FPICOR3203B
Evaluate fire potential and prevention

This unit describes the outcomes required to continually monitor and assess the potential of fire during normal work activities. The unit includes implementing basic fire prevention measuresGeneral workplace legislative and regulatory requirements apply to this unit; however there are no specific licensing or certification requirements at the time of publicationThis unit replaces FPICOR3203A Evaluate fire potential and prevention

Application

The unit involves the evaluation of fire potential and prevention in a variety of work settings including a forest environment, saw mill, wood chip mill, veneer mill, board/plywood mill, timber treatment plants, downstream processing of timber, forest products factory, forest products sales and service, horticultural, domestic, local council, emergency services environment

The skills and knowledge required for competent workplace performance are to be used within the scope of the person's job and authority


Prerequisites

Not Applicable


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for fires

1.1. Applicable Occupational Health and Safety (OHS), environmental, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to the evaluation of fire potential and fire prevention are identified and followed

1.2. Types and potentialoffire are constantly evaluated and documented through risk assessment

1.3. Equipment is selected appropriate to potential work requirements and checked for operational effectiveness in line with manufacturer's recommendations

1.4. Evaluationprocesses are planned in line with site procedures

1.5. Communication with others is established and maintained in line with OHS requirements

2. Assess fire potential

2.1. Weather conditions are monitored and reports inspected for changing conditions such as storms and high winds

2.2. Equipment conditions are monitored for overheating and electrical sparking and acted upon immediately

2.3. Hazardous and flammable substances are monitored to assess the potential for spillage and combustion

2.4. Potential of fire is reported to appropriate personnel

3. Prevent fires

3.1. Fire risks and hazards are controlled and monitored in line with workplace procedures

3.2. Fire extinguishing equipment is regularly checked to ensure it is serviceable for emergencies

3.3. Hazardous or flammable substances are handled in line with OHS and environmental management regulations

3.4. Signs of fire potential are recognised and alarm raised to alert appropriate personnel

3.5. Fire potential and prevention procedures are recorded and reported in line with workplace procedures

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Required skills

Technical skills sufficient to use and maintain relevant tools, machinery and equipment.

Communication skills and interpersonal techniques sufficient to interact appropriately with colleagues and others in the workplace

Literacy skills sufficient to accurately record and report workplace information

Numeracy skills sufficient to estimate, measure and calculate time required to complete a task

Problem solving skills sufficient to identify problems and equipment faults and demonstrate appropriate response procedures, efficiently and safely evaluate fire potential and prevention

Required knowledge

Applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and established safe practices relevant to the full range of processes for evaluating fire potential and prevention

Environmental protection requirements, including the safe disposal of waste material

Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures relevant to evaluating fire potential and prevention

Fire types and potential methods of ignition

Environmental risks and hazard prevention

Fire awareness and prevention techniques

Recognised tools such as threat and risk analysis

Established communication channels and protocols

Problem identification and resolution strategies and common fault finding techniques

Types of tools and equipment and procedures for their safe use and maintenance

Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimating and measuring, including calculating time to complete tasks

Procedures for recording and reporting workplace information

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence that they can safely and efficiently evaluate fire potential and prevention

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to, and satisfy, all of the requirements of the elements of this unit and include demonstration of:

following applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislative and regulatory requirements and codes of practice relevant to fire potential and prevention evaluation

following organisational policies and procedures relevant to fire potential and prevention evaluation

following applicable licensing or certification requirements

evaluation of fire potential and prevention in line with environmental legislation and workplace procedures

effective communication and safe work practices

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Competency is to be assessed in the workplace or realistically simulated workplace

Assessment is to occur under standard and authorised work practices, safety requirements and environmental constraints

Assessment of required knowledge, other than confirmatory questions, will usually be conducted in an off-site context

Assessment is to follow relevant regulatory or Australian Standards requirements

The following resources should be made available:

workplace location or simulated workplace

materials and equipment relevant to undertaking work applicable to this unit

specifications and work instructions

Method of assessment

Assessment must satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the FPI11 Training Package

Assessment methods must confirm consistency and accuracy of performance (over time and in a range of workplace relevant contexts) together with application of required knowledge

Assessment must be by direct observation of tasks, with questioning on required knowledge and it must also reinforce the integration of employability skills

Assessment methods must confirm the ability to access and correctly interpret and apply the required knowledge

Assessment may be applied under project-related conditions (real or simulated) and require evidence of process

Assessment must confirm a reasonable inference that competency is able not only to be satisfied under the particular circumstance, but is able to be transferred to other circumstances

Assessment may be in conjunction with assessment of other units of competency

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the candidate

Assessment practices should take into account any relevant language or cultural issues related to Aboriginality, gender or language backgrounds other than English

Where the participant has a disability, reasonable adjustment may be applied during assessment

Language and literacy demands of the assessment task should not be higher than those of the work role


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

OHS requirements:

are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation and regulations, and organisational safety policies and procedures, and may include:

personal protective equipment and clothing

safety equipment

first aid equipment

fire fighting equipment

hazard and risk control

fatigue management

elimination of hazardous materials and substances

safe forest practices including required actions relating to forest fire

manual handling including shifting, lifting and carrying

machine isolation and guarding

hot work permits to be issued by authorised personnel

protective shields for welding and grinding activities

written/displayed evacuation procedures

appropriate fitness for the task

Environmental requirements may include:

• legislation

• organisational policies and procedures

• workplace practices

Legislative requirements:

are to be in line with applicable Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation, regulations, certification requirements and codes of practice and may include:

award and enterprise agreements

industrial relations

Australian Standards

confidentiality and privacy

OHS

the environment

equal opportunity

anti-discrimination

relevant industry codes of practice

duty of care

heritage and traditional land owner issues

Organisational requirements may include:

legal

organisational and site guidelines

policies and procedures relating to own role and responsibility

quality assurance

procedural manuals

quality and continuous improvement processes and standards

OHS, emergency and evacuation procedures

ethical standards

recording and reporting requirements

equipment use and maintenance and storage requirements

environmental management requirements (waste disposal, recycling and re-use guidelines)

Fire prevention may include:

cutting of fire breaks

clearing of undergrowth

ensuring equipment is far enough away from combustible materials

housekeeping to ensure work area is clear of waste and that waste is stored in line with workplace procedures

providing suitable fire extinguishing equipment

undertaking regular evacuation training

maintaining an ordered work area to ensure access and exit

assessing equipment to ensure it is serviced as required in line with workplace procedures

quarantining equipment to be serviced in line with workplace procedures

Types of fires may include:

wildfires

electrical storm induced fires

arson

accidental fires

electrical fires

mechanical fires

Potential of fires may include:

assessing environmental conditions and operating procedures for any possible aspects which may cause fire

monitoring changes and forecasting potential changes (where possible) to environmental conditions which may cause fire

keeping appropriate personnel informed of changes and potential changes to environmental conditions which may cause fire

Equipment may include:

any plant and equipment used in harvesting or forest growing activities

Evaluation processes may include:

referring to available information (via MSDSs , HAZCHEM codes and signs) for chemical-based fires

continuous monitoring of environmental, weather and equipment conditions and changes

continuous monitoring of the impact of activities on the environment

Communication may include:

verbal and non-verbal language

constructive feedback

active listening

questioning to clarify and confirm understanding

use of positive, confident and cooperative language

use of language and concepts appropriate to individual social and cultural differences

control of tone of voice

body language

and may relate to:

evacuation

visitors or members of the public on site

Weather may include:

conditions such as:

high winds

electrical storms

lightning strikes

excessive heat and low humidity

Hazardous and flammable substances may include:

engine oils

fuels

treatment substances

cleaning products

Appropriate personnel may include:

fire wardens

fire response personnel

supervisors

suppliers

clients

colleagues

managers

emergency evacuation committee

Fire risks and hazards may include:

weather conditions which induce fire

welding or grinding sparks

dry undergrowth

potential of equipment use and unsafe work practices to create fire

combustible materials such as dry or dead scrub, tall grasses, rubbish, oily rags

waste material proximity to equipment

flammable liquids

inappropriate storing of materials and equipment

blocked or no access and exit

Controlled may include:

controlling vegetation (such as grass, heath, scrub and forest undergrowth) to minimise risk

cutting of firebreaks (including clearing areas which are slashed or ploughed and clear of any combustible material, wide enough to prevent fires jumping the break)

housekeeping to ensure flammable, combustible or waste materials are in safe proximity to machinery

Fire extinguishing equipment may include:

extinguishers for electrical, chemical, gas, mechanical, paper, wood or natural fires

and may also include:

fire trucks

fire reels

fire hydrants and hoses

manual fire fighting instruments

fire service approved fire suppression extinguishing agents, such as foam and retardants

Environmental management regulations:

eliminate or minimise exposure to hazards within the workplace and may cover:

environmental monitoring and audit plan

emissions - hazardous substances

air quality

noise pollution

dangerous goods/hazardous substances

risk of fire

waste minimisation

reuse and recycling

Signs of fire potential may include:

lightning strikes

high winds

smoke

flames

storms

equipment overheating

flammable liquid spills

electrical ignition

changes to environmental conditions

Records and reports may include:

environmental care and fire prevention procedures such as risk, hazards, incidents, equipment malfunctions

and may be:

manual

using a computer-based system or another appropriate organisational communication system


Sectors

Not Applicable


Competency Field

Core


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor