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 recognise potential health and safety risks and to then act to eliminate or control those risks at incident scenes and to prevent injury to self, other personnel or members of the public.

The unit is applicable to public safety personnel attending an incident scene and links to the individual’s duty of care responsibility to maintain personal safety and to be aware of how actions affect the safety of others including team members, other agency/organisational personnel and the public.

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.

PUAFIR210 Prevent injury

Work, Health and Safety

Public Safety

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1  

Determine hazards at incident site 

1.1 

Site hazards affecting the safety of self or other personnel are identified, risks are assessed and are communicated with others at the scene

1.2 

Operational safety procedures are implemented, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

1.3 

Duties are undertaken, in accordance with Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements

2 

Implement hazard controls at incident scene 

2.1 

Hazards are identified, and mitigation procedures are selected, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2 

Control measures are applied, reported and recorded, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

2.3 

Changes in incident situation or conditions are reported immediately to designated personnel

2.4 

Hazard controls are monitored and communicated to relevant personnel to ensure continuing effectiveness

2.5 

Hazard control and risk mitigation measures are implemented with minimum damage to the environment, whilst maintaining safety of self and others

2.6 

Incident and/or accident scene is secured to preserve the scene and maintain public safety, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

3 

Maintain personal safety 

3.1 

Personal protective clothing and equipment is selected and checked, in accordance with organisational procedures, to ensure it is operational prior to entry into incident situation

3.2 

Personal protective clothing and equipment appropriate to dealing with the hazard is worn and used, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' guidelines

3.3 

Water and food intake, rest breaks and shelter requirements are maintained

3.4 

Survival techniques and/or strategies are implemented, in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and guidelines

4 

Contribute to maintaining safety of other group members 

4.1 

Impact of own or others' actions on safety is considered and modified, as required

4.2 

Contact is maintained with group members, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3 

Signals are correctly used, interpreted, confirmed and acted upon

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 PUAOHS002B Maintain safety at an incident scene.

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

• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) requirements
• communicating using non-verbal and verbal techniques
• determining hazards and assessing risks at incident site
• following organisational policies and procedures
• implementing hazard controls at incident scene
• maintaining safety at an incident scene including personal safety and contributing to the safety of other group members
• recording information, updating records and completing documentation
• using communication equipment
• using personal protective clothing and equipment
• working with others in a team

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

• awareness of incident hazards and hazard control equipment
• commonly encountered hazards and safety precautions to prevent injury
• concept of risk
• duty of care responsibilities and obligations
• factors that may affect safety at an incident which must require monitoring
• legislation and regulations
• means of relaying warnings to other personnel
• methods of hazard control
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures
• personal protective clothing and equipment
• requirements for reporting
• roles and responsibilities at an incident scene
• safety procedures and hazard equipment to prevent injury
• survival techniques and strategies at an incident
• work environments including incidents and response situations
• 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 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

• that demonstrate competency in maintaining personal safety and the safety of others

• 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.