Unit of competency details

Release 

Comments 

1

Replaces but not equivalent to SISOCLA304A Guide top rope climbing activities on artificial surfaces
Updated Elements and Performance Criteria to better articulate content.
Prerequisite unit removed.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Plan a climbing activity.

1.1. Conduct relevant assessments to determine the condition of participants .

1.2. Develop an activity plan , according to participant needs, requirements of relevant legislation  and organisational policies and procedures .

1.3. Select an appropriate activity site or location according to activity objectives .

1.4. Identify hazards and risks  associated with climbing on artificial surfaces  and minimise to ensure personal safety of participants.

1.5. Access relevant sources  to interpret detailed weather and environmental information  to determine activity plan, where applicable.

1.6. Inform appropriate authorities  before commencing the climbing activity.

2. Select and organise equipment and resources.

2.1. Select and access equipment  and resources according to contextual issues  and organisational policies and procedures.

2.2. Assess equipment for serviceability, safety and suitability, and adjust and fit to ensure personal comfort and safety.

2.3. Establish anchors and belay system  in the correct position for the activity.

2.4. Check safety and rescue equipment to ensure suitability to the group and the climb.

3. Brief participants.

3.1. Communicate instructions and relevant information  on the climbing activity in a manner suitable to the participants.

3.2. Demonstrate correct climbing, belaying and back-up belaying techniques.

3.3. Establish a suitable communication system  for participants to use while climbing and belaying.

3.4. Outline safety procedures  and safe areas and/or boundaries for the activity.

3.5. Check and confirm participants are properly equipped for the climb.

4. Guide a climbing activity.

4.1. Monitor climbing, belaying and back-up belaying techniques to ensure safety of participants.

4.2. Identify potential hazards and decide how they can be overcome or avoided.

4.3. Monitor individual participant performance  and provide appropriate feedback.

4.4. Implement appropriate modifications to activity in regard to all variable factors  that are monitored.

5. Perform rescues.

5.1. Determine the advantages and disadvantages of direct and indirect rescue strategies  for individual situations.

5.2. Identify situations requiring direct assistance and apply correct approach procedures  for the situation.

5.3. Select the appropriate strategy according to the degree of urgency, element features, resources , rescuee status and ability, and personal ability.

5.4. Establish a rescue system efficiently and inform other group members of their role.

5.5. Operate a rescue system, demonstrating lowering procedures to recover a conscious and unconscious person from an artificial surface with assistance from others who are unskilled in rescue techniques.

5.6. Demonstrate an escape from a belay.

5.7. Construct and demonstrate the use of an improvised chest harness in a rescue situation.

6. Complete post-activity responsibilities.

6.1. Retrieve, inspect and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures.

6.2. Evaluate relevant aspects  of climbing activity.

6.3. Identify potential areas of improvement for future climbing activities.

6.4. Review own performance and identify potential improvements.

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication skills to:

• consult with participants to plan a climbing activity that meets their needs
• convey information about the safety aspects of the activity
• interact with participants to create a safe and positive climbing environment

• problem-solving skills to:

• plan a suitable climbing activity
• make decisions affecting activity including responding appropriately to non-routine situations

• planning and organising skills to:

• source, allocate and coordinate resources, equipment and artificial pitch
• organise participants into manageable groups for climbing and belaying

• language and literacy skills to:

• produce an activity plan
• complete post-activity participant and self evaluations

• highly developed personal climbing skills to demonstrate and explain climbing and belaying techniques to participants and to perform rescues
• first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies and personal health care.

Required knowledge 

• requirements of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of climbing activities
• site specific information to assist in planning and enable management of potential climbing risks and hazards, and any special restrictions applying to the site
• hazards and risks that may be experienced in an artificial climbing environment
• equipment types, characteristics and technology used for climbing on artificial surfaces, the advantages and disadvantages of the range of equipment, and factors affecting appropriate selection of equipment
• clothing and footwear requirements for climbing activities to ensure comfort and safety
• care and maintenance of climbing equipment, equipment log books and retirement of gear, to ensure prolonged life span and safety requirements
• climbing techniques and common communication methods and calls used between climbers and belayers to reduce risk during climbing on artificial surfaces
• belay systems, devices and anchors appropriate for single pitch artificial surfaces
• technical climbing knowledge, such as techniques and procedures to suit the features of the surface
• direct and indirect rescue techniques used in various artificial surface situations
• weather and environmental information to ascertain possible conditions and their affect on the activity, if appropriate
• emergency procedures relevant to the location to ensure safety of self and others.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment 

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

Evidence of the ability to:

• plan, guide and monitor the climbing activity of the group in a safe and professional manner
• apply effective contingency management techniques to deal with a range of problems and issues that may arise during the climbing activity on artificial surfaces
• encourage and respond to participant feedback and evaluate own guiding performance to identify strengths, weaknesses and areas for improvement.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure that climbing activities reflect the needs of a range of participants and are of sufficient duration to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

• resources and information regarding participants and location to accurately plan, guide and document climbing activities for a variety of participants
• an artificial climbing surface suitable for the participants
• a group of participants to take part in the climbing activities
• equipment such as harnesses, belay devices, ropes, and carabiners.

Method of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• observation of interaction with a group of participants, including conveying information for safe participation
• oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe conduct of all climbing activities
• observation of dealing with contingencies such as changing weather conditions and equipment failure
• review of climbing activity plans
• review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the individual.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Condition of participants  may include:

• skill level
• previous experience
• physical capabilities
• fitness level and physical capabilities
• age
• injuries and illnesses.

Plan  may include:

• activity aims and objectives
• date, time and duration
• location or site
• guide and participant ratios
• resources
• equipment
• food and water
• weather details
• participant information
• safety requirements.

Relevant legislation  may include:

• work health and safety/occupational health and safety
• permits or permission for access.

Organisational policies and procedures  may include:

• work health and safety/occupational health and safety
• time constraints
• use and maintenance of equipment
• communication protocols
• confidentiality of participant information
• guide and participant ratios
• emergency and safety procedures
• code of ethics.

Activity objectives  may include:

• self improvement
• meeting people
• fitness targets
• adventure and recreation.

Hazards and risks  may include:

• lack of planning
• equipment failure
• temperature extremes
• slippery or unstable terrain
• dangerous animals and insects
• hypothermia
• heat exhaustion
• injuries
• exhaustion
• group management
• lack of supervision
• unauthorised access.

Artificial surfaces  may include:

• portable or fixed walls
• fixed towers
• indoor or outdoor.

Relevant sources  may include:

• Bureau of Meteorology
• media
• land managers or agencies
• local knowledge.

Weather and environmental information  may include:

• outdoor surfaces:
• satellite images
• daily and weekly forecasts
• maximum and minimum temperatures
• weather warnings
• event warnings
• river levels
• synoptic charts.

Appropriate authorities  may include:

• facility managers
• supervisors.

Equipment  may include:

• ropes
• harnesses
• belay devices
• carabiners
• maillons
• chalk and chalk bag
• helmet
• knife
• rescue pulley
• accessory cord
• whistle.

Contextual issues  may include:

• weather conditions
• season
• transport
• location
• trip distance and duration
• group objectives
• group size.

Belay system  may include:

• human operated belay
• team belay
• floor/ground anchorage
• redirects
• self-locking belay devices
• belay devices which require hand grip control to arrest fall
• automatic mechanical belay system - self retracting lines with speed limited lowering.

Relevant information  may include:

• personal equipment requirements
• safety procedures
• route description
• preventative measures for risks
• possible hazards
• climbing and belaying techniques
• objectives
• rules and codes.

Communication system  may include:

• calls
• hand signals
• whistles.

Safety procedures  may include:

• self checks following a well defined logical sequence
• buddy system checks following a well defined logical sequence
• ABCDEF Safety Check

• A - anchors - secure and suitable to application
• B - buckles - locked as per manufacturers recommendations
• C - connector - locked, secured and orientated
• D - devices - threaded correctly and secured
• E - organisation specific procedures, including; end or rope knots, friction hitches, belayer ready, helmet chin strap, clothing, jewellery and hair secured
• F- friend - cross check

• adherence to site rules and procedures
• compliance to instructions given by supervising staff.

Participant performance  may include:

• use of appropriate communication system
• climbing technique
• attitude
• negotiation of hazards
• use of equipment
• rig ropes and associated equipment.

Variable factors  may include:

• change of weather
• equipment failure
• participant needs
• climbing conditions.

Rescue strategies  may include:

• direct intervention techniques:

• accessing the climber via portable ladder
• providing a portable ladder for use as a support tool
• seizing control of belay system
• changing out the belay person
• removing tension/load from the climbing rope

• indirect intervention techniques:

• oral instructions to climber (e.g. talk them down)
• provide encouragement

• provide instructions as deemed necessary to bring the situation under control.

Approach procedures  may include:

• ascending rope
• ascending ladder
• work platform.

Resources  may include:

• portable ladder
• mobile work platform
• rescue rope
• pulleys
• Prusik loops
• pliers
• knife
• spare carabiners.

Relevant aspects  may include:

• objectives
• planning process
• activity site
• weather
• equipment selection
• clothing selection
• food selection
• instructional content
• instructional technique
• group feedback
• directing techniques
• rescue techniques employed.