Assessor Resource

SISOCLA303A
Establish belays for climbing on artificial surfaces

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: March 2024


This unit applies to those required to establish belays for climbing activities. This may include those working as climbing guides or assistant guides in a range of controlled artificial conditions.

This unit may also apply to outdoor recreation leaders working for outdoor education or adventure providers; volunteer groups; not-for-profit organisations or government agencies.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to independently select anchors for the attachment of ropes and equipment for belays, such as tapes and karabiners. These anchors are to be used to establish belay systems on single-pitched artificial climbing surfaces and must be able to accommodate different belayer and climber abilities.

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

Prerequisites

Nil


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.

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 following is essential:

independently selects appropriate equipment and carries out safety checks to ensure effective working order

differentiates between the different types of belay systems, anchors and knots and their suitability to different rigging situations

determines the need for, and establishes, back up belay systems to ensure safety of self and other participants.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure participation in multiple rigging of equipment that is of sufficient breadth to demonstrate competence and consistency of performance.

Assessment must ensure access to:

resources and information regarding climbing and belaying equipment

suitable artificial single pitch climbing sites with simple obstacles and features that allow participant to demonstrate belay rigging skills

other climbing participants, to assist in belaying and or rigging

equipment such as anchors, harnesses, belay devices, ropes, karabiners and first aid equipment.

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:

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to ensure safe and appropriate use of all climbing equipment

observation of safe participation and demonstration of equipment selection and setting up belay systems suitable to different contexts and participants

observation of dealing with contingencies, such as equipment failure or misuse

third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.

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

SISOCLA302A Demonstrate top rope climbing skills on artificial surfaces.


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.

Required skills

problem-solving skills to select appropriate anchors and belay systems for the context and conditions of climbing activity

rope handling and knot tying skills to rig ropes and anchors adequately and safely

first aid and emergency response skills appropriate to the location to enable initial response to emergencies and personal health care.

Required knowledge

relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures to enable safe rigging of belays for top rope climbing on artificial surfaces

equipment types, characteristics and technology used to establish belays for climbing on artificial surfaces

care and maintenance of equipment to ensure prolonged life span and safety requirements, as advised by the manufacturer's specifications and recommendations for equipment use

belay and anchor systems appropriate for single pitch artificial surfaces

technical climbing and equipment knowledge to establish top and bottom belays

types of knots, their advantages and disadvantages and their impact on roping activities

emergency procedures, and knowledge of potential hazards and obstacles relevant to the location to ensure safety of self and others.

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.

Belay system may include:

top belay

bottom belay.

Contextual issues may include:

weather conditions, including times

season

transport

location

trip distance and duration

group objectives

group size.

Equipment may include:

ropes

tape slings

karabiners

rope protectors

belay devices.

Relevant legislation may include:

occupational health and safety

permits or permission for access

environmental regulations.

Organisational policies and procedures may include:

occupational health and safety

use and maintenance of equipment

emergency procedures

code of ethics.

Anchors may include:

bollards

bolts

chains

U bolts

beams

wire cables.

Participants may include:

experienced

inexperienced

adults

children

tourists, club members, clients, school or youth groups.

Condition of the anchors may include:

age

location

wear

decay

corrosion

environmental stress

insect damage.

Likely load may include:

group size

set up

type of climb conducted

climber ability

technique

possible forces generated during a fall.

Belay device may include:

plate devices

auto-locking devices

tubular devices.

Artificial surface conditions may include:

portable or fixed walls

fixed towers or bridges

indoor or outdoor

top- rope set up

vertical climb

single pitch.

Safety checks may include:

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- everything else including end or rope knots, friction hitches, belayer ready, helmet chin strap, clothing, jewellery and hair secured.

F- friend - cross check.

Knots may include:

knots that have at least 50% of the static strength of the original rope

end-of-rope knots

mid-rope knots

rope joining knots

tape knot.

Hazards may include:

temperature extremes

slippery or unstable terrain

dangerous animals and insects

group management hazards.

Safety of belayer may include:

attachment to anchor or alternate safety system

positioning out of direct line of equipment fall

minimising movement of the belayer in the event of a fall

enabling belayer to be anchored.

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
Select a belay system according to contextual issues of the activity. 
Identify and select equipment according to relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures. 
Select anchors that meet the requirements of the climb and abilities of the participants. 
Assess condition of theanchors, including performance under likely load. 
Choose a belay device that is suitable to the artificial surface conditions and belayers ability. 
Complete all necessary equipment safety checks, according to organisational policies and procedures. 
Rig multiple anchors, ensuring equalisation and minimal shock loading. 
Tie knots and rig ropes suitable for the type of belay system established. 
Establish a belay from which the belayer is able to escape and safely perform a rescue. 
Avoid or remove belay hazards, to maintain safety of belayer. 
Determine the need for, and, if necessary establish, back up belay systems. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SISOCLA303A - Establish belays for climbing on artificial surfaces
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:


Assessment Record Sheet

SISOCLA303A - Establish belays for climbing on artificial surfaces

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: