Application
This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to perform an aerial rescue where an injured or unconscious person is safely brought to the ground from a tree or elevated work platform (EWP).
The unit applies to Arborists preparing and planning for the coordination and execution of rescue operations and the implementation of safety and first aid requirements.
Aerial rescue is likely to be undertaken in emergency situations with little or no supervision. It involves working closely with other members of a team to ensure the safety of all personnel and the public during a rescue operation. This unit applies to individuals who have a range of skills to select and apply a specialised range of methods, tools, materials and information to complete routine activities and provide and transmit solutions to predictable and sometimes unpredictable problems.
Licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit in some states and territories at the time of publication, and may differ according to jurisdiction. Specific determination should be sought through the relevant State or Territory. Works involving this unit of competency may be subject to local tree protection and preservation laws, and the relevant content of applicable Australian Standards.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Element | Performance criteria |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Plan for aerial rescue | 1.1 Undertake a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk 1.2 Confirm emergency communication system is working 1.3 Confirm emergency services contact numbers are documented 1.4 Select, prepare and check first aid equipment and rescue kit 1.5 Position rescue and first aid equipment for easy access 1.6 Clarify own role in rescue situations 1.7 Confirm first aid, rescue personnel, equipment and rescue plan procedures with work team prior to undertaking work 1.8 Select and use personal protective equipment 1.9 Communicate with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals |
2. Assess and respond to an aerial emergency situation | 2.1 Attempt communication with casualty 2.2 Activate emergency plan and request assistance from work team and public in accordance with rescue plan 2.3 Identify hazards associated with rescue, assess risks and implement suitable controls 2.4 Determine presence of live electrical wires or apparatus that will interfere with ability to access casualty and take appropriate action 2.5 Apply ‘Safe Approach Distance’ measures to live electrical situations 2.6 Use appropriate access equipment to carry out rescue in accordance with rescue plan 2.7 Maintain communication with casualty |
3. Assess nature of injury | 3.1 Secure rescuer safely 3.2 Secure casualty 3.3 Assess injuries to determine whether or not to move casualty based on first aid procedures and risk assessment 3.4 Apply first aid that can be performed above ground, as required 3.5 Support, but do not move, a casualty with possible neck or spinal injuries and await expert medical treatment 3.6 Maintain communications with ground crew |
4. Lower casualty to ground | 4.1 Inform casualty of lowering procedure 4.2 Prepare casualty for descent in accordance with first aid, rescue plan and risk assessments 4.3 Descend tree safely in a controlled manner 4.4 Lower casualty safely to ground with support of ground crew |
5. Complete rescue operations | 5.1 Apply first aid on ground as needed 5.2 Obtain emergency assistance as required 5.3 Isolate equipment involved in accident for potential investigation and prevent reuse until checked 5.4 Remove all equipment in a controlled manner 5.5 Clean and store equipment 5.6 Clean and store personal protective equipment 5.7 Maintain records of aerial rescue in appropriate format |
Evidence of Performance
e candidate must be observed planning and implementing a rescue operation and undertaking an aerial rescue. The candidate must be assessed on their ability to integrate and apply the performance requirements of this unit in a workplace setting. Performance must be demonstrated consistently over time and in a suitable range of contexts.
The candidate must provide evidence for and demonstrate:
undertaking a site-specific risk assessment by identifying work health and safety hazards and assessing risk
confirming emergency communication system is working
confirming emergency services contact numbers are documented
selecting, preparing and checking first aid equipment and rescue kit
positioning rescue and first aid equipment for easy access
clarifying own role in rescue situations
confirming first aid, rescue personnel, equipment and rescue plan procedures with work team prior to undertaking work
selecting and using personal protective equipment
communicating with work team during operations using voice, hand and whistle signals
attempting communication with casualty
activating emergency plan and requesting assistance from work team and public in accordance with rescue plan
identifying hazards associated with rescue, assessing risks and implementing suitable controls
determining presence of live electrical wires or apparatus that will interfere with ability to access casualty and take appropriate action
applying ‘safe approach distance’ measures to live electrical situations
using appropriate access equipment to carry out rescue in accordance with rescue plan
maintaining communication with casualty
securing rescuer safely
securing casualty
assessing injuries to determine whether or not to move casualty based on first aid procedures and risk assessment
applying first aid that can be performed above ground, as required
supporting, but do not move, a casualty with possible neck or spinal injuries and awaiting expert medical treatment
maintaining communications with ground crew
informing casualty of lowering procedure
preparing casualty for descent in accordance with first aid, rescue plan and risk assessments
descending tree safely in a controlled manner
lowering casualty safely to ground with support of ground crew
applying first aid on ground as needed
obtaining emergency assistance as required
isolating equipment involved in accident for potential investigation and prevent reuse until checked
removing all equipment in a controlled manner
cleaning and storing equipment
cleaning and storing personal protective equipment
maintaining records of aerial rescue in appropriate format
using industry standard terminology to describe aerial rescues and the work environment.
Evidence of Knowledge
candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:
emergency procedures to assist in ground-based rescues of EWP and climbing workers
hazard identification methods
risk assessment systems
Safe Approach Distances
recognition of live electrical wires or apparatus
electrical wires and apparatus safety
first aid procedures
contents of a first aid kit
use of a first aid kit
emergency services communication systems
emergency services contact numbers
emergency plans
appropriate placement of rescue equipment
use of rescue kits
rescue personnel, equipment and rescue plan procedures
how to control risk to rescuer, victim and others
types of reporting required after rescue
personal protective equipment
how to deal with an emergency
lowering mechanisms for an aerial rescue
work health and safety records with regards to incident reporting.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be demonstrated consistently over time in a suitable range of contexts and have a productivity-based outcome. No single assessment event or report is sufficient to achieve competency in this unit.
Assessment may be conducted in a simulated or real work environment, however determination of competency requires the application of work practices under work conditions.
The mandatory equipment and materials used to gather evidence for assessment include:
equipment:
rescue kit
rescue dummy
emergency communication system
rigging equipment
single rope technique (SRT) climbing kit
static and dynamic rope kit
harnesses
lowering and friction devices
high decibel whistle
personal protective equipment (PPE)
first aid and emergency kit
traffic management kit
signage – work zone
trees
materials:
rescue form - aerial
hazard identification and risk control form
equipment and PPE check form
emergency preparation form
knot identification form
work communications form
work site operations form
Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs in the assessment of arboriculture units of competency.
Assessment must be conducted only by persons who have:
arboriculture vocational competencies at least to the level being assessed
current arboriculture industry skills directly relevant to the unit of competency being assessed
Foundation Skills
Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
Sectors
Arboriculture (ARB)