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Elements and Performance Criteria

Identify and monitor potential health/safety risks
Identify specialist/external agency requirements
- Need for specialist and/or external agency assistance is assessed and requested where necessary
- Access pathways are identified to both specialist/external agencies and other relevant personnel
Use and maintain protective clothing and safety equipment
- Protective clothing and safety equipment is maintained in accordance with manufacturer's instructions and kept is readily available
- Protective clothing and safety equipment is replaced in accordance with documented replacement programs
Apply collection/packaging procedures safely
Use and maintain equipment and substances, and dispose of safely
Follow accident/Injury reporting procedures
- Documented procedures relating to OH&S incidents are adhered to
- Relevant forms are completed and submitted according to documented procedures

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

effectively communicate safety issuesconcerns to colleagues supervisors and when necessary other emergency service workers and the public

minimise workplace risks to self colleagues and the public

plan implement and where necessary adapt workplace safety responses to situational contexts

recognise and accurately assess situational riskshazards

safely operate and use general issue and emergency operational equipment and safety clothing

safely operate vehicles under a variety of operational and environmental contexts

Required Knowledge

established strategies to optimise safety under a range of field and laboratory scenarios

general duty of care responsibilities

organisational OHampS legislation as it applies to forensic investigation

organisational policies and procedures such as relevant legislation operational corporate and strategic plans operational performance standards operational policies and procedures organisational personnel and occupational health and safety practices and guidelines organisational quality standards organisations approach to environmental management and sustainability

organisational policy and procedures covering safety issuespractices

potential risks associated with a range of field and laboratory activities

relevant OHampShazard management specialists and external agencies

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria Required Skills and Knowledge the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to

apply safe work practices at all times

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time and across a range of workplace or simulated situations

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed onthejob or in a simulated work environment

Specific resources for assessment

There are no specific resource requirements for this unit

Method of assessment

In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision andor mentoring which is typically recorded in a competency workbook

Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industryapproved simulated work environment Forms of assessment that are typically used include

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions

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.
Occupational health and safety guidelines include	CCH Safety in Laboratory Guidelines Commonwealth and state/territory OH&S legislation Documented internal OH&S procedures manuals National Code of Practice for the labelling of workplace substances [NOHSC: 2012 (1994)] Relevant Australian Standards
Personnel may include	Forensic operatives Members of the emergency services including ambulance, fire and state/territory emergency services Members of the policing community including investigators Service providers and government instrumentalities such as electricity and water providers
External agencies may include	Biologists Chemists Industry specific advisers Other government and community based departments and organisations as fire services, ambulance service, health departments, insurance investigators, and other public safety organisations
Protective clothing may include	Aprons and specialist HAZCHEM and biological apparel Boots Disposable overalls Gloves Smocks
Safety equipment may include	Breathing apparatus First aid kits and equipment Fuming hoods Helmets Safety shower and eyewash equipment Sharps containers and biohazard packaging and containers Spill kits Visors
Collection means	Retrieval or acquisition of any item by any means which is related to a forensic investigation
Packaging procedures may include	Type, physical properties and methodology employed during the packaging of any item/exhibit relevant to a forensic investigation
Hazardous material may include	Materials with inherent or introduced biological, chemical, radioactive or physical hazards of any type or severity including teratogenic Mutagenic and corrosive substances and explosives
Substances may include	Field and laboratory chemistry Other substance that may be found in either the field or laboratory during a forensic investigation
Authorised may include	Access Acquire and use any substance Apparatus Equipment or thing in relation to a forensic investigation
Field equipment may include	Camera equipment of various types Crime scene/fingerprint examination kits Fuming equipment Hand tools of various types Ladders Light sources Vehicles