This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to use specific equipment to detect airborne contaminants, liquids and solids at a hazardous materials incident.

The unit applies to personnel required to detect and identify contaminants at a hazardous materials incident using specialist equipment to identify the materials, assess risks posed by the materials identified and to formulate a plan for their safe isolation and mitigation.

Hazardous materials incident is a generic term used to refer to an incident involving any hazardous material based on physico-chemical, chemical, biological or radiological properties that poses an unreasonable risk to life, property or the environment. This includes dangerous goods, goods too dangerous to be transported and hazardous chemicals.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

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

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

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

1

Assess hazardous materials incident

1.1

Hazardous materials incident is approached using care and caution and a safe distance is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and advice from appropriate authorities

1.2

Hazardous materials are identified from a safe distance and information is conveyed through the chain of command, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.3

Information sources are accessed to determine potential behaviour of hazardous materials, in accordance with organisational procedures

2

Identify and assess hazards at incident

2.1

Site hazards are identified, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2

Specific hazards relating to materials and containers are identified, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.3

Relevant hazard information is incorporated into detection strategy

2.4

Hazards are assessed, in accordance with organisational procedures, and information is conveyed through the chain of command

3

Develop an entry plan

3.1

Entry plan objectives are identified and conveyed through the chain of command

3.2

Entry plan is developed, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3

Appropriate detection equipment is assessed and selected, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.4

Personal protective clothing and equipment is identified, selected and checked, in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and response situation

3.5

Hazard control zones are established, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.6

Decontamination procedures are identified

3.7

Organisations required to assist with the operation are determined and documented

3.8

Detection strategy is documented, in accordance with organisational procedures

4

Implement entry plan

4.1

Entry plan is implemented in accordance with organisational procedures

4.2

Detection equipment is prepared for use, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3

Detection equipment is used and maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.4

Personal protective clothing and personal protective equipment is donned and operated, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

4.5

Results are recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.6

Upon leaving area of operations, decontamination procedures are undertaken, in accordance with organisational procedures

5

Review entry plan

5.1

Entry plan is reviewed and safety of entry team is monitored, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.2

Contamination incidents are recorded and reported to appropriate personnel, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.3

Entry plan is reviewed and documentation is completed, in accordance with organisational procedures

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

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

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

identification of hazardous materials must include

HAZMAT (hazardous materials) information

initial information

placarding

product or trade names

site manager

visual signs and material indicators

information sources must include

CHEMDATA

Safety Data Sheets (SDS)

technical specialist

and must include one of the following

electronic databases

environment

reference texts

entry plan must include

action levels

decontamination

detection strategy

personal protective clothing and equipment

safe approach entry and exit

detection equipment must include

carbon monoxide and hydrogen sulphide detectors

flammable gas detector

oxygen detector

and must include three or more of the following

air sampling apparatus

biological agent detectors

chemical agent monitors

colourimetric detection tubes

field sampling kit

flame ionisation detectors and flame photometric detectors

Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometers

Hazard Categorisation (HAZCAT) kits

indicator paper

ionisation mobility spectrometers

photoionisation detectors

radiation detectors and dosimeters

radioisotope identifiers and neutron detectors

Raman spectrometers

remote air sampling equipment

sampling tubes

specific electrochemical detectors such as formaldehyde, chlorine, mass spectrometers and explosive detection kits and/or detectors

personal protective clothing must include

chemical protective clothing including splash suits

gas tight suits

turnout uniform and gloves

personal protective equipment must include

breathing apparatus

control boards

Distress Signal Units (DSU)

response situations must include three or more of the following

confined spaces

hazardous materials storage sites

hazardous waste sites

motor vehicle accidents

post fire situations

ships

storage tanks and silos

transport vehicles

unknown substance incidents

Fire

Fire