PUAFIR415
Supervise machinery use in wildfire operations

This unit covers the competency required to task and supervise the use of machinery to undertake a range of activities to support fireground operations, including control line construction and rehabilitation, reduction and removal of hazards, improvement of existing tracks and roads, creating access and egress to control lines, constructing helipads and assisting in blacking out. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

This unit applies to personnel who supervise machine operators and are tasked, by the operations function of the Australasian Inter-service Incident Management System (AIIMS), to provide an essential interface between the machine operator and the command structure at incidents.



Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Assess the work area

1.1 Risk assessmentof the site is undertaken, and hazards and assets at risk are identified and inspected.

1.2 Trees to be pushed are identified, marked for attention, options to avoid pushing trees are examined and permission to remove trees is obtained.

1.3 Terrain through which the tasks must be undertaken to achieve the incident objective is assessed.

1.4 Route selected for construction of the control line and removal or avoidance of hazards is assessed to determine the most appropriate path and type of machinery suitable for the activity.

1.5 Consultation and communication with land owners and managers is undertaken prior to machines entering the property, as appropriate.

2. Brief and task machine operators

2.1 Personnel are briefed on the strategies and tactics to be implemented by the machine operators in accordance with the incident action plan.

2.2 Machine operators are tasked and briefed on work standards and safe work practices to be adhered to.

2.3 Reporting arrangements between machine operators, fire crew and supervisor are outlined.

2.4 Machine operators are checked to confirm that they are wearing the appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment.

2.5 Appropriate communications equipment is provided and instructions for use given to machine operator.

2.6 Machine is inspected to ensure compliance with safety requirements.

2.7 Machine is selected to ensure compliance with work and/or contract requirements.

2.8 Machine is checked for compliance with hygiene guidelines in respect to spread of disease and weeds, and remedial action is taken as required.

2.9 Anchor points, escape routes and safety zones are established and communicated to personnel in the area.

3. Supervise the use of machinery

3.1 Machine safety requirements are monitored.

3.2 Near misses or accidents are reported.

3.3 Communications with the machine operator, support crew and chain of command are maintained in accordance with communications plan.

3.4 Location and standard of construction of control line is adapted to changes in fire behaviour and intensity.

3.5 Fire spread and the location of the control line are monitored, taking into account changes in fuel, weather and topography.

3.6 Progress of tasks delegated is continually monitored and regular reports are provided to appropriate supervisor.

3.7 Performance of delegated tasks by machine operators is monitored in accordance with the relevant codes of practice and standard operating procedures.

3.8 Fuel and maintenance requirements are monitored and requests are organised through appropriate chain of command.

3.9 Minimisation of machine operations damage to agricultural, environmental, forestry, cultural and other community assets is ensured.

3.10 Records of machine work hours are maintained and provided in accordance with agency guidelines.

4. Conduct mop-up and support patrol activities

4.1 Machine operators are tasked and mop-up activities are carried out in accordance with organisational guidelines.

4.2 Threats to the security of the perimeter or sector of the fire are identified and reported or acted upon.

4.3 Rehabilitation of fire control lines no longer required is undertaken.

5. Recover and maintain equipment

5.1 Requests for repairs or maintenance of machinery are communicated through the appropriate chain of command.

5.2 Damaged or missing equipment is recorded and/or reported in accordance with organisational procedures.

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

communicate effectively orally and in writing

conduct briefings/provide instructions

effectively and efficiently select routes for fire control line construction

effectively cooperate with support vehicle personnel

supervise personnel

undertake mop-up activities

Required Knowledge

fire control line construction:

anchor points and safety zones

asset protection

capabilities of support vehicles

fire control line construction rates

fire control line construction standards

using one or more machines to construct control lines

construction guidelines

tandem operations

protecting environmental, structural, infrastructure, cultural and agricultural assets

role of machines in mopping up

safety:

communications

machine safety requirements

mutual support

operator safety

organisational operating procedures (relevant to machine operations)

protective clothing

safe work practices

safety when working around trees

survival techniques when threatened by wildfire

welfare

use of machines in wildfire operations:

arrangements regarding agency, private and contracted equipment

capabilities of supporting fire units

general servicing and maintenance requirements of machines

machine design and safety features

machine set up and capabilities

marking of trees requiring attention

role and responsibilities of machine supervisor

organisational requirements for engagement of machines

planning the availability of machines and operators

transport of machines

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:

supervise and communicate effectively

assess hazards and risks in work area

establish and maintain standards of work performed by machine operators

monitor and report on the effectiveness of machinery operations in fire suppression activities

monitor the application of safe work practices during fire suppression activities including control line construction and pushing trees

maintain health and safety of self, other workers and people in the wildfire area

monitor mop-up and patrol

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of field-based environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in an agency approved field-based environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

wildfire or prescribed burn

machinery

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.

Risk assessment of the site must include:

fire behaviour

fuel type

terrain

weather conditions

Hazards may include:

burns

disorientation

environmental

fatigue

heat-related illness (heat exhaustion and dehydration)

falling branches and trees

falling objects

lack of visibility

machines

manual handling

overhead hazards

beehives

powerlines

tree limbs

trees weakened by fire, rot or cracks

rolling objects

smoke inhalation

snake or insect bite

sprain or fracture

terrain and soil types

trips/falls

water bombing operation

Assets may include:

area of rare or sensitive flora and fauna

buildings and other property

historic and cultural sites

plantation and other crops

public lands

utilities (power and telephone lines, rail lines, water supply structures, communications towers)

Marking for attention may include:

use of flagging tape

Options may include:

changing the alignment of the control line

isolating hazards

Type of machinery may include:

Bobcat (skid steer loader)

Brompton Rat

bulldozer

excavator

front-end loader

grader

scrub rollers

tractor with blade or plough

wheeled dozer

wheeled log skidder with blade

Strategies may include:

defensive strategies

direct attack

indirect attack

parallel attack

Safe work practices must include:

brakes being set and blade being lowered before personnel mount or dismount machine

cleaning up/repairing oil leaks on machine

operators cleaning out build up of leaves, grass and twigs from machines

personnel gaining the attention of the operator before approaching a machine

personnel never mounting or dismounting from a moving machine

personnel remaining outside of risk zone during machine operations to avoid possible injury

taking refuge with a machine when threatened by wildfire

trained operators

wearing of a seat belt

Personal protective clothing and equipment must include:

dust mask

gloves

goggles

hearing protection

helmet

leather boots

overalls or long sleeve shirt and long trousers made of natural fibres

Communications equipment may include:

radio

phone

satellite-navigation devices

Anchor points may include:

bare ground

burnt out fire edge

road or track

site of a recent wildfire

Safety zones may include:

bare ground

burnt areas

clearings

rivers

site of a recent wildfire or prescribed burn

static water bodies

Machine safety requirements may include:

audible reversing alarm

fire blanket

fire extinguishers

lights

machine being in good operating order

operator protective systems (rops & fops)

Standard of construction of control line may include:

fire behaviour

fire control strategies chosen

fuel type and density

machine attachments

machine resources

machine type and configuration

obstacles

operator skill

spot overs

support resources

terrain

time of day

visibility

Mop-up activities may include:

closing and rehabilitating fire control line no longer required

cutting through the duff or peat layer to mineral earth

moving large amounts of material as required by fire crews

providing access to hot spots

pushing logs that are on the fire edge into the fire

pushing or ripping stumps to increase efficiency of mop-up

pushing trees likely to threaten the control line

reopening tracks or roads by clearing fallen debris and trees

spreading out heaps of logs


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.