Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to assist with responding to a range of emergencies that may occur in a waste management work site. The unit covers identifying potential hazards and risks in the waste management work area, and following emergency response and reporting procedures including evacuation. It also covers using signalling processes to communicate the emergency situation, and organising site clean-up processes and appropriate signage for regulated waste to comply with legal requirements.
The unit supports those who work under supervision in a waste management team.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Identify waste emergency situations. | 1.1. | Potential hazards and risks are identified in a waste emergency situation. |
1.2. | Waste emergency is reported to relevant personnel according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
1.3. | Industry-accepted signalling processes are identified and used according to organisational requirements. | ||
2. | Follow emergency response procedures. | 2.1. | Emergency response procedures are clarified with relevant personnel. |
2.2. | Emergency and personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected, checked and used according to organisational requirements. | ||
2.3. | Evacuation procedures are explained to appropriate personnel according to organisational requirements. | ||
3. | Organise site clean-up processes | 3.1. | Need to remove hazards from the emergency site is identified and explained to relevant personnel. |
3.2. | Signage is used to identify regulated waste according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
3.3. | Clean-up requirements are arranged and reported according to organisational and compliance requirements. | ||
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.
The person must also assist responses to two different waste emergency situations.
While assisting with above waste emergency response activities, the person must:
accurately identify the waste emergency situation
accurately report the details of the emergency situation to appropriate personnel
follow organisational procedures to work safely and comply with regulatory and legal requirements while responding to waste emergencies
explain evacuation procedures to appropriate personnel
identify and use industry-accepted signalling processes to communicate the emergency situation
use appropriate signage to identify regulated waste
organise site clean-up processes to remove hazards from the emergency site.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
classifications of dangerous goods
compliance requirements relating to environmental protection, dangerous goods and hazardous substances
emergency response procedures for waste management sites, including:
confined space procedures
location of alarms, emergency and communications equipment
procedures for contacting emergency services and environmental agencies
reporting requirements
signalling techniques
waste containment and isolation methods
organisational health and safety policies and procedures relating to emergency response.
Assessment Conditions
The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:
equipment:
emergency and personal protective equipment (PPE), as specified by organisational requirements
relationships with team members and supervisor:
working under supervision.
Timeframe:
as specified by organisational requirements.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Oral communication skills to: | ask questions to clarify work procedures. |
Reading skills to: | interpret pictorial and written instructions in emergency procedures. |
Writing skills to: | record details of clean-up processes in organisational proformas. |
Range Statement
This section specifies work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Relevant personnel must include at least two of the following: | colleagues emergency services officers environmental protection officers supervisors other affected parties. |
Compliance requirements must include: | commonwealth, state and territory legislation relating to waste emergencies, including: environmental protection hazardous substances and dangerous goods industry codes work health and safety. |
Hazards must include: | waste, contamination, equipment or other situation which poses a risk to health and safety at the emergency site. |
Sectors
Waste management