equipment

Emergency response personnel may include 

Emergency control organisation members

Counsellors

Emergency response team members

Police, fire and emergency services

Peer support

Recovery team

Emergency response personnel may be identified through 

Prior advice

Publicity eg armbands, helmets, caps, hats, uniforms, tabards, vests or other distinguishing/distinctive clothing

Workplace procedures

Co-requisite Unit /s 

Nil