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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

planning and organisational skills to identify and prepare required instruments and equipment

technology skills to identify and apply appropriate equipment use

selfmanagement skills to monitor own response to dealing with deceased bodies and take corrective action

problemsolving skills to identify and address hazards and complications

Required knowledge

infection control practices and procedures

workplace policies and procedures for performing head treatments

sterilisation procedures for instruments and equipment

properties and uses of germicidal sprays and disinfectants

social cultural and religious requirements

funeral services industry parameters and protocols for dealing with the deceased

broad working knowledge of relevant federal state or territory and local government legislation and regulations relating to OHS infection control and handling human remains

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

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

Evidence of the following is essential

ability to identify restorative requirements through examination and to repair or conceal head damage using correct techniques and following OHS and infection control practices

ability to prepare mortuary area and select and use the required instruments and equipment

the cleaning disinfecting and sterilising of the mortuary area instruments and equipment at conclusion of the treatment

knowledge of infection control practices

restoring head damage on autopsied cases on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure

demonstration of skills in a mortuary facility where deceased bodies may be safely prepared and appropriate mortuary lighting plumbing and ventilation requirements can be monitored and maintained

access to deceased bodies on which autopsies have been performed

access to cleansing and disinfecting products

access to mortuary instruments and equipment

access to personal protective equipment

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of candidate preparing mortuary area instruments and equipment and applying head treatment procedures

written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of infection control practices and properties of disinfectant products

review of portfolios of evidence and thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by the candidate

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended for example

SIFMWKA Restore minor body damage

SIFMWK008A Restore minor body damage.

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role

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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Instruments and equipment may include:	personal protective equipment aspirating instruments sterilisation equipment sterilisation chemicals and solutions instruments and instrument tray dressing table tubing for aspirating or injecting disinfectant hand solution, paper towels and soap plastic laundry bags plastic infectious waste bags biomedical waste containers for infectious and radioactive human tissue pedestal lamps linen first aid kit cotton wool plastic sheeting for wrapping bodies waterproof tape capsules for transporting babies scalpels scissors suture needles needle holder forceps electric or motorised aspirating instruments, including: autopsy aspirator hydroaspirator trocar hydrovalve trocar cavity fluid injectors trocar buttons and applicator.

Workplace policies and procedures may include:	standard operating policies and procedures standards and certification requirements quality assurance procedures OHS procedures, including: infection control procedures manual handling procedures material handling procedures, including hazardous or infectious materials emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures security procedures.

Relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice may include:	OHS Anatomy Act Human Tissue Act Skin Penetration Act Coroner's Act Public Health Act Environment Protection Act local government regulations funeral services industry code of practice Worksafe Australia certification and standards.

Infection control practices may include:	checking for infectious and transmittable disease using personal protective equipment sterilising apparatus and instruments providing sterile storage areas for instruments using disinfectants safe removal and disposal of soiled and contaminated garments safe ventilation avoiding invasive procedures on bodies immunisation periodic X-rays seeking medical advice recording injury and incidence reporting injury and incidence providing first aid kit performing first aid as necessary labelling clothing.

Personal protective equipment may include:	disposable gloves heavy duty gloves barrier gown or suit waterproof overshoes waterproof aprons splash proof masks eye goggles face visor hair cover filtered air supply: negative air pressure powered positive air supply.

Social, cultural and religious requirements may include:	dress standards gender of embalming personnel time required between death and burial or cremation orientation of the deceased person restrictions on methods of embalming permissible.

Hazards, complications and problems may include:	sharps injuries needle stick injuries blood splash infection contagious disease, such as: viral haemorrhagic fevers Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease tuberculosis HIV chemical spill putrefaction and tissue gas wet area.

Corrective action may include:	application of universal precautions, including: use of personal protective equipment presumption that all blood and body fluids are infectious covering exposed cuts and abrasions, particularly on workers' hands, with waterproof coverings prior to commencing work immediate treatment of puncture wounds or abrasions use of protective clothing when cleaning spillage of body fluids referring to manager or supervisor.