PUAFIR304B
Respond to marine emergencies

This unit covers the competency required to work as a member of a team under supervision when responding to marine emergencies. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

This unit applies to personnel required to respond to an incident involving a marine structure or vessel. The incident may involve fire, dangerous goods or hazardous substances.


Prerequisites

PUAFIR207B Operate breathing apparatus open circuit


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Proceed to marine emergency

1.1 Information received about the vessel, location and type of marine emergency is recorded in accordance with organisational requirements, and relevant stakeholders and support agencies are notified.

1.2 Personal protective clothing and equipment is donned in response to the type of marine emergency reported and anticipated conditions at the incident.

1.3 Most effective route to the marine emergency is identified.

1.4 Access to the marine emergency is gained, protecting life and minimising damage to property and environment in accordance with legislative requirements and organisational procedures.

2. Prepare extinguishing media and/or equipment for use

2.1 Water supplies at the incident to support firefighting are located.

2.2 Resources and equipment to access and assist in emergency operations are identified and assembled in accordance with organisational procedures.

2.3 Nominated extinguishing media and/or equipment is identified, obtained and/or accessed.

2.4 Equipment is used in accordance with manufacturer specifications and organisational procedures.

3. Access the vessel

3.1 Hazards and special risks are identified, monitored and controlled in accordance with organisational procedures.

3.2 Protective clothing selected is appropriate to the hazards and special risks.

3.3 Breathing apparatus is checked and donned in accordance with organisational procedures.

3.4 Breathing apparatus procedures are followed.

3.5 Access to the emergency is gained in an appropriate manner.

3.6 Nature and location of the emergency is determined.

4. Conduct search and rescue

4.1 Systematic primary and secondary searches are conducted.

4.2 All areas are searched and marked in accordance with organisational procedures.

4.3 Casualties are located, assisted and rescued in accordance with organisational procedures.

4.4 Fatalities are located and protected in accordance with organisational procedures and relevant legislation.

4.5 All persons are accounted for and information is communicated to Incident Controller.

5. Combat the emergency

5.1 Organisational firefighting objectives and strategies are received, confirmed and implemented under direction of supervisor.

5.2 Firefighting tactics are selected according to the type of emergency and the actual or potential hazards are identified within the areas of operations.

5.3 Firefighting considerations are taken into account when implementing tactics.

5.4 Emergency is located and access is gained in the safest and most effective manner to minimise damage to property or risk of injury to others or self.

5.5 Incident potential is anticipated and action taken to protect the safety of self and others to achieve the determined strategy.

5.6 Strategies and tactics are selected to minimise injury to persons, damage to property and impact on the environment.

5.7 Ongoing communication is maintained throughout the operations between firefighters, crew members and the supervisor at the incident.

6. Observe and react to changing conditions on the vessel and to the vessel itself

6.1 Changing conditions at the emergency are observed and their effects on vessel behaviour are noted and reported.

6.2 Tactics are adapted to meet changing conditions and vessel behaviour.

6.3 Safe paths of egress are identified and maintained at all times.

7. Participate in ancillary operations

7.1 Ancillary operations are undertaken to complement emergency operations and prevent further damage to the vessel and its contents.

7.2 Water run-off is monitored and conditions reported to supervisor.

7.3 Emergency operations and ancillary operations at the incident ensure risk and/or damage to the environment is avoided or minimised.

7.4 Assistance is given to complete and record appropriate incident information.

8. Conclude operations

8.1 All equipment is removed from the site after completion of activities.

8.2 Equipment is cleaned, serviced and restowed for operational use in accordance organisational procedures.

8.3 Security of scene is maintained.

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

apply extinguishing media to fire

apply stability control techniques

operate firefighting equipment on ship

Required Knowledge

firefighting on a vessel

safety considerations

ship firefighting systems

ship types and construction

stability

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

conduct emergency operations in accordance with organisational safe work practices

apply incident/fireground priorities such as rescue, exposures, containment, extinguishment and overhaul

monitor vessel stability

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed on-the-job and/or in a range of simulated environments.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

range of controlled or simulated vessel fires

Method of assessment

In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.

Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions


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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Vessel may include:

commercial:

barges

bulk carriers

container vessels

fishing vessels

floating restaurant

hovercraft

hydrofoils

passenger ship

roll-on roll-off

special ships

tankers

tugs

military:

army

naval

recreational:

motor vessel

multi-hull

sail

Marine emergency must include:

fire on-board and on-water

hazardous materials incidents

rescue

collisions

explosions

groundings

sinking

Recording of information may include:

attendance records

completing personal notebooks, logs and/or report forms

equipment used

objectives set

owner/occupant details

problems encountered

strategies and tactics

values at risk

Stakeholders may include:

Australian maritime safety authority (AMSA)

insurers

international marine organisation (IMO)

marine authorities

port operators

port owners

shipping agents

volunteer coast guard

Support agencies may include:

Organisations covered by existing emergency management arrangements such as:

environmental agencies

police

Personal protective clothing and equipment must include:

turnout uniforms and gloves

life jacket, including whistle and strobe light

safety harness and lines

breathing apparatus

chemical protective clothing

and may also include:

gas monitoring equipment

off shore survival suits

proximity suits

Legislative requirements may include:

relevant state, national and international acts and conventions for example, safety of life at sea

Resources must include:

access craft

bulk extinguishing agent

communication equipment

extrication equipment

hi-x foam equipment

international shore connection

positive pressure ventilation fan

pumps

ship fire control plans

ship manifest

thermal imaging equipment

and may also include:

aircraft/helicopter

deep lift and volume

water drill

Hazards and special risks must include:

access

at anchor etc.

cargo

compartment

competency of crews

confined spaces

electrical

environmental impact

free surface effect

inability to communicate

incompatibility of equipment

installed firefighting systems (carbon dioxide systems, inert gas generators)

nautical terminology, port, starboard, leeward, fore, aft, along side

languages other than English

radioactive sources

sea conditions

ship construction

stability

underway

vessel

weather

ventilation

water supplies

Firefighting objectives must include:

confining the spread of fire

extinguishment

protecting exposures

rescuing occupants

salvage and overhaul

ventilation

Firefighting strategies must include:

defensive mode

offensive mode

direct attack

indirect attack

combination attack

overhead

direction of attack

Firefighting tactics must include:

cooling the fuels

diluting the fuel

excluding oxygen

interrupting the chemical chain reaction

removing fuels

ventilation

Firefighting considerations must include:

available firefighting resources

extinguishing media

fire exposures

signs of compromised structural integrity

size of fire

location

type of fire

Changing conditions at the emergency may include:

increase/decrease in fuel available to fire

increase/decrease in heat of fire

increase/decrease in oxygen available to fire

impending structural collapse

other materials becoming involved in fire

fire spread

flame colour and size

signs of structural collapse

smoke colour

weather conditions

Ancillary operations may include participating in:

damming water run off

guarding against hazards

making-up equipment

overhaul

salvage

securing the area

ventilation


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.