PUAOPE027A
Undertake beach safety management activities

This unit covers the competency required to coordinate beach surveillance and rescue as a part of a structured service.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

The application of this unit in the workplace covers coordination of surveillance and rescue alone or as a part of a team in a beach/surf/open water environment.

The unit is typically relevant for personnel from emergency services and/or volunteer organisations or organisations where a structure beach surveillance and rescue service is supplied.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for beach surveillance and rescue

1.1 Duty information is obtained.

1.2 Beach information and weather forecasts are accessed and likely conditions are considered.

1.3 Availability of appropriately skilled personnel is ensured to meet likely conditions and organisational requirements.

1.4 Pre-use check of equipment is completed in accordance with organisational procedures.

2. Undertake preventative actions

2.1 Beach and surf conditions are evaluated.

2.2 Safest swimming location is determined and signage is erected in accordance with Australian Standards.

2.3 Equipment availability is ensured and appropriately located to meet likely need and organisational requirements.

2.4 Operational command is notified of availability for duty.

2.5 Public is proactively engaged to inform them of hazards.

3. Respond to casualties in distress

3.1 Casualties in distress are identified and/or information about casualties in distress is received from team members.

3.2 Incident details are gathered and risk assessment of casualties and incident is undertaken.

3.3 Appropriate rescue method is determined and appropriate rescue equipment is chosen as a result of this risk assessment.

3.4 Operational command is notified of rescue situation and continuous updates are provided as required.

3.5 Casualty rescue is undertaken or team member is directed to undertake casualty rescue.

3.6 Casualty management is coordinated.

3.7 Liaison is undertaken with emergency services as required.

3.8 Completion of casualty handover to ambulance personnel is ensured.

4. Complete beach surveillance and rescue recovery requirements

4.1 Operational command is notified of end of service provision.

4.2 Equipment is returned to storage and post-operational checks and maintenance are completed.

4.3 Personnel are debriefed as required.

4.4 Organisational documentation is completed as required.

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

access and interpret data

communicate effectively with colleagues and stakeholders

coordinate a range of beach related issues/rescues

identify rips

identify wave types

manage a range of situations in a calm, concise manner

undertake a risk assessment

Required Knowledge

Australian Standards in relation to signage and beach safety

Australian Beach Safety and Management Program [ABSAMP]

Bureau of Meteorology

dangers associated with different wave types

different types of beaches and associated hazards

local government and by-laws

organisational operating procedures and structure

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:

assess beach conditions

plan safest swimming location

coordinate a rescue situation

set up for beach surveillance and appropriately locate signage and equipment

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated reviewing a range of beaches or range of conditions at the same beach.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed during patrolling activities or as a part of structured beach set-up and surveillance scenario.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

rescue equipment

patrol personnel

range of beaches with varying conditions

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 industry-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.

Duty information may include:

Hours of operations

Number of personnel available

Providing a lifesaving/lifeguard patrol service at one or multiple locations

Type of service provided

Beach information and weather forecasts may include:

Australian Beach Safety and Management Program (ABSAMP) rating

Local knowledge

Bureau of Meteorology reports and weather warnings

Tide times

Likely conditions may include:

Estimated beach attendance

Littoral currents (side sweeps)

Rip currents

Sandbars

Surf size

Temperature

Wave types and associated hazards

Appropriately skilled personnel may include:

Self

Qualified according to organisational requirements

Team members

Organisational requirements may include:

Standard operating procedures

Service agreements

Equipment may include:

Automated External Defibrillator

First Aid Kit

Inflatable rescue boat (IRB)

Oxygen Resuscitation Kit

Personal water craft (PWC)

Radios

Rescue board

Rescue tube

Signage

Spinal board

Beach and surf conditions may include:

Choppy/calm water

Rip currents

Surf size

Wave types

Appropriately locating equipment to meet likely need may include:

Locating rescue equipment at start of rip

Making first aid equipment available at central location

Situating rescue powercaft in a location clear of swimmers for safe launching

Operational command may include:

Local supervisor

Remote communications centre

Engaging the public proactively may include:

Directing bathing public back to safe swimming area through use of gestures

Explaining safest swimming location and hazards to beach going public

Making public announcements using address system/load hailer

Casualty rescue includes:

Negotiating the surf to reach the casualty

Securing the casualty

Returning the casualty to shore

Providing first aid

And may include use of:

IRB

no equipment

PWC

rescue board

rescue tube


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.