This unit involves the skills and knowledge required to gather and collate information including obvious and accessible physical evidence from the scene of an incident and identifying potential witnesses. It does not cover the specialist skills required to interpret the evidence gathered or the specialist skills required to gather specific evidence.

The unit applies to non-specialist personnel who have been tasked with the collection of information and evidence that is obvious at an incident scene.

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

Conduct initial assessment of scene

1.1

Scene is assessed with regards to Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and all actions are undertaken, in accordance with organisation policies, procedures, guidelines and duty of care requirements

1.2

Communication is established with the senior investigating officer and liaison is maintained throughout the investigation

1.3

Circumstances surrounding the scene are ascertained from visual assessment and reports from other personnel

1.4

Scene boundary is defined or redefined, as required, to preserve physical evidence for collection

1.5

Obvious and accessible physical evidence is located and, where appropriate, protected from possible contamination

2

Control integrity of scene

2.1

Appropriate arrangements for scene access and egress are established and maintained

2.2

Non-essential persons are removed from the scene and details are recorded accurately, in accordance with organisation and regulatory procedures

2.3

Additional resources are identified and accessed to secure incident scene

2.4

Health and safety needs of personnel and public involved in incident are identified and attended to

3

Examine scene

3.1

Appropriate search pattern is instigated, in accordance with organisational procedures, and instructions from senior investigating officer to ensure all evidence is located and preserved

3.2

Details of the scene are recorded comprehensively and accurately, in accordance with organisational operating procedures

3.3

Evidence is located, collected, packaged, labelled and stored, in accordance with organisational procedures, to ensure preservation for further post scene examination

3.4

An accurate log of all evidence is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

3.5

Scenes are assessed for future investigative requirements and appropriate personnel are notified

4

Identify potential witnesses and initial statements recorded

4.1

Bystanders are canvassed to identify potential witnesses

4.2

Details of potential witnesses are recorded, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3

Recording practices are used, in accordance with legislative and regulatory requirements and organisational policies and 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.

incident scene must include at least two of the following

accident or incident involving death or injury to person or damage to property

crime scene

industrial or mining accidents and incidents

natural disaster

structural fire

vehicle accident

vehicle fire

wildfire

Fire

Fire