This unit specifies the skills and knowledge required to assess equipment and vehicles requiring recovery and to employ suitable winching techniques and procedures to extricate casualties utilising specialist recovery vehicles equipped with motorised winching equipment.

It includes operating winching equipment capable of extracting a range of vehicles and equipment that have become bogged or broken down due to terrain or environmental factors, and cannot be extracted by other means.

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.

Typically, winching operations are conducted by persons acting independently or in charge of a small team, isolated from assistance or supervision. They exercise judgement and work within agreed safety procedures.

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

Respond to call for assistance

1.1

Obtain winching tasks and confirm details in accordance with operational requirements

1.2

Assess tasks to determine equipment requirements

1.3

Check and prepare recovery vehicle for task in accordance with organisational procedures

1.4

Deploy recovery vehicle to casualty site in preparation to conduct task

2

Assess winching task

2.1

Liaise with on-site personnel

2.2

Assess equipment casualty to determine suitability for winching

2.3

Inspect site, identify hazards and obstacles associated with winching, assess risks and implement control measures in accordance with organisational procedure

2.4

Determine winching equipment requirements to extricate casualty and ensure suitable recovery vehicle and equipment for task

2.5

Develop winching plan taking into account terrain conditions, requirements of casualty, site, recovery equipment and vehicle capabilities

2.6

Determine and apply work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements during winching operations in accordance with organisational procedures

3

Prepare for winching task

3.1

Prepare equipment casualty for winching in accordance with winching plan

3.2

Prepare winching equipment in accordance with winching plan

3.3

Brief on-site personnel, allocate tasks and supervise personnel in accordance with organisational procedures

4

Extricate equipment casualty using winch

4.1

Conduct winching process in accordance with winching plan

4.2

Respond to minor unplanned situations in accordance with organisational procedures, in a manner that minimises risk to personnel and equipment

4.3

Seek assistance from appropriate personnel when major problems outside scope of vehicle winching team capability occur

5

Finalise winching operations

5.1

Hand over equipment casualty to owner or recover further as required to complete task

5.2

Recover and inspect winching equipment for damage in accordance with organisational procedures

5.3

Report unserviceable equipment and take appropriate actions in accordance with organisational procedures

5.4

Maintain equipment in accordance with manufacturer instructions

5.5

Compile documentation and make reports, as required

5.6

Refurbish worksite in accordance with organisational procedures

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 one occasion and include:

allocating appropriate materials and personnel to winching task

applying relevant organisational policies and procedures

applying safety, legislative and statutory requirements relevant to winching risk assessment

assessing site and winching risks and applying control measures

assessing winching task

briefing and supervising personnel

communicating effectively in the workplace

conducting a winching operation to extricate a light and a medium/heavy rigid vehicle

conducting winching operations on ground that is soft enough to simulate the conditions encountered when winching bogged vehicles

extricating equipment casualty using a winch

finalising winching operations

identifying, interpreting and analysing risk assessment requirements relevant to winching work being performed

preparing for winching task

providing reports and appropriate documentation

responding to call for winching assistance

solving problems relevant to winching task

using motorised winches, winch ropes and associated fittings.

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:

basic engineering principles relevant to winching including:

characteristics and capabilities of recovery vehicles and equipment

material capabilities

theory of levers and pulleys

basic vehicle mechanical principles

hazards associated with winching

maintenance requirements and organisational procedures

recovery methods and winching procedures

relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures

reporting requirements and procedures

organisational work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and procedures relevant to winching operations including:

personal protective equipment

safety distances

safety equipment

warning devices

winching equipment manufacturer specifications.

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 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.

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.

Resources for assessment must include access to:

a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or other simulations

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

recovery vehicles and winching equipment

actual or simulated equipment vehicle casualties

applicable documentation including relevant organisational workplace procedures, publications, 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.

Vehicle Recovery