This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to safely combat incidents involving hazardous materials.

The unit applies to personnel who respond to incidents involving hazardous materials and who have the skills and knowledge to identify and assess hazards and risks and contribute to the development, implementation and review of the plan constructed to mitigate the risks they pose to the public and the environment.

Hazardous materials incident is a generic term used to refer to an incident involving any hazardous materials based on physico-chemical, chemical, biological or radiological properties that pose an unreasonable risk to 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

Recognise hazardous materials incident

1.1

Pre-incident plans, site control and containment plans are identified and directives from supervisor are implemented

1.2

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

1.3

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

2

Identify and assess hazards

2.1

Site hazards are identified, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.2

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

2.3

Risks are assessed, in accordance with organisational guidelines and information is conveyed through chain of command

3

Assist with development of plan for mitigation of HAZMAT incident

3.1

Incident objectives are identified, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.2

Risk control measures are identified and conveyed through the chain of command

3.3

Entry objectives to hazardous materials incident site are identified and conveyed to supervisor

3.4

Entry plan is developed and documented, in accordance with supervisor directives and organisational procedures

3.5

Appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment is identified, selected and checked, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.6

Decontamination procedures are identified, in accordance with organisational policies

3.7

Requirement for detection and confinement and/or containment strategies are identified, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.8

Organisations required to assist with operations are identified and notified

4

Assist with implementation of plan for mitigation of a HAZMAT incident

4.1

Individual roles and responsibilities within the organisation’s Incident Action Plan (IAP) are identified and followed

4.2

Hazardous materials incident scene is isolated and secured and hazard control zones and decontamination corridor are established, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3

Entry plan is implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.4

Hazardous materials response equipment is applied, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.5

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

4.6

Decontamination procedures are applied, as required, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.7

Detection and confinement or containment strategies are applied, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.8

Results are recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

5

Assist with review of plan

5.1

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 and/or authorities, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.3

Entry, decontamination, detection and mitigation effectiveness is reviewed, 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.

systems for hazards associated with chemicals to be classified must include

ADR hazard identification system

class labels

fixed site or community emergency response plans

Global Harmonised System (GHS)

HAZCHEM emergency action code

identification of materials and their properties through onsite analytical testing

NFPA 704 Hazmat marking system

Packing groups

products that constitute hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods identification must include

chemical abstract Service (CAS) number

chemical names

emergency information panel

emergency procedure guide

product or trade names

proper shipping names

storage manifests and transportation documents

United Nations Number (U.N No.)

personal protective clothing must include

chemical protective clothing including:

gas tight suits

splash suits

turnout uniform and gloves

and must include one or more of the following

biological protective clothing

limited use (disposable)

multiuse (reusable)

radiological protective clothing

thermal protective clothing

personal protective equipment must include

breathing apparatus

control boards

Distress Signal Units (DSU)

information sources must include

CHEMDATA (HAZMAT action guides)

emergency response guide books

HAZCHEM Emergency Action Codes

Safety Data Sheets (SDSs)

technical specialists

and must include one or more of the following

dangerous goods - initial emergency response guide

electronic chemical database

external organisational assistance

International Maritime Dangerous Goods (IMDG) code

reference texts

safe storage and handling information cards

site and community emergency response plans

detection and confinement or containment strategies must include

defensive and offensive strategies

and must include three or more of the following

damming – using booms, pads, overflow and underflow dams

field product transfer including gases or liquids using both closed and open loop methods

flaring

freeze (ice) patching

grounding and bonding

neutralisation of other materials including adsorption, gelation, emulsification and other chemical methods

over packing including recovery drums or original containers

plugging and patching

rescue

retention, absorbent materials and neutralisation of acids or bases

vapour suppression or blanketing and diking or diversion

ventilation and dispersion

venting or vent and burn

Fire

Fire