This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to provide safety advice at an urban incident.

The unit is applicable to urban field based Safety Officers who are responsible for providing safety advice to the Incident Controller including any action or condition where a person’s life and/or safety is at risk. It also involves observing potential or existing hazards and providing advice on available and viable risk management options. The authorisation to perform this role is subject to organisational policies and procedures.

Incident Controllers' have the ultimate responsibility for the safety and welfare of operational crews, supporting personnel and members of the public who may be involved in an incident. Providing a safe working environment for personnel at an incident is the shared responsibility of the Incident Controller, each member of the Incident Management Team and at their respective levels all persons working at the incident.

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

Contribute to safety of all personnel involved in an incident

1.1

Initial briefing is obtained and the Incident Controller's intent is confirmed and questions are asked

1.2

Requirements for safety, health and welfare of crews/teams are identified

1.3

Assessment of information relating to safety is reported to Incident Controller

1.4

Safety, health and welfare priorities are identified and confirmed with Incident Controller throughout incident

1.5

Safety, health and welfare of operational and other associated personnel is monitored and reviewed throughout incident

1.6

Mitigation strategies are identified and developed for risks that may not have been controlled elsewhere in the Incident Action Plan

1.7

Adequacy of procedures is assessed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

2

Assess risks at incident

2.1

Initial and ongoing risk assessments of hazards are undertaken and precautions to be observed are proposed

2.2

Electrical and other utilities are assessed to ensure they are rendered safe or hazards identified are mitigated

2.3

Building risks are assessed to ensure they are identified and communicated to relevant personnel and are mitigated, where possible

2.4

Environmental risks are identified and mitigated, where possible

3

Provide advice to relevant personnel on mitigating safety risks

3.1

Relevant personnel are immediately informed of any action or condition that has the potential to place any person's life or safety at risk

3.2

Mitigation actions are recommended where operational actions or conditions have the potential to place any person's life or safety at risk

3.3

Work is undertaken with relevant personnel to ensure safety issues are considered and addressed

3.4

Incident Controller is alerted to unsafe work practices and alternative strategies and/or mitigations are suggested

3.5

Advice is provided and the outcomes of that advice is documented

4

Monitor application of resources identified in Incident Action Plan

4.1

Resources to safely control an incident are identified in the Incident Action Plan (IAP) and inappropriate or inadequate availability of resources is determined and conveyed to Incident Controller and other relevant personnel

4.2

Resources to provide for contingencies are identified in the IAP and inappropriate or inadequate availability of these resources is determined and conveyed to Incident Controller and other relevant personnel

5

Monitor personnel at an incident

5.1

Freelance operations not part of the coordinated response are identified and reported to relevant personnel

5.2

Supervision of personnel is assessed and issues identified are reported to the Incident Controller and other relevant personnel

5.3

Wearing of appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment is observed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

5.4

Adherence to safe work procedures when using personal protective clothing and equipment is observed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

5.5

Presence and movement of external agencies/organisations, technical experts or advisors at the incident are observed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

6

Monitor operations at an incident

6.1

Adequacy of briefings is assessed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

6.2

Adherence to decontamination procedures is observed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

6.3

Lighting during night operations is assessed and recommendations are provided to improve site or personnel visibility

6.4

Correct siting of appliances and/or vehicles is assessed and recommendations are made

6.5

Use of equipment at an incident is observed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

6.6

Provision of escape routes and refuges is assessed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

7

Monitor operational safety at an incident

7.1

Any action that has imminent risk of injury or harm is ceased, suspended or modified

7.2

Intervention is immediately reported to the appropriate officer within the chain of command

7.3

Application of the organisation's safe working systems and practices is assessed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

7.4

Operational and/or safety information flow between the Incident Management Team (IMT) and personnel on the ground is assessed and issues identified are reported to relevant personnel

7.5

Fatigue status of all personnel at the incident is observed and actions are recommended to mitigate fatigue related safety issues

8

Complete documentation

8.1

Arrangements are made for a log and/or record of all activities and decisions to be kept

8.2

Assessment of future risks likely to emerge is undertaken and actions are proposed to prevent and/or mitigate these risks

8.3

Suggestions for safety messages to be included in future IAP's are made

8.4

Investigation of any accident, near miss or hit, significant injuries and/or fatalities is overseen and resulting documentation is handed over to relevant personnel or appropriate authority

8.5

Advice on the need for additional support is documented and given to relevant personnel

8.6

Reports are prepared and given to relevant personnel

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.

Fire

Fire