HLTAMB013
Contribute to managing the scene of an emergency


Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to manage procedures, provide security and communicate with other services involved with patient care at the scene of an emergency. It describes skills required in emergency situations, which may involve coordination with and by other emergency services personnel.

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 of a unit of competency.

The Performance Criteria specify the level of performance required to demonstrate achievement of the Element.

1. Assess the environment to identify real and potential hazards

1.1 Gather information to enable accurate assessment of the situation or incident

1.2 Accurately identify existing and potential hazards.

1.3 Assess the approach to an incident, identifying visible signs of danger

1.4 Position appropriate resources to facilitate safe and timely access and egress

2. Communicate with those involved in the incident

2.1 Communicate information in a clear, concise and comprehensive manner about the incident or scene to coordinator and medical and other emergency and allied services

2.2 Provide information to people involved in the incident, or facilitate others to do so

2.3 Communicate and gather information from other organisations at the scene to inform the improvement of services and avoid duplication of effort

3. Control hazards

3.1 Ensure security and safety of the scene and negate or minimise existing and potential hazards to patients, colleagues and others

3.2 Use personal protective clothing and equipment for infection prevention and workplace health and safety

3.3 Manage appropriately any resistive or combative patients or others to ensure security of the scene

3.4 Use hazard-controlling resources safely

4. Establish relationships and lines of communication with other services and networks

4.1 Develop and use relationships in a way that benefits the organisation by drawing on shared expertise, information and resources

4.2 Work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary emergency team, communicating in a clear, concise and comprehensive manner

4.3 Support mutual cooperation through contribution to relevant network meetings or forums

4.4 Consult with affected and interested parties to support organisation goals and objectives

5. Evaluate the emergency scene environment

5.1 Monitor the environment at the scene to identify changes that may compromise safety or patient care

5.2 Recognise environmental changes requiring additional resources and promptly communicate this to appropriate agencies

5.3 Gather and evaluate data from other organisations to inform improvements in managing emergency scenes

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:

• contributed to managing 1 emergency scene including:

- acknowledging and responding to a range of views and clarifying information from persons at the scene

- establishing and maintaining inter-service communication and liaising and networking with personnel from other services to negotiate solutions of required tasks

- identifying and managing any hazards at the scene and facilitating information to the public concerning safety

- managing multiple competing priorities

- identifying and implementing available resources in accordance with established clinical guidelines and protocols.


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:

• relevant policies and procedures relating to emergency management including:

- organisation policies and procedures

- allied service procedures

- State/Territory policies and procedures

• working knowledge of command, control and coordination responsibilities

• relevant current national standards such as

- Australian Emergency Management Handbook Series

- National Emergency Risk Assessment Guidelines

- Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk management – Principles and guidelines

- National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards

- Australian Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Infection in Healthcare 2010

• real and potential hazards and their effects

- procedures and techniques required to control resistive or combative patients or others in order to secure the scene

• roles and responsibilities of other organisations including services provided by medical and other emergency and allied agencies, and their limitations

• current practices, procedures and equipment used in communicating in the workplace including:

- organisation confidentiality requirements

- organisation policy and procedures relating to liaison with other organisations.


Assessment Conditions

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace with the addition of simulations and scenarios where the full range of contexts and situations cannot be provided in the workplace. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

• use of suitable facilities, resources and equipment as per local governing body including:

- emergency vehicles

- personal protective equipment

- specialised equipment used in safe removal and egress

- organisation policies and procedures or established clinical guidelines and protocols on which the candidate bases the planning process.

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.