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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Establish sterile area
  2. Recognise and report a breach
  3. Complete required documentation

Range Statement

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Applicable legislation, regulations and codes must include:

current Aviation Transport Security Act and

current Aviation Transport Security Regulations

notices made under the Act and the Regulations

organisation’s transport security program

Workplace procedures must include one or more of the following:

access and equity policies, principles and practices

applicable legislative requirements and aviation screening notices

client service standards

code of conduct or ethics

communication and reporting procedures

complaint and dispute resolution procedures

emergency and evacuation procedures

employer and employee rights and responsibilities

equipment use and maintenance

own role, responsibility and authority

privacy and confidentiality

standard operating procedures for screening

work health safety procedures applicable to aviation security screening

Breaches of a sterile area must include:

breach at a screening point where there is immediate detection of the unauthorised person/s concerned

breach at an access point (other than a screening point) where there is immediate detection of the unauthorised person/s concerned

breach at an access point where the unauthorised person/s concerned is under constant observation

breach at an access point (other than a screening point) where the unauthorised person/s concerned is under constant observation

where the unauthorised person/s concerned is not under constant supervision and the area of the breach can be isolated

where the unauthorised person/s concerned is not under constant supervision and the area of the breach cannot be isolated

Information about breaches or potential breaches must include:

details and description of the person/s breaching security

details of the affected area

estimated number of persons in the affected area

particulars of the breach including where it occurred

time of breach


Performance Evidence

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

communicating effectively with others

identifying and correctly using relevant equipment

identifying and establishing a sterile area at an airport in accordance with workplace procedures

modifying activities depending on workplace contingencies, risk situations and environments

planning, organising and monitoring work activities providing leadership and working collaboratively with others

reading, clarifying and applying the Act, regulations and workplace procedures as they relate to the establishment of a sterile area at an airport and its reestablishing following either an intentional or unintentional breach, evacuation or equipment failure

reporting and/or rectifying problems, faults or malfunctions promptly, in accordance with workplace procedures

taking appropriate initiative with the organisation’s standard operating procedures

using appropriate communications equipment

using appropriate customer service skills

using correct recording system, accurately report on a breach, evacuation or equipment failure and when establishing and maintaining a sterile area at an airport.


Knowledge Evidence

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

action to be taken in a breach, evacuation or equipment failure in a sterile area and its subsequent reestablishment

aviation transport security program procedures and policies applicable to establishing a sterile area at an airport and its reestablishment following an intentional or unintentional breach, evacuation or equipment failure

breach of a sterile area – unauthorised entry of persons or articles into a sterile area

customer service standards and techniques to be applied when establishing and maintaining a sterile area in an aviation environment

intentional breach of a sterile area – where person/s causing a breach intended to avoid screening or where there is doubt as to the intention of person/s causing a breach

notification requirements in a breach of a sterile area, evacuation or equipment failure and subsequent reestablishment of a sterile area

regulations relevant to establishing a sterile area in an aviation environment and its reestablishment following either an intentional or unintentional breach, evacuation or equipment failure

reporting requirements as detailed in the organisation’s transport security program

roles, functions and responsibilities of airport screening personnel for establishing a sterile area in an aviation environment

site layout, organisational structure and workplace procedures for an aviation transport sterile area and related access, exit and security screening points

sterile area – a zone established to prevent cleared persons in the zone coming into contact with persons who have not been cleared, and to prevent cleared persons getting access to anything from outside the zone that has not been cleared

sterile areas to be searched:

areas accessible to the public such as toilets, concession stands and areas, eating areas, open aerobridges, parenting rooms, gate lounges, passenger lounges

planter boxes

rubbish bins

under seating and tables

typical issues that may occur when establishing a sterile area at an airport and reestablishing it following either an intentional or unintentional breach, evacuation or equipment failure, and appropriate action that can be taken to resolve and avoid these issues.