This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to coordinate environmental health operations as a member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

It includes planning and implementing environmental health tasking.

This unit applies to Defence personnel required to provide environmental health support.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Persons undertaking this unit work independently and perform complex tasks in a range of familiar contexts.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Plan environmental health tasking

1.1

Obtain and clarify environmental health support instructions as required, in accordance with relevant stakeholders

1.2

Confirm task objectives are consistent with identified health threat and operating environment

1.3

Determine tasking allocation in accordance with operational requirements and priorities

1.4

Allocate resources to tasks in accordance with tasking allocation and operational procedure

1.5

Identify hazards, assess risks and implement appropriate control measures, as required

1.6

Issue environmental health tasking to relevant personnel in accordance with operational procedures

2

Implement and monitor environmental health tasking

2.1

Liaise with relevant stakeholders to obtain environmental health tasking plan approval

2.2

Execute tasks in accordance with health tasking plan and operational procedures

2.3

Monitor progress and review task outcomes during the activity as required, in accordance with operational priorities, time requirements and resource allocation

2.4

Communicate technical advice relating to environmental health tasking to relevant stakeholders, as required

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria on at least two separate occasions and include:

applying relevant legislation, and organisational policies and procedures

communicating and consulting with relevant stakeholders

coordinating tasking of at least two team members to achieve desired outcomes

determining an achievable tasking plan with prioritised time requirements and resource allocation

establishing and maintaining administrative systems

identifying hazards, assessing risks and implementing control measures

maintaining consistency in tasking

managing workplace issues and problems

modifying tasking to meet unplanned events

reallocating resources based on tasking monitoring.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and include knowledge of:

principles of resource management/allocation

causes of disease transmission

control measures of disease transmission

methods of establishing field hygiene and waste facilities

pathophysiology of common communicable diseases

planning and control systems

process of disease

relevant documentation processes

relevant legislation, and organisational policies and procedures

risk management principles

role and capabilities of other health care providers including environmental health team

tasking must include one or more of the following:

applying the permethrin protection system

assisting in ongoing health threat assessment and health surveillance

collecting water samples for laboratory analysis

contributing to epidemiologic quick assessment of disease

contributing to organisational compliance with work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) and industrial hygiene policy/procedures

coordinating field waste management

implementing strategies to control the transmission of disease

inspecting and monitoring water distribution for safe water handling practices

monitoring food hygiene and preventing the transmission of disease via ingested sources

operating pesticide dispersal equipment

performing a water quality survey of an established water distribution point

performing chlorine dosing of water at the point of supply

team leadership management principles.

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations, where it is appropriate to do so; where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations based on a range of notional health threats from recent and historical experience to tailor tasking

dependent personnel

relevant and appropriate materials, tools, equipment, stores and personal protective equipment currently used in industry

relevant documentation including operational procedures, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.

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

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Not applicable.

Preventive Health