ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Assess and action situational risks in workplaces

1.1 Situational safety is assessed and well-informed judgements are made in accordance with agreed operational practices and the surrounding environment

1.2 Potential risks to own safety, the safety of fellow officers and members of the public are quickly and correctly identified, assessed and actioned where appropriate

2. Maintain a safe working environment

2.1 Operational safety responses/procedures are identified and/or planned and implemented within organisational policies and procedures

2.2 Equipment, materials and environment are assessed for hazards and protective action is planned to ensure the health and safety of people

2.3 Safety issues are evaluated and advised to relevant officers and alternate responses are actioned where appropriate

2.4 Appropriate protective clothing and equipment are correctly identified, worn and utilised where and when required

2.5 Incidents are identified, and observations are recorded and reported accurately, promptly and in the required format to relevant personnel

3. Employ operational safety skills and tactics

3.1 Situations are assessed correctly and informed judgements made as appropriate for the use of operational safety skills and tactics

3.2 Operational safety skills and tactics are applied in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, subject to surrounding conditions

3.3 Documentation regarding the use of force is completed and submitted in accordance with organisational requirements

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

Required Skills

effectively communicate safety issues/concerns to colleagues, supervisors and when necessary, other emergency service workers and the public

effectively communicate with a wide range of community members such as those with physical/sensory/intellectual impairment and with different cultural backgrounds

minimise workplace risks to self, colleagues and the public

plan, implement and where necessary adapt workplace safety responses to situational contexts

recognise and accurately assess, situational risks/hazards

safely operate and use general issue and emergency operational equipment and safety clothing

Required Knowledge

established strategies to optimise safety under a range of operational scenarios

general duty of care responsibilities

most appropriate use of force (restraining and defensive tactics)

occupational health and safety (OH&S) guidelines for lifting and carrying persons

organisational OH&S legislation as it applies to policing

organisational policies and procedures covering operational safety issues/practices

potential risks associated with a full range of non-specialist operational policing activities

use of force, its legal parameters and reporting requirements in relation to operations

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:

identify workplace safety risks, work practices and defensive tactics to ensure the safety of self and others.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

standard organisational operational accoutrements

operational safety equipment and vehicles.

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.

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.

Workplaces may include:

Crime/incident scenes

Foot or mobile patrol environments

Industrial/business/domestic buildings

Police stations

Public crowd/traffic control tasking sites

Public transport systems

Sporting and social venues

Watch houses

Potential risks may include:

Buildings or property and could be already present or evolve as a result of actions taken

Matters or events that could harm persons

Assessing and actioning potential risks may include:

Analysing situational intelligence and evidence

Communicating with other agencies such as the Road Traffic Authority (RTA), local government, community services

Gathering existing situational intelligence from colleagues

Identifying and valuing potential risks (and their strengths) arising from a situation or a situation's particular timeframe

Other emergency service workers and/or public present at site

Reporting

Reviewing previous reports

Safe control/management of hazard

Techniques such as personal observation

Safety issues may include:

Issues/matters that may impact on the future safety of officers and could include faulty equipment

Inappropriate operational procedures or the need for skills enhancement

Operational safety skills and tactics may include:

Crowd control

Dealing with aggressive/violent/intoxicated/drugged/ injured/uncooperative persons

Dealing with potentially hazardous substances such as noxious gases, chemicals, fuels

Lifting and carry persons

Operation of police vehicles and equipment including weapons

Preventing disease transmissions

Range of skills and tactics sanctioned by an organisation to enable an officer to defend against or restrain persons attempting to physically harm themselves

Risk assessment and contingency planning

Situational communication techniques

Use of force techniques/options/strategies

Use of safety clothing (such as visibility vests, wet weather gear, riot clothing/headgear, rubber gloves)

Warning devices (portable lamps, signs, torches) and safety barriers/warning tapes