Assessor Resource

DEFPH001A
Contribute to environmental health operations

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


The application of this unit in the workplace includes formulating and providing environmental health advice to organisational commanders, implementing environmental health measures and monitoring the effectiveness of these measures to promote the health of the organisation to enable it to perform its task. This is performed subsequent to detailed health support planning which provides the health support assessment required to perform this work.

This unit of competency is applicable to environmental medicine personnel. This function is limited to the performance of tasks in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.

This unit covers the competency required to contribute to field environmental health operations within the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

assess a range of common health threats within the field environment and determine the most appropriate method of control for each

communicate technical information relating to environmental health to non-health personnel to gain their support of environmental health activities

operate as a member of a small planning team and be responsive to the team leader

coordinate a range of environmental health measures in a practical field setting

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated on a minimum of two occasions during exposure to three common health threats that could be expected in a field setting.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in an actual workplace situation or in a simulated situation or scenario.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

appropriate equipment and stores

dependent personnel

range of notional health threats based on recent and historical experience

relevant organisational policies and procedures


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

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

Required Skills

communicate appropriately about, consult on and impart knowledge of:

application of the permethrin/DEET repellent system

causes of disease transmission

causes of manpower wastage

control measures of disease transmission

food storage and distribution standards

risk management principles

water quality assurance measures

establish and maintain administrative systems

manage workplace issues and problems

prioritise tasking

Required Knowledge

administrative systems

application of the permethrin/DEET repellent system

best use of available resources

causes of disease transmission

causes of manpower wastage

control measures of disease transmission

documentation processes relevant to own workplace

food storage and distribution standards including the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach to food control

health surveillance system

legal rights and responsibilities

methods of establishing field hygiene and waste facilities

organisational policies and procedures

pathophysiology of common communicable diseases

airborne disease such as influenza

contact disease such as impetigo or tinea

food and water-borne disease such as dysentery, cholera and typhoid

vectorborne disease such as malaria or dengue fever

planning and control systems

process of disease

risk management principles

role and capabilities of other health care providers including environmental health team

team leadership management principles

time management strategies to set priorities

water quality assurance measures

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.

Planning briefs and activities may include:

Briefs/debriefs

Course of action analysis

Intelligence Preparation of the Battlespace

Mission analysis

Orders

War gamming

Information in support of environmental health planning may include:

Characteristics of the intended operating environment:

civilian population

climate/weather

flora and fauna

terrain

Force disposition:

function of the group

organisational structure of the group

size of the group

Task appreciation:

assessing range of tasks against identified health threats

environmental health assets required to support tasks

prioritising and sequencing of tasks

Health support assessment may include:

Strengths:

communication capability

control measures

health status of activity participants

organisational structure

Weaknesses:

chain of supply

limited means of evacuation

Opportunities:

linking into local community supply chain

staging health support close to activity to reduce the risk posed by limited means of evacuation

Threats:

ability to cope with multi trauma

remoteness of activity site

Health threats may include:

Environment health threats:

animal

disease

terrain

vegetation

weather

Occupational health threats:

industrial injury

road traffic accident

Operational health threats:

chemical/biological injury

combat injury

psychiatric injury

Research may include:

Accessing information from the ADF intranet

Consulting civil health authorities

Consulting health and ADF doctrine

Consulting senior ADF health representative

Referencing organisational policy manuals

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

Clinical standards (state/territory and national)

Codes of ethics

Codes of practice

Environmental health policy

Health and hygiene guidelines

Health surveillance policy documents

Industry professional body’ standards

Industry standards (state/territory and national)

Organisational health policy directives

Pesticides manual

Relevant Australian Standards

Relevant Commonwealth Acts

Workplace safety guidelines

Environmental health measures may include:

Application of the permethrin/DEET repellent system

Assessment and development of a health support plan

Contributing to the conduct of health surveillance

Enforcing WHS policy and practices

Enforcing vaccination regimes

Promoting and monitoring personal hygiene

Providing environmental health advice

Providing environmental injury control measures

Providing field waste facilities

Providing field water supply

Stakeholders may include:

Activity coordinators

Activity participants

Allied health agencies

Health support personnel

Other supporting agencies

Personal hygiene facilities may include:

Hand washing facilities

Laundry facilities

Shower facilities

Field may include:

On an ADF exercise in Australia or overseas

On ADF operational deployment

On civil aid task

On training activity

Field waste facilities may include:

Biohazardous waste:

central collection point

Dry waste:

central collection point

inclined plane incinerator

Human waste:

pan latrine

portaloo

shallow/deep bore latrine

shallow/deep trench latrine

shallow trench urinal

trench latrine

trough/funnel urinal

Waste (grey) water:

absorption trench

evaporating pans

grease trap

herringbone drains

soakage pit

Field waste may include:

Biohazardous waste

Dry waste

Grey water

Human waste

Wet waste

Water quality measures may include:

Approving the use of alternative water distribution equipment during extreme emergencies

Ensuring water sources have been surveyed

Ensuring water distribution equipment is regularly surveyed by health personnel

Organising regular waterpoint survey by appropriate personnel

Recommending procedures for the maintenance of water potability

Food quality measures may include:

Applying the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) approach to food control

Assessing food handling procedures (preparation, storage, distribution)

Assessing the environment for suitability for food preparation

Assessing the suitability and adequacy food storage

Contributing to inspection of a food preparation facility

Monitoring the hygiene practices of personnel during food consumption

Environmental injury may include:

Dehydration

Frost nip/bite

Heat injury

Hyperthermia

Hypothermia

Prickly heat

Sunburn

Trench foot

Environmental injury control measures may include:

Acclimatisation

Advising appropriate clothing attire

Advising appropriate work/rest regime

Distribution of and access to sunscreen

Educating personnel on environmental injury prevention and early detection

Ensuring balanced nutrition with adequate intake of salt

Maintaining good means of communication to alert personnel of increasing hazard level

Monitoring the hazard level posed by environmental conditions

Promoting hydration

Providing easy access to potable water supply

Scheduling physical activity during cooler times of the day

Training personnel in the first aid of environmental injury

Monitoring personnel health may include:

Assessing personnel attending primary health care clinics

Consulting with personnel in the workplace

Identifying trends from health complaints that may indicate an outbreak of disease

Investigating suspected outbreak of disease

Physical health inspections may include:

An inspection conducted by line managers involving a visual inspection of personnel and questioning to identify:

blisters or skin problems

parasite infestation

presence of sunburn

swollen joints

state of morale

An opportunity to educate personnel on the importance of personal hygiene and good health

Control measures may include:

Identifying the source and removing or isolating it, to avoid transmitting the disease to others

Breaking the path of transmission by the use of pesticides, hygiene procedures, masks or removing the habitat of the disease vector

Protecting the target of disease with inoculation, prophylactic medication, pest repellent, clothing impregnation

Relevant persons may include:

Activity commander

Environmental health officer

Team leader

Technical supervisor

Health surveillance may include:

Collecting health care information

Continually assessing the operating environment

Identifying health threats

Providing information to control health threats

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Planning briefs and activities are attended and participated in, to contribute to the team planning task. 
Information in support of environmental health planning is gathered and communicated to team leader. 
Health support assessment is reviewed and clarified to ensure advice is based on full consideration of health threats identified in local operating area. 
Research related to environmental health advice is conducted to ensure advice is technically correct and is based on organisational policies and procedures. 
Need to seek the assistance of dedicated environmental health assets is identified and acted on to ensure the best service is provided according to the circumstances. 
Environmental health measures are identified through consideration of health threats and review of resources available to apply in the provision of environmental health measures. 
Environmental health advice is formulated and discussed with stakeholders to fully develop environmental health measures and to ensure coordination with other local activities. 
Environmental health advice is provided in accordance with professional and ethical guidelines to gain support and acceptance of environmental health measures. 
Personal hygiene facilities are established to ensure personnel have the means to maintain personal hygiene and clothing cleanliness. 
Establishment of field waste facilities is supervised to ensure collection and disposal of field waste, and to prevent pollution of food and water sources, and the breeding of flies and other pests. 
Quality of field water supply is monitored via application of water quality measures to ensure availability of water supply to support the local area organisation. 
Quality of food supply is monitored via application of food quality measures to ensure availability of food supply to support local area organisation. 
Environmental injury control measures are implemented to reduce the risk of injury and to equip commanders with the information to make informed decisions regarding physical activity levels, water consumption and acclimatisation. 
Work health and safety (WHS) policy and practices are promoted to promote a safe working environment and to prevent occurrence of occupational injury or illness. 
Personnel health is monitored to identify the spread of illness to enable early intervention of disease transmission and to limit the impact on the organisation. 
Line managers are assisted with physical health inspections. 
Outbreak of disease is detected to enable early intervention and implementation of control measures. 
Outbreak of disease is responded to, to limit the spread of disease and to protect the health of the organisation. 
Reports and returns are compiled and submitted to relevant persons to assist with health surveillance at the organisational level. 
Feedback is sought from stakeholders regarding effectiveness and acceptance of environmental health measures to enable continuous improvement and better integration of environmental health measures with organisational processes. 
Implemented environmental health measures are monitored for effectiveness and are adjusted to ensure optimal effectiveness. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFPH001A - Contribute to environmental health operations
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Assessment Record Sheet

DEFPH001A - Contribute to environmental health operations

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