• PUAFIR501B - Conduct fire investigation and analysis activities

Unit of Competency Mapping – Information for Teachers/Assessors – Information for Learners

PUAFIR501B Mapping and Delivery Guide
Conduct fire investigation and analysis activities

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Qualification -
Unit of Competency PUAFIR501B - Conduct fire investigation and analysis activities
Description This unit covers the competency associated with the planning for fire investigations; the collection and recording of evidence and information; preparing personnel to give evidence at proceedings and the evaluation/analysis of a fire/incident investigation.
Employability Skills This unit contains employability skills.
Learning Outcomes and Application The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.
Duration and Setting X weeks, nominally xx hours, delivered in a classroom/online/blended learning setting.
Prerequisites/co-requisites Prerequisite Unit/sPUALAW001B Protect and preserve incident scene
Competency Field
Development and validation strategy and guide for assessors and learners Student Learning Resources Handouts
Activities 		Slides
PPT 		Assessment 1 Assessment 2 Assessment 3 Assessment 4
Elements of Competency Performance Criteria              
Element: Plan fire/incident investigation and analysis activities
  • The roles and responsibilities of the government and non-government organisations involved in fire/incident investigation are identified
  • Procedures and protocols for the cooperation and coordination of relevant organisations involved in the fire/incident investigation are identified, agreed and implemented
  • Strategies required to conduct a fire/incident investigation and analysis are identified and implemented in accordance with the organisation's procedures
  • Preliminary and background information concerning the context of the fire/incident investigation is prepared
  • The relevant legislative requirements that impact on the collection and recording of evidence are identified
  • Evidence and information gathering process at the incident site is planned in accordance with organisation and legislative requirements, environmental conditions and resource availability
  • Required fire investigation equipment and resources for the incident are identified and assembled
       
Element: Collect, collate and preserve evidence
  • The methods and techniques of evidence and information collection appropriate to the investigation are applied in accordance with legislative requirements
  • The various types of evidence and information pertinent to the investigation are recorded and/or collected in accordance with organisational and legislative procedures
  • The procedures for continuity and preservation of evidence are followed in accordance with legislative requirements
  • Appropriate packaging and identification techniques for the transportation of evidence for the purpose of laboratory testing are implemented
       
Element: Determine cause and origin of fire
  • The procedures required to determine the origin and cause of fire are followed
  • Assistance is rendered to laboratory personnel and specialist organisations in accordance with organisational procedures
  • Physical evidence that can lead to the determination of the origin and cause of fire is identified and examined
  • Preliminary findings are documented and validated in accordance with organisational procedures
  • The cause and origin of fire is determined
  • Findings, methodologies, support data and briefing notes are documented in accordance with organisational and legislative procedures
       
Element: Conduct analysis of incident
  • Information relating to incident is gathered in accordance with the organisation's policies and procedures
  • Information relating to incident is evaluated in accordance with the organisation's procedures
       
Element: Record and report information collected
  • Relevant organisation/legislative requirements for the recording, reporting and producing of information for a fire/incident investigation are implemented
       
Element: Prepare personnel for proceedings
  • Briefings are held with counsel as required
  • Other personnel involved in the proceedings are briefed
  • Additional information and/or clarification of fire/incident investigation procedures/findings are provided as required
  • Protocols for giving of evidence at a coronial/civil/criminal proceeding are followed
       
Element: Review and evaluate fire/incident investigation
  • Outcomes of proceedings are reviewed to ensure knowledge of investigations, trends and precedents is current
  • Changes to an organisation's policy and procedures arising from rulings and decisions are formulated and reported
  • Post incident analysis documentation is completed in accordance with the organisation's requirements
  • Fire/incident cause determination/documentation/ recommendations are forwarded according to the organisation's procedures
       


Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

It is essential for this unit that competence is demonstrated in:

securing the scene and preserving the evidence

determining the point of origin and cause of fire

distinguishing between fires that are caused deliberately or accidentally, negligently and naturally lit

collecting evidence in accordance with legislative requirements

Consistency in performance

Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

On the job or use of simulations or exercises to demonstrate competence in the unit. Verbal or written questions may be used to support the gathering of evidence

Specific resources for assessment

Required fire investigation equipment and resources

real or simulated test fire sites (forest/rural)

training building with appropriate fire investigation training rooms, fire crews and pumpers, thermal detection equipment, appropriate protective equipment, classrooms equipped with computers and appropriate training aids, text and reference materials, and appropriate role play scripts for the appropriate personnel (police, barristers, solicitors, forensic scientist, insurance adjustors and investigators)

Guidance information for assessment

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

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assignment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

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

Required Skills

communication

handling of dangerous goods and hazardous substances

cooperation with community groups

evidence packaging techniques

demonstrated evidence gathering techniques

conducting briefings

cooperating with other organisations and community groups

Required Knowledge

factors affecting fire behaviour

security of the scene/scene contamination and preservation

examination of the fire scene

determining point of origin by deductive evidence

collection of physical evidence

distinguishing between fires that are accidentally, negligently and deliberately or naturally lit

matching evidence to proof of point and offence provisions

differences between fire conditions

fatality and criminal involvement procedures

role of expert witnesses

motives of the fire setter

legal implications of evidence collection and legislative requirements

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.

Evidence must include

video tapes, audio tapes, drawings, photographs, plans, manifests, documents, personal notes, physical evidence, debris, soil

Investigative procedures must include

canvass witnesses, conduct examinations, advise and cooperate with other agencies, take notes and photographs, make sketches and maps, collect and secure physical evidence, collect, collate and analyse information, conduct interview, prepare reports, produce information

Evidence preservation must include

chain of evidence recording, tagging secure encasements, log of events

Packaging of evidence may include

non-lined tins, non-leaching bags, glass receptacles, gas sampling equipment, rigid and non-rigid receptacles

Causes of fire may include

electrical origin, gas explosion, gas, accidental or deliberate nature, motor vehicles, flammable liquids, chemical, mechanical defect, lightning, environmental or natural occurrences, matches and lighters, smoking, spontaneous combustion

Liaison with specialist personnel may include

laboratory technicians, forensic specialist, insurance investigators, medical examiners, lawyers, crime scene police, arson squad, other relevant authorities

Protocols for giving evidence must may include

court procedures, court practices, pre-court briefings, rules of evidence

Review of information may include

incidence mapping, databases, journals, correspondence, Internet, inter-organisation activities, intra-organisation activities

Post investigation documentation may include

statements, proformas, photographs, tape recordings

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
The roles and responsibilities of the government and non-government organisations involved in fire/incident investigation are identified 
Procedures and protocols for the cooperation and coordination of relevant organisations involved in the fire/incident investigation are identified, agreed and implemented 
Strategies required to conduct a fire/incident investigation and analysis are identified and implemented in accordance with the organisation's procedures 
Preliminary and background information concerning the context of the fire/incident investigation is prepared 
The relevant legislative requirements that impact on the collection and recording of evidence are identified 
Evidence and information gathering process at the incident site is planned in accordance with organisation and legislative requirements, environmental conditions and resource availability 
Required fire investigation equipment and resources for the incident are identified and assembled 
The methods and techniques of evidence and information collection appropriate to the investigation are applied in accordance with legislative requirements 
The various types of evidence and information pertinent to the investigation are recorded and/or collected in accordance with organisational and legislative procedures 
The procedures for continuity and preservation of evidence are followed in accordance with legislative requirements 
Appropriate packaging and identification techniques for the transportation of evidence for the purpose of laboratory testing are implemented 
The procedures required to determine the origin and cause of fire are followed 
Assistance is rendered to laboratory personnel and specialist organisations in accordance with organisational procedures 
Physical evidence that can lead to the determination of the origin and cause of fire is identified and examined 
Preliminary findings are documented and validated in accordance with organisational procedures 
The cause and origin of fire is determined 
Findings, methodologies, support data and briefing notes are documented in accordance with organisational and legislative procedures 
Information relating to incident is gathered in accordance with the organisation's policies and procedures 
Information relating to incident is evaluated in accordance with the organisation's procedures 
Relevant organisation/legislative requirements for the recording, reporting and producing of information for a fire/incident investigation are implemented 
Briefings are held with counsel as required 
Other personnel involved in the proceedings are briefed 
Additional information and/or clarification of fire/incident investigation procedures/findings are provided as required 
Protocols for giving of evidence at a coronial/civil/criminal proceeding are followed 
Outcomes of proceedings are reviewed to ensure knowledge of investigations, trends and precedents is current 
Changes to an organisation's policy and procedures arising from rulings and decisions are formulated and reported 
Post incident analysis documentation is completed in accordance with the organisation's requirements 
Fire/incident cause determination/documentation/ recommendations are forwarded according to the organisation's procedures 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAFIR501B - Conduct fire investigation and analysis activities
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

PUAFIR501B - Conduct fire investigation and analysis activities

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: