MARF018
Assist in an emergency response


Application

This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to assist in responding to an emergency or incident and to apply control procedures on a vessel.

This unit applies to an Integrated Rating or Able Seafarer-Engine/Deck responding to an emergency individually, or as a member of an emergency response team.

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


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Raise alarms

1.1

Emergency or incident is correctly identified according to organisational procedures

1.2

Emergency response plan is accessed, reviewed and clarified with appropriate personnel and/or emergency response team members

1.3

Duties allocated to minimise risk are carried out

1.4

Distress signals are activated according to manufacturer instructions and organisational procedures

2

Act in an emergency

2.1

Immediate action required is identified and taken, according to emergency procedures

2.2

Safety and security procedures are complied with in all actions

2.3

Personal protective equipment is selected and used according to requirements of the situation, work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS), and emergency procedures

2.4

Emergency equipment is selected and used appropriate to the emergency or incident

2.5

Orders are acknowledged and followed

2.6

Allocated duties for emergency situations are performed according to organisational procedures

2.7

Communications are maintained with others to facilitate emergency response process

3

Assist others in distress

3.1

Distress signals from others are recognised and acknowledged

3.2

Nature of assistance required is established

3.3

Capability to safely assist or relay emergency is determined taking into account own safety and physical proximity to emergency or incident

3.4

Appropriate response to emergency or incident is prepared for and implemented

3.5

Communications are maintained with others to facilitate emergency response process

4

Monitor environment and incident

4.1

Factors that may create or increase risk of injury or damage are constantly assessed and reported to the Master

4.2

Measures taken to relieve an emergency situation are monitored to ensure continued effectiveness

4.3

Changes in conditions and behaviour are identified and reported

5

Assist with recovery from emergency or incident

5.1

Evidence relating to cause of emergency or incident is preserved and recorded

5.2

Appropriate assistance is provided according to emergency procedures

5.3

Emergency equipment is returned to a state of readiness as soon as is reasonably possible

5.4

Debriefings are attended and participated in as required

Evidence of Performance

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all of the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and include:

applying relevant work health and safety (WHS)/occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements and work practices

communicating clearly and concisely in an emergency or incident

identifying, isolating and reporting faulty or non-operational emergency equipment and distress signals

reading and following emergency procedures

reading and interpreting basic instructions and standard operating procedures for emergencies

recognising routine problems that may occur when operating emergency equipment and distress signals

selecting and using appropriate emergency equipment and distress signals

working effectively with team members when responding to an emergency or incident.


Evidence of Knowledge

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

applicable sections of relevant maritime regulations dealing with emergency equipment and procedures

duties and responsibilities of shipboard personnel during emergencies

emergency duties and alarm signals applied and used on the vessel

functions and purpose of pyrotechnic distress signals, satellite emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) and search and rescue transponders (SARTs)

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) and related regulations

location and purpose of pyrotechnic expiry dates

location of escape routes on the vessel

location of firefighting equipment on the vessel

procedures for:

activation of maritime emergency alarms

emergency response on board a vessel

testing EPIRBs and SARTs

range of emergency/safety equipment available on the vessel

relevant WHS/OHS requirements, work practices and pollution control regulation and policies

role and responsibility of self and other crew members

techniques for avoiding false distress alerts and action to be taken in an accidental activation

types of emergency incidents and measures taken to address them.


Assessment Conditions

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 when assisting in responding to an emergency or incident. Where this is not available, in simulated workplace operational situations that replicate workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment include access to:

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

tools, equipment, materials that replicate and are currently used in industry

personal protective equipment including:

foot protection /boots

hand protection/gloves

head protection/helmet

radiant heat protection/coat

emergency equipment including:

battery systems

emergency fire pump

emergency generator

EPIRBs

firefighting systems

life jackets

lifebuoys, lines and lights

SARTs.


Foundation Skills

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


Range Statement

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

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

Emergency or incident includes one or more of the following:

anchoring

capsize

contaminated fuel

engine breakdown or malfunction

fire

flooding

fouled propeller

fuel supply system failure

grounding

hypothermia

injuries/illness

person overboard

person retrieval from water

sinking

swamping

Distress signals include one or more of the following:

dye markers

flags

hand signals

internal public address system

light signals

mobile phone (which may be limited in effectiveness)

pyrotechnic distress signals

radio

reflective mirror

satellite emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs)

search and rescue transponders (SARTs)

ship’s whistle

sound signal including voice

V-sheet

Measures taken to relieve an emergency situation include one or more of the following:

enhanced lookout activities

fire watch

measurement of water ingress

monitoring distress frequencies

monitoring patient recovery


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

F – Operational Quality and Safety