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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Prepare and plan to respond to USAR incidents
  2. Mobilise as part of a task force
  3. Assess and work within USAR incidents
  4. Determine location and condition of casualties
  5. Gain access to casualties
  6. Remove casualties and victims
  7. Demobilise as part of a Task Force

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

apply casualty packaging techniques for confined spaces

apply marking systems

cut concrete reinforcing bar structural steel timber and a range of nonstructural components and contents

operate equipment in accordance with organisational procedures

take notes

use air bags and other lifting equipment

use concrete cutting coring breaching and lifting equipment

use generators and lighting equipment safely and effectively

use heavy duty cutting breaking and lifting equipment

use jacks and props

use ropes anchors and rigging systems

use safe debris tunnelling techniques

use safe manual handling techniques

use shoring and cribbing techniques

use structural collapse rescue equipment

use visual and audible locating devices

wear personal protective equipment in accordance with organisational requirements

work within the responsible agencys command and control structure

work in teams

Required Knowledge

agency incident command and control systems

casualty search techniques strategies and considerations

coronial and other legal documentation requirements

disaster victim identification procedures

engineering considerations for structural collapse

equipment capabilities and limitations

heavy lifting techniques

improvised explosive devices

medical considerations and casualty packaging for structural collapse casualties

operational briefing and debriefing procedures

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

principles of a dynamic risk assessment

principles of structural collapse operations

procedures for atmospheric monitoring

relationship of local USAR teams with local rescue response and emergency management

relevant legislation and standards

relevant occupational health and safety OHampS principles and procedures

risks associated with working in a confined space

signs and symptoms of operational stress

structural monitoring techniques

types of construction and collapse

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

work autonomously and as part of a team

maintain situational awareness and be alert to environmental and situational hazards including using acquired knowledge of collapse patterns in structures be able to assess and evaluate potential risks and hazards and put in place strategies prior to them becoming a threat to the team working in the area

safely use tunnelling techniques

safely use shoring and cribbing techniques and construct and safely assemble the required range of shoring and cribbing sets needed to allow teams to safely move in and around a collapsed or partially collapsed structurezone

safely use breaching coring cutting equipment

extricate casualty minimising further injury to self or others

apply safe work practices in a range of environments

mobilise and participate in establishing a remote base of operations

prioritise package and handle patients in surface and confined space environments

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual andor simulated workplace environments

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in an industryapproved simulated andor workplace environment where

rescue techniques are applied throughout a hour minimum continuous exercise to incorporate a minimum of three shift changes

designated roles as an active team member are performed within a task force structure and given scenarios

mobilisation and remote living procedures of a USAR task force are rehearsed

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to

USAR incident or simulation of a USAR incident in a multiagency response environment

equipment personnel facilities etc appropriate to a USAR incident

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.

Personal documentation may include:

field operations guide

medical clearance for international travel

medication lists

passport and other travel documentation

passport photos

personal identification documentation

record of inoculations/vaccinations required for international travel

Personal kit may include:

suitable and sufficient personal clothing and personal/health items commensurate with the duration and nature of deployment

Task information may include:

cause of collapse

current situation

emergency evacuation procedures/point

environmental and other hazards

incident location

local cultural awareness

occupancy

other public safety organisations

safety and security, including potential hazards e.g. HAZMAT

special or unusual considerations

type and magnitude of incident

type and number of casualties/vehicles

type of collapse

type of structure

weather

Sources of information may include:

Emergency Management Australia (EMA)

Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS)

incident controller

local emergency management authority (LEMA)

Office of Coordination and Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA)

onsite operations coordination centre (OSOCC)

reception/Departure Centre (RDC)

reconnaissance team

relief web

situation reports

task force leader

team leader

United Nations Disaster Assessment Coordination (UNDAC)

virtual OSOCC

Rescue resources may include:

atmosphere monitoring equipment

canine search teams

concrete breaking and breaching equipment

cutting equipment for structural steel and reinforcing

earth moving equipment

electrical and lighting

hand tools

heavy lifting equipment

medical equipment

shoring and building stabilisation

technical search equipment

vertical access equipment

Personal protective equipment and clothing must meet the Australian/New Zealand Standards (if applicable) and may include:

atmospheric monitoring equipment

boots

breathing apparatus/airlines

chaps

chemical splash suit/fully encapsulated gas-tight suits

ear protection (plugs, and muffs)

eye protection (goggles, glasses)

gloves

hearing protection

helmet and helmet light

knee/elbow protection

masks and respirators

protective clothing

safety harnesses

surgical gloves

thermal clothing

torch

wet weather gear

whistle

Situational and cultural sensitivities may include:

diversity

ethnicity

gender

INSARAG Guidelines

organisational code of conduct

political

religious

Briefings may include:

command structure and communication plan

Incident Action Plan

intelligence regarding potential location of casualties within a collapsed structure

liaison with reconnaissance team

recording requirements, logistical arrangements

safety hazards (known and potential), escape routes, refuge areas

situation reports

Relevant personnel may include:

relevant local emergency management personnel

Rescue scene reconnaissance may include:

assessment of need for additional resources (equipment and/or personnel)

assessment of situational and environmental hazards

building mapping and note taking

collecting relevant information about structural damage, physical characteristics, casualties, victims, hazards

dynamic risk assessment and implementation of appropriate control measures

establishing communication with local emergency management authority

implementing phases of a collapse rescue plan

isolating and eliminating utilities such as broken gas pipes, damaged electrical wiring, leaking water

relating knowledge of building and structure classifications to the incident scene

securing and preserving the scene

structural assessment and triage

surveying the incident scene

verifying validity of information

Managing the scene to control access may include:

determining cold, warm and hot zone

restricting access by non-task force personnel

sectorising site of structural collapse and defining boundaries

tag in and tag out procedures

Blitz may include:

commitment of task force resources to ensure incident scene is surveyed as effectively as possible to identify hazards and determine priorities in accordance with the rescue scene reconnaissance

Base of operations may include:

base of operations management

communications

equipment maintenance and repair area

food and water

medical care

potential locations

safety and security considerations

sanitation and hygiene

search canine area

shelter for personnel and equipment

waste collection area

Communication may include:

information technology

internet access

marking systems

radio communications (VHF/UHF)

satellite/mobile phone

whistle/horn warning signals

Appropriate marking systems include:

cylume sticks

geographic area structure identification (sectorisation)

INSARAG Guidelines and methodology

location identification within single structures

marking materials

map symbols

marking tape

personnel role identification

signage

structure assessment marking

team function identification

victim extrication marking

victim location marking

Allocated rescue, logistics and communications tasks may include:

communications tasks:

operate communications in support of the task force

maintain functionality of task force communications equipment

logistic tasks:

maintain task force cache

service repairs and maintenance

operate logistically in support of the task force, transport, maintaining base operations

rescue tasks:

displacement of structural components to perform a rescue

rescuing entrapped persons from heights/depths/voids

rescuing lightly trapped casualties using equipment appropriate for task

undertaking technical search operations

Search techniques and equipment to locate trapped casualties may include:

primary surface search and rescue:

audible

line and hail search

physical void search

visual

canine search team

technical search equipment:

acoustic/seismic location detectors

search cameras

thermal imaging camera

Voids and spaces may be:

in basements

in rooms that have not completely collapsed but where the entrance is blocked

in vehicles

lift shafts

sheltered parts of a building that may have avoided damage

under stairs

under a collapsed floor

Primary survey:

is a methodical process used to quickly identify immediate life threatening injuries and conditions that require intervention

should be completed promptly upon initial patient contact if no immediate life threatening injuries and conditions requiring intervention are found during the survey

should be completed as soon as possible if it is interrupted

should only be interrupted when:

life threatening condition is identified and immediate life saving interventions are initiated

scene conditions require that the patient be moved immediately due to danger to first emergency care responders or the patient

Stabilisation techniques may include:

controlling entry and entry permits if appropriate

debris tunnelling

removing debris

safe havens

use of shoring and props

Techniques appropriate to the nature of the entrapment must include:

HAZMAT detection and isolation

individually or as part of a team demonstrate s breaking and breaching:

concrete coring

penetrating below to a void space

penetrating laterally through a load bearing wall to a void space

penetrating overhead to a void space

dirty and clean breaches

cutting:

concrete

reinforcing bar

structural steel

timber

non-structural components and contents

equipment (shackles, slings, etc.) and expertise to support lifting the loads utilising local heavy equipment (e.g. cranes)

lifting and moving concrete slab

lifting equipment to move loads

individually or as part of a team demonstrate shoring – stabilising and supporting structural components with the use of:

cribbing and wedges

T shore, sloped floor shore, laced post shore, vertical/dead shore; raker/multiple raker shore

split sole shore

window/door shores

horizontal shores

constructing and utilising a vertical raising and lowering system

Treating located casualties may include:

assisting medical personnel with patient triage if required

first aid

packaging and removal of casualties for handover to local authority

primary/secondary survey

respiratory protection, if required

Range of environments may include:

act of terrorism such as bombing

aircraft crash

any other structural collapse incident

enclosed and partially enclosed spaces

hazardous, unpredictable, subject to time pressure, chaotic and exposure of responders to risk by day or night

natural disaster such as flooding, cyclone, tsunami, earthquake, bushfire, landslide

operations in confined spaces and voids

urban debris (such as a rubble pile, concrete walls, floors, columns and beams; structural steel, reinforcing bars and timber)

Hazards may include:

Adverse weather conditions

dangerous goods and hazardous substances

below debris hazards, including:

flooding

oxygen deficient atmosphere

toxic environment

flammable environment

different levels of elevation

biological hazards, including:

body fluids

decomposing bodies

untreated sewage

irrespirable atmospheres

overhead hazards, including:

falling debris

loose or unstable sections of structure

power lines

structural instability due to:

events of nature such as earthquake, flood, landslide, wind

explosions

fire

inadequate construction

surface hazards, including:

climate

different types of surfaces

sharp and jagged objects

water pooling

dust and wind

noise and vibration

utilities

Recognised techniques and equipment for removing casualties may include:

creation of exit route for technicians and packaged casualty

mechanical advantage hauling/lowering systems

stretcher packaging as appropriate:

rescue/spine board

stretchers appropriate for packaging in a range of situations

team stretcher handling

Recovering, cleaning and servicing equipment may include:

checking inventories

cleaning or disposing of contaminated clothing and equipment

conducting a general clean up of the rescue work areas

inspecting equipment for damage and serviceability

reviewing the possibility of donating equipment

safety and security issues

Debriefings may include

assessing equipment function and suitability

identifying opportunities for improvement

identifying and reinforcing areas of positive work practices and systems

identifying welfare needs, and sourcing and implementing solutions

reviewing tactics and techniques and identifying deficiencies and solutions

Documentation may include:

AIRS/coroner report

communication logs

equipment running and repair logs

incident reports

injury register

memorandums of understanding

near miss forms

notes or sketches and other relevant information required for potential coronal or other legal proceedings

operational debrief

site sectorisation plan

Exposure records may include:

reporting form that documents any exposure that may result in a short- or long-term associated injury such as:

dangerous goods and hazardous substances, such as dust, vapours, fumes, radiation and chemical substances

heavy repetitive work over long periods of time

lifting heavy loads

noise

psycho-social hazards (e.g. critical incident stress)