AHCFIR501
Manage wildfire hazard reduction programs


Application

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to manage wildfire hazard reduction programs.

This unit applies to those whose job role includes managing wildfire hazard reduction programs through planning, advising and monitoring the performance of operational personnel undertaking fire prevention activities.

No occupational licensing, legislative or certification requirements are known to apply to this unit at the time of publication. However, all units of competency dealing with animals in the AHC Training Package have the requirements for animals to be handled humanely to minimise stress and discomfort.


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. Develop wildfire prevention strategies

1.1 Rate potential wildfire hazards according to fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility, ecology and organisational priorities

1.2 Rate risks to buildings, structures and cultural sites from wildfires according to adjacent fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility and organisational priorities

1.3 Ensure wildfire hazard reduction strategies take into account the local fire history, fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility, geophysical systems, ecology, environmental sustainability practices, biosecurity, organisational procedures and priorities, work health and safety, local fire agencies and legislative requirements

1.4 Gain local community support for proposed wildfire hazard reduction strategy

1.5 Develop strategies for proposed wildfire hazard reduction in accordance with organisational priorities, local fire agencies and legislative requirements

1.6 Ensure strategies comply with work health and safety, public health and safety and animal welfare regulatory requirements and enterprise guidelines

2. Implement and monitor wildfire hazard reduction

2.1 Determine equipment, chemicals and bioagents required for hazard reduction activities

2.2 Implement hazard reduction strategies that are appropriate to the enterprise's objectives, the nature of the site, location, available resources and equipment, and environmental conditions

2.3 Undertake hazard reduction in accordance with organisational plans and procedures, work health and safety policies and local fire agency and legislative requirements

2.4 Incorporate biosecurity and environmentally sustainable practices in hazard reduction plans

2.5 Coordinate hazard reduction activities with relevant agencies and other land users

2.6 Monitor progress of hazard reduction activities

2.7 Review hazard reduction plans, strategies and operational procedures and process recommendations for change

3. Process records

3.1 Report suggested or required changes to plans and strategies

3.2 Ensure records document quantities and type of chemicals or biological agents used and where they were applied

3.3 Ensure records document how, when and where hazard reduction actions taken

3.4 Process incident report

Evidence of Performance

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 that they can:

develop and manage wildfire hazard reduction programs in accordance with enterprise procedures, local fire agencies, work health and safety policies and legislative requirements

rate wildfire risks to the environment, buildings, structures and cultural sites according to fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility and ecology

develop effective strategies for wildfire hazard reduction that comply with local fire agency and regulatory requirements

plan wildfire hazard reduction programs that take into account local fire history, climate fuel loads, location and accessibility

review hazard reduction plans, strategies and operational procedures with other agencies to enterprise and regulatory requirements

maintain records of pesticides and chemical agents used, hazard reduction and fire incidents according to enterprise procedures

manage consultation with local community to ensure their support for program

use industry standard terminology

apply work health and safety policies and procedures in the planning and implementation of wildfire hazard reduction strategies

apply biosecurity measures to wildfire hazard reduction planning

incorporate appropriate sustainability practices in wildfire hazard reduction planning


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge of:

wildfire prevention strategies

contact details for local fire agencies in the case of an emergency

local authorities, agencies and other land users

hazards associated with wildfire prevention strategies

fire behaviour in a rural/bush environment in known climatic conditions of the specified area

range of equipment applicable to wildfire hazard reduction

approved, safe use of equipment

environmental, public health and safety issues

types of chemical and biological hazards and how they should be handled

the local fire history, fuel loads, climate, location, accessibility

geophysical systems and ecology of the area

organisational procedures and priorities for wildfire hazard reduction programs

work health and safety, local fire agencies and legislative requirements that apply to prescribed burns


Assessment Conditions

Assessment must take place in a simulated environment.

Assessors must satisfy current standards for RTOs.


Foundation Skills

Foundation Skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.


Range Statement


Sectors

Fire (FIR)