ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Gather data in support of the investigation

1.1

Gain consent for investigation from relevant personnel within affected organisation and inform them of the investigation process

1.2

Determine and address factors affecting scope, risks and complexity of investigation to facilitate commencement of investigation activities

1.3

Task and guide personnel assisting with the investigation to enable them to assist independently

1.4

Analyse data gathered and confirm disease outbreak by comparison of reported cases with the usual incidence of cases experienced

1.5

Obtain a presumptive diagnosis from medical officer to focus investigation effort where feasible

1.6

Instigate initial control measures to limit the spread of disease and to provide early treatment to those displaying symptoms of disease, in accordance with operational procedures

1.7

Conduct interviews with affected and non-affected personnel to identify common factors in disease outbreak including potential disease source/s

1.8

Conduct on-site inspections of areas found to be common to those affected by the disease to gather site information to assist with the identification of disease source/s, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.9

Analyse and assess risk from site inspection and make appropriate recommendations to assist investigation

2

Analyse data to classify the path of disease

2.1

Collate data from relevant sources to enable comparison and analysis in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2

Assess disease characteristics and risk factors to determine disease route and likely targets

2.3

Determine disease attack rate to establish cumulative incidence rate of disease over the period of the outbreak

2.4

Develop an endemic curve diagram to show the spread of infection over time and to identify the likely incidents of exposure to the disease

2.5

Identify risk factors using infection attack rate data and likely incidence of exposure

2.6

Gather additional data based on identified risk factors and integrated into analysis

2.7

Classify the disease source, route and target by comparing information gathered during on-site inspection with analysis findings

2.8

Document and communicate the findings from the analysis to relevant personnel to enable appropriate notification to occur and to inform the development of disease control measures

3

Determine and implement disease control measures

3.1

Review compliance factors to identify systemic issues that may have contributed to the disease and which require corrective action

3.2

Determine clean up procedures to allow facilities and/or environment connected with disease source to return to normal activity as soon as possible

3.3

Determine disease control measures to provide immediate and long term control of disease in accordance with organisational procedures

3.4

Determine monitoring procedures to confirm compliance with initial clean up and disease control measures

3.5

Compile investigation findings and disease control measures into a disease outbreak report and issue to relevant personnel for review and implementation

3.6

Debrief stakeholders on disease outbreak to clarify investigation outcomes and provide lessons learned, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.7

Integrate disease control measures into wider environmental health support plan to apply lessons learnt for other operating areas and groups

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two separate investigation scenarios and include:

administering questionnaires to gather information about common factors in the outbreak of disease

applying relevant legislation, and organisational policies and procedures

classifying the path of disease using calculated attack rates, endemic curve diagrams and assessed risk factors as the basis for analysis

communicating clearly and concisely

communicating professionally with members of the organisation and health services

conducting disease investigational activities

determining control measures applicable to the disease

establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work

establishing and maintaining relevant administrative procedures

gathering data using a minimum of three data collection methods

interpreting the significance of medical, health and other data obtained from a variety of sources

interviewing cases to determine demographic, medically relevant information and risk factor data

leading, planning, assigning and reviewing the work of personnel assisting with the investigation

maintaining confidentiality

prioritising tasking.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

aetiology of infectious diseases including:

microbiology

biological, ecologic and social factors that promote the spread of a disease

chronic and communicable diseases including:

bioterrorism agents and their transmission

prevention

control methods

common factors in the outbreak of disease

control measures for disease transmission including:

initial control measures to limit the spread of disease

current disease surveillance methods

epidemiologic investigative principles, practices and procedures

epidemiology of disease including:

calculating disease attack rate (biostatistical measure of frequency)

incidence rate of disease

population risk factors

factors affecting the complexity of the disease investigation

food safety standards including:

food storage and distribution standards

hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) approach to food control

monitoring procedures

planning and control systems

relevant documentation processes

relevant legislation, and organisational policies and procedures

risk management principles and disease risk factors

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

water quality assurance measures.

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 must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

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.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations of disease outbreak with all supporting information

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry required to perform measurement, testing and on-site inspection

relevant documentation including operational procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Gather data in support of the investigation

1.1

Gain consent for investigation from relevant personnel within affected organisation and inform them of the investigation process

1.2

Determine and address factors affecting scope, risks and complexity of investigation to facilitate commencement of investigation activities

1.3

Task and guide personnel assisting with the investigation to enable them to assist independently

1.4

Analyse data gathered and confirm disease outbreak by comparison of reported cases with the usual incidence of cases experienced

1.5

Obtain a presumptive diagnosis from medical officer to focus investigation effort where feasible

1.6

Instigate initial control measures to limit the spread of disease and to provide early treatment to those displaying symptoms of disease, in accordance with operational procedures

1.7

Conduct interviews with affected and non-affected personnel to identify common factors in disease outbreak including potential disease source/s

1.8

Conduct on-site inspections of areas found to be common to those affected by the disease to gather site information to assist with the identification of disease source/s, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.9

Analyse and assess risk from site inspection and make appropriate recommendations to assist investigation

2

Analyse data to classify the path of disease

2.1

Collate data from relevant sources to enable comparison and analysis in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2

Assess disease characteristics and risk factors to determine disease route and likely targets

2.3

Determine disease attack rate to establish cumulative incidence rate of disease over the period of the outbreak

2.4

Develop an endemic curve diagram to show the spread of infection over time and to identify the likely incidents of exposure to the disease

2.5

Identify risk factors using infection attack rate data and likely incidence of exposure

2.6

Gather additional data based on identified risk factors and integrated into analysis

2.7

Classify the disease source, route and target by comparing information gathered during on-site inspection with analysis findings

2.8

Document and communicate the findings from the analysis to relevant personnel to enable appropriate notification to occur and to inform the development of disease control measures

3

Determine and implement disease control measures

3.1

Review compliance factors to identify systemic issues that may have contributed to the disease and which require corrective action

3.2

Determine clean up procedures to allow facilities and/or environment connected with disease source to return to normal activity as soon as possible

3.3

Determine disease control measures to provide immediate and long term control of disease in accordance with organisational procedures

3.4

Determine monitoring procedures to confirm compliance with initial clean up and disease control measures

3.5

Compile investigation findings and disease control measures into a disease outbreak report and issue to relevant personnel for review and implementation

3.6

Debrief stakeholders on disease outbreak to clarify investigation outcomes and provide lessons learned, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.7

Integrate disease control measures into wider environmental health support plan to apply lessons learnt for other operating areas and groups

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.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two separate investigation scenarios and include:

administering questionnaires to gather information about common factors in the outbreak of disease

applying relevant legislation, and organisational policies and procedures

classifying the path of disease using calculated attack rates, endemic curve diagrams and assessed risk factors as the basis for analysis

communicating clearly and concisely

communicating professionally with members of the organisation and health services

conducting disease investigational activities

determining control measures applicable to the disease

establishing and maintaining cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work

establishing and maintaining relevant administrative procedures

gathering data using a minimum of three data collection methods

interpreting the significance of medical, health and other data obtained from a variety of sources

interviewing cases to determine demographic, medically relevant information and risk factor data

leading, planning, assigning and reviewing the work of personnel assisting with the investigation

maintaining confidentiality

prioritising tasking.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

aetiology of infectious diseases including:

microbiology

biological, ecologic and social factors that promote the spread of a disease

chronic and communicable diseases including:

bioterrorism agents and their transmission

prevention

control methods

common factors in the outbreak of disease

control measures for disease transmission including:

initial control measures to limit the spread of disease

current disease surveillance methods

epidemiologic investigative principles, practices and procedures

epidemiology of disease including:

calculating disease attack rate (biostatistical measure of frequency)

incidence rate of disease

population risk factors

factors affecting the complexity of the disease investigation

food safety standards including:

food storage and distribution standards

hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) approach to food control

monitoring procedures

planning and control systems

relevant documentation processes

relevant legislation, and organisational policies and procedures

risk management principles and disease risk factors

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

water quality assurance measures.

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 must occur in workplace operational situations where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

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.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations of disease outbreak with all supporting information

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment and personal protective equipment currently used in industry required to perform measurement, testing and on-site inspection

relevant documentation including operational procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.