PUAWER001B Identify, prevent and report potential workplace emergency situations

Revision Number: 2

PUAWER001B Identify, prevent and report potential workplace emergency situations

Modification History

Release	TP version	Comments
2	PUA12 V1	Layout adjusted. Application, PC and Required Skills revised.
1	PUA00 V8.1	First release in TGA.

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. All aspects of the unit must be undertaken in line with legislative requirements, workplace policies and procedures, and accepted safe practices.

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

Application of the Unit

This unit applies to employees in the workplace within all industries and in all contexts.

This unit places responsibility on individual employees in the workplace to identify, prevent and report potential workplace emergency situations. This requirement is consistent with the legislative obligations of employees as prescribed in OHS legislation. The unit may also be used for planning for future operations in the workplace.

The knowledge and skills gained through the completion of this unit may be applied by all employees across all industries.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

Not applicable.

Pre-Requisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills Information

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

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 Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

Elements and Performance Criteria

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. 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 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 and corrected. 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 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

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.
Hazardous work 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 may 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

Unit Sector(s)

Not applicable.