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Elements and Performance Criteria

Prepare and plan for monitoring
- Equipment is selected, calibrated and used to take atmospheric readings in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications and the organisation's requirements
Take precautions to safeguard health
Take atmospheric readings
- Readings of contaminants are interpreted, recorded and analysed and/or compared with specifications and exposure limits
- Results are communicated in accordance with organisation's procedures
Maintain equipment
- Monitoring equipment inspections and fault finding are carried out in accordance with manufacturers instructions
- Records of tests and results are maintained in accordance with the organisation's procedures

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

Don operate in decontaminate and remove personal protective clothing and equipment

Analyse and communicate results of sampling

Required Knowledge

use and limitations of protective clothing and equipment

risk assessment

applicable exemptions for emergency services

common chemical asphyxiants including hydrocarbons carbon dioxide carbon monoxide hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulphide

common irritants and corrosives including chlorine ammonia and acid bases

common flammable gases including acetylene petroleum methane ethane propane and butane

explosive range upper and lower explosive limits

exposure standards time weighted average short term exposure limits peak limitation values examination of toxic effect at the level of a range of flammable gases

conditions under which atmospheres become hazardous

organisational procedures for entering hazardous atmospheres

toxic effects on humans exposed to commonly encountered combustion gases

units of measurement used to express concentration of atmospheric contaminants mgcubic m ppm vv

Evidence Required

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

It is essential in this unit that competence be demonstrated in

applying personal safety principles

interpreting atmospheric conditions using atmospheric monitoring equipment

recommending appropriate action

maintaining monitoring equipment

Consistency in performance

Evidence should be gathered over a range of variables all using different types of monitoring equipment

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

A demonstration activity using workplacesatmospheres with detectable but safe levels of contaminants should be used

Specific resources for assessment

For the demonstration of competence in this unit it will be necessary to provide a real life environment andor simulations based on possible incidents This should be done with access to a range of personal protective clothing and equipment range of detection equipment as well as suitable simulation andor sites

Underpinning knowledge may be assessed through written assignments and observation at simulated incidents

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA Public Safety Training Package

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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.
Working environment may be	hazardous, unpredictable, subject to time pressure, chaotic and expose responders to risk, on land or water, by day or night
Safety information and procedures must include	relevant legislation, Australian Standards, codes of practice, manufacturer's instructions and organisational procedures
Procedures may include	safe working permit entry plan entry testing procedures appropriate rescue and first aid plans risk management measurement computer plume modelling
Response situations must include	confined spaces enclosed and partially enclosed spaces
and may also include	storage tanks, silos, pits, pipes, shafts, ducts, transport vehicles and ships obstructed entry/exit points low visibility or lack of illumination unsound or insecure structures single and multi agency response
Equipment must include	breathing apparatus, chemical protective clothing and equipment, portable instruments, radiation detectors, sampling tubes and pumps, oxygen level meter, carbon monoxide detector and combustible gas detectors
Workplace atmospheres may	include visible and invisible hazards include hazardous surfaces range from safe to unsafe
Incidents may include	all fire, Hazmat or rescue incidents