This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to operate heavy plant in fire control operations.

Heavyplant refers toheavy duty equipment and vehicles, specially designed for executing construction tasks, most frequently ones involving earthwork operations. This may include fire control line construction; clearing vehicle turnarounds, passing bays and safety zones; constructing helipads in forest and/or scrub environments and road construction.

The unit applies to personnel who operate heavy plant machinery, who will be directed to undertake a range of tasks to support fire operations and roadwork construction, it does not include tree pushing.

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

Use and service heavy plant machinery

1.1

Heavy plant machinery is set up and pre-operational checks are undertaken to ensure safe operation in forest environments that are free of soil, water borne disease and weeds prior to and after use

1.2

Effective communication is established with supervisor, team members and support vehicle operators

1.3

Safe work procedures are employed when using heavy plant machinery for construction

1.4

Heavy plant machinery is parked safely and securely when not in operation

1.5

Personal protective clothing and equipment is worn and used, in accordance with organisational procedures

2

Construct fire control line

2.1

Obtain briefing and confirm work to be undertaken

2.2

Topographical and vegetation factors are considered when selecting a route for construction of a fire control line

2.3

Environmental, agricultural, cultural and heritage factors are considered when selecting a route for construction of fire control line using heavy plant machinery

2.4

Fire control line is constructed directly on fire edge or away from fire edge, taking into account weather conditions and/or changes in fire behaviour, to meet fire suppression requirements

2.5

Hazards are identified and considered when selecting route and constructing fire control line

2.6

Debris from fire control line construction is appropriately placed to facilitate fire suppression works and to reduce environmental impact

2.7

Fire control line is constructed to suit purposes, including vehicle access, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.8

Helipads, turning areas, passing bays and safety zones are constructed, as directed

3

Mop up and rehabilitate area

3.1

Mop up work is conducted, in accordance with organisational procedures and in coordination with crew members

3.2

Rehabilitation work is conducted, 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.

machines must include one or more of the following

bulldozer

excavator

faller buncher

front end loader

grader

harvester

skidder

Fire

Fire