HLTAMB002
Implement safe access and egress in an emergency


Application

This unit describes the knowledge and skills required to implement specialised procedures necessary to overcome major obstacles and to provide safe access and egress at the scene of an incident. The unit requires an individual to respond to situations that stretch resources and ingenuity beyond the requirements of routine procedures and may require use of specialised equipment.

This unit applies to pre-hospital/out-of-hospital health care workers.

The skills in this unit must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian/New Zealand Standards and industry codes of practice.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements define the essential outcomes

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

1. Assess emergency situation in relation to safe access and egress

1.1 Obtain information relevant to the situation on or before arrival

1.2 View situation to identify and mitigate dangers according to established clinical guidelines/protocols

1.3 Assess condition of the patient

1.4 Identify accurately obstacles impacting safe access and egress

1.5 Formulate access and egress plan based on an assessment of all factors associated with the situation or incident in line with Commonwealth legislation, State/Territory legislation and emergency management arrangements

1.6 Formulate and prioritise access and egress plan based on the main concerns of patient welfare and safety of all workers

1.7 Assess equipment and worker’s needs based on an assessment of all factors associated with the situation or incident, and with patient and worker welfare as the prime concern

1.8 Determine the need for specialised knowledge, workers or equipment in line with the needs of the situation or incident and considering patient care and welfare

2. Represent the organisation during a situation or incident in the community

2.1 Represent the organisation’s position on particular issues in a way that acknowledges community concerns and promotes community awareness

2.2 Ensure communication and presentation to the public enhances the organisation’s public image

3. Implement procedure to enable safe access and egress

3.1 Request or arrange for additional or specialised workers and equipment according to the assessed need

3.2 Implement access and egress plan using equipment and workers necessary to ensure safe access and egress, and patient welfare

3.3 Negotiate and maintain means of safe access and egress according to relevant Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation including workplace health and safety Acts, and according to established clinical guidelines/protocols

3.4 Ensure actions are according to established clinical guidelines/protocols

3.5 Use available resources in an appropriate manner to achieve safe access and egress, and patient welfare

4. Evaluate access and egress procedure in an emergency situation

4.1 Monitor progress of access and egress constantly to ensure welfare of the patient and safety of workers

4.2 Monitor patient constantly to detect any change in condition

4.3 Modify access and egress plan as necessary to ensure safety and the welfare of the patient

4.4 Identify and arrange for additional resources as necessary to complete procedure

4.5 Address barriers to safe access and egress as they arise

Evidence of Performance

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be evidence that the candidate has:

• implemented 4 non-routine extrications including:

- analysing the scene and developing access and egress plans, recognising that the welfare of the patient, workers and bystanders is paramount

- communicating the plan to patient, colleagues and/or other emergency workers at the scene

- amending original plan as situation dictates

- achieving access and egress in difficult environments when given limited equipment, and using equipment as the situation dictates


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. This includes knowledge of:

• policies and procedures relating to access and egress including:

- organisation policies and procedures

- Commonwealth legislation and State/Territory legislation

- established clinical guidelines and protocols

- work health and safety

• dangers associated with various hazardous situations, and the response agency for hazard control

• patient care under circumstances requiring complex access and egress procedures

• relevant equipment and its uses, including specialist equipment for hazardous versus a routine situation

• factors which may affect safe access and egress and patient welfare such as decision making guidelines for extrication versus delivery of immediate patient care.


Assessment Conditions

Skills and knowledge must be demonstrated in a workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions. Where simulation is used, it must reflect real working conditions by modelling industry operating conditions and contingencies, as well as using suitable facilities, equipment and resources.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.


Foundation Skills

The Foundation Skills describe those required skills (language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills) that are essential to performance.

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