This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to task and supervise the use of machinery to undertake a range of activities to support fire ground operations. It includes 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.

The unit applies to personnel who supervise machine operators and who provide an essential interface between machine operators and the command structures at fire incidents.

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 work area

1.1

Risk assessment of fire 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 tasks must be undertaken to achieve incident objectives is assessed

1.4

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

1.5

Consultation and communication with land owners and managers is undertaken prior to machinery entering the property

2

Brief and task machine operators

2.1

Personnel are briefed on strategies and tactics to be implemented by machine operators, in accordance with organisational procedures and 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 appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment

2.5

Appropriate communications equipment is provided and instructions for use is given to machine operators

2.6

Machinery is inspected to ensure compliance with safety requirements

2.7

Machinery is selected to ensure compliance with work and/or contract requirements

2.8

Machinery 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 use of machinery

3.1

Machinery safety requirements are monitored throughout wildfire operations

3.2

Near misses or accidents are reported, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.3

Communications with machine operators, support crew and the chain of command are maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and the communication 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 location of the control line is monitored, taking into account changes in fuel, weather and topography

3.6

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

3.7

Performance of delegated tasks by machine operators is monitored, in accordance with organisational procedures and code of practice

3.8

Fuel and maintenance requirements are monitored and requests are organised through the 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 and operator work hours are maintained and provided to relevant personnel, in accordance with organisational procedures

4

Conduct mopup and support activities

4.1

Machine operators are tasked and mop up and support activities are carried out, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.2

Threats to security of the perimeter or a sector of the fire are identified and reported on through the chain of command

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 chain of command

5.2

Damaged or missing equipment is recorded and/or reported, 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.

risk assessment of the site must include

fire behaviour

fuel type

terrain

weather conditions

Fire

Fire