Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to control minor incidents. The general purpose of this initial response is to prevent any incident from escalating. In the event of an incident this person may be expected to respond to an incident team member in accordance with procedures.
The unit of competency applies to most operations personnel and some non-operations personnel. It covers skills and knowledge beyond what is typically covered in an induction program, but does not require specialist training, such as is given to members of an incident response team.
Generally the person would be part of a team during an incident response. However, he/she may be required to take independent action. At all times they would be liaising and cooperating with other members of the team.
This unit applies to all sectors of the industry.
This unit will assist individuals to meet some of their obligations under relevant state/territory legislation. However, the unit must be contextualised to ensure compliance with specific regulatory requirements that may apply in a sector, jurisdiction, or type of organisation.
Organisations within the chemical, hydrocarbons and refining industries may find themselves falling under the provisions of various Major Hazard Facilities legislation. In developing this unit consideration has been given to the requirements of Sections 8 and 9 of the National Standard for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:1014 (2002)] and the National Code of Practice for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:2016 (1996)].
This unit does NOT apply to more significant incidents where higher levels of incident response competencies may be required.
No other licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element | ||
1 | Evaluate the incident | 1.1 | Recognise an incident has occurred or is about to occur |
1.2 | Assess the incident for type of response and the likely effectiveness of first response action | ||
1.3 | Identify the hazards arising from the incident | ||
1.4 | Raise the alarm and seek assistance as required | ||
1.5 | Select appropriate response to control incident | ||
1.6 | Determine hazard control measures to be employed | ||
1.7 | Recommend evacuation if appropriate | ||
2 | Control the incident | 2.1 | Maintain personal safety at all times |
2.2 | Confine the incident to the area of origin where possible | ||
2.3 | Select appropriate equipment to control incident | ||
2.4 | Use equipment in accordance with procedures | ||
2.5 | Clear and secure the incident area | ||
2.6 | Monitor the incident and surrounding conditions and modify response as appropriate | ||
2.7 | Hand over to specialist incident response personnel as appropriate |
3 | Conclude the incident control | 3.1 | Report the use of equipment according to procedures |
3.2 | Mark or position incident control equipment after use to indicate it requires servicing or replacing | ||
3.3 | Participate in incident debrief and report in accordance with procedures |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and demonstrate the ability to:
recognise an incident
evaluate the incident and select an appropriate response
check equipment and apply correct follow-up procedures.
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
classification of fires and other incidents relevant to job/site
types and application of first response equipment and personal protection equipment (PPE)
limitations of first response equipment
situations that must not be responded to because of the risk to life
scope and limitations of own role and responsibilities
appropriate personnel for referral and reporting.
Assessment Conditions
Competency must be achieved before performing this work unsupervised. Therefore this unit will typically be assessed off the job. Where assessment is undertaken on the job, appropriate supervision and safety precautions must be provided.
The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.
The collection of performance evidence:
should provide evidence of the ability to perform over the range of situations which might be expected to be encountered, including typical disruptions to normal, smooth work conditions
must include the use and actual deployment of appropriate tools, equipment (e.g. fire-extinguishers and spill kits) and safety gear requiring demonstration of preparation, operation, completion and responding to problems
may use simulated fires, losses of containment or other incidents
is not expected to require the use of a fire ground or similar.
Off-the-job assessment must sufficiently reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment in a simulated environment should use evidence collected from one or more of:
walk-throughs
demonstration of skills
industry-based case studies/scenarios
‘what ifs’.
Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence (provided a record is kept) or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).
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.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
The regulatory framework will be reflected in workplace policies and procedures and is not required to be independently assessed.
Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 assessor requirements.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those 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.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Regulatory framework | The latest version of all legislation, regulations, industry codes of practice and Australian/international standards, or the version specified by the local regulatory authority, must be used, and include one or more of the following: National Standard for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:1014 (2002)] (where applicable) National Code of Practice for the Control of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:2016 (1996)] (where applicable) legislative requirements, including work health and safety (WHS) industry codes of practice and guidelines environmental regulations and guidelines Australian and other standards licence and certification requirements |
Procedures | All operations must be performed in accordance with relevant procedures. Procedures are written, verbal, visual, computer-based or in some other form, and include one or more of the following: emergency procedures work instructions standard operating procedures (SOPs) safe work method statements (SWMS) temporary instructions any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant |
Minor incidents | Minor incidents include one or more of the following: fires of the A,B,C,D,E and F classes fuel and other spills, and losses of containment (LOC) process overheating equipment failure |
Hazards | Hazards include one or more of the following: smoke, darkness and heat heat, smoke, dust or other atmospheric hazards electricity gas gases and liquids under pressure structural hazards structural collapse equipment failures industrial (machinery, equipment and product) equipment or product mass noise, rotational equipment or vibration limited head spaces or overhangs working at heights, in restricted or confined spaces, or in environments subjected to heat, noise, dusts or vapours fire and explosion flammability and explosivity hazardous products and materials unauthorised personnel sharp edges, protrusions or obstructions slippery surfaces, spills or leaks extreme weather other hazards that might arise |
Equipment | Equipment includes one or more of the following: fire doors fire sprinkler systems fire alarm systems first aid kits fire-extinguishers hoses not requiring special training smoke vents spill control kits personal protective equipment (PPE) other hazard control equipment defined in procedures |
Appropriate personnel | Appropriate personnel include one or more of the following: employer supervisor employees elected as WHS representatives other personnel with WHS responsibilities |
Sectors
Competency Field
Work health and safety