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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Prepare for search
   • Interviews and site assessment are conducted to establish an appropriate search strategy
   • Risks contained in the search area are identified and assessed and appropriate safety procedures are implemented
   • Adjustments are made, where appropriate, to search strategy, in accordance with any changes in information, environmental conditions, search progress and current rescue work being undertaken
2. Conduct search
   • Canine search specialist deploys canine off lead and confirms appropriate actions and indications by canine to ensure search area is covered
   • Canine search specialist interprets canine demonstration of location is acted upon
   • Actions and indications of canine to correctly identify the presence of live human scent are correctly interpreted by canine search specialist
   • Search area is covered by canine search specialist and canine within required timeframe
3. Risks contained in the search area are identified and assessed and appropriate safety procedures are implemented
4. Adjustments are made, where appropriate, to search strategy, in accordance with any changes in information, environmental conditions, search progress and current rescue work being undertaken
5. Handle and control canine
   • Work is undertaken with canine in a safe and appropriate manner
6. Control of canine is maintained, at all times
7. Canine search specialist encourages willingness to work independently in the canine, which is demonstrated by the canine, whilst maintaining control
8. Canine search specialist maintains control whilst, commands are responded to by the canine, in the presence of distractions
9. Assistance is provided by canine search specialist to canine throughout the search, where appropriate
   • Canine search specialist deploys canine off lead and confirms appropriate actions and indications by canine to ensure search area is covered
10. Canine search specialist interprets canine demonstration of location is acted upon
11. Actions and indications of canine to correctly identify the presence of live human scent are correctly interpreted by canine search specialist
12. Search area is covered by canine search specialist and canine within required timeframe
13. Provide search debriefing
    • Relevant information is recorded accurately, in accordance with organisational procedures and legislative requirements
14. Sketch of search area showing alert locations is provided to relevant personnel on completion of search
15. Recommendations are provided to relevant personnel on completion of search
16. Maintain canine welfare and safety
    • Appropriate care, safety and welfare procedures for canine and canine search specialist are followed, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures and legislative requirements
17. Basic care of canine is implemented and completed, in accordance with organisational procedures

Range Statement

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.

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