ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare and respond to road crash rescue

1.1 Equipment is checked, serviced and operationally ready for use.

1.2 Operation and task information is obtained and assessed about the type of collision.

1.3 Rescue equipment is selected based on incident information.

1.4 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is selected relevant to the nature of the rescue operation.

1.5 Any further details of the nature of the rescue are received en route.

1.6 Anticipated hazards and associated risks are discussed with rescue team members while on route.

2. Establish and maintain rescue scene safety

2.1 Road crash scene is assessed, hazards and risks are identified and appropriate control and ongoing monitoring processes are put in place.

2.2 Scene management procedures are followed in accordance with organisational procedures and legal requirements.

2.3 Safe working area is established and monitored to prevent injury to self and/or others.

2.4 Vehicle/s are stabilised to prevent movement during access and removal, in accordance with organisational standards and procedures.

3. Manage casualties

3.1 Hygiene precautions are maintained in accordance with organisational requirements.

3.2 Casualties are assessed and stabilised to minimise further injury or discomfort during rescue operations.

3.3 Nature of injuries/entrapment is ascertained to develop an extrication plan.

3.4 Support is provided to medical personnel assisting with the treatment of the entrapped person/s as required

4. Remove casualties from entrapment

4.1 Access plans are determined in consultation with team leader and medical staff.

4.2 Procedures are implemented to protect casualties from further injury or discomfort during access and removal.

4.3 Access path is provided for removal of casualties using appropriate rescue techniques and equipment.

4.4 Casualties are removed from vehicle using appropriate rescue removal techniques and rescue equipment.

4.5 Removal of deceased person/s is undertaken under the direction of police.

5. Conclude road crash rescue operations

5.1 Scene is preserved for investigating officer/s.

5.2 Equipment is recovered, cleaned and maintained in accordance with manufacturer's guidelines and organisational procedures.

5.3 Decontamination procedures are followed in accordance with organisational procedures.

5.4 Where identified, signs and symptoms of operational stress in self and others are recognised and reported to appropriate personnel.

5.5 Operational debrief is participated in and operationaldocumentation is completed to organisational standards.

Required Skills

apply emergency care practices

apply relevant road crash rescue techniques

apply scene management procedures

undertake initial (ongoing) scene assessment

use rescue equipment in a range of situations

wear appropriate PPE

work in a multi-agency environment

work in teams

Required Knowledge

dangers associated with vehicle safety devices

documentation requirements

emergency care

equipment characteristics and safe working loads in rescue operations

establishment and maintenance of safe working areas and minimisation of hazards

hazards and environmental threats

infection control procedures

legal requirements for responders

methods of access

need to return equipment to operational readiness after use

operating procedures and organisational standards

operational briefing and debriefing procedures

organisational procedures for cleaning and discarding equipment in terms of environmental management and sustainability

personal hygiene protocols

reconnaissance processes

relevant occupational health and safety principles and practices

rescue equipment and manufacturer's operational guidelines

rescue techniques relevant to a range of vehicles

road crash rescue techniques

road crash rescue concepts as described in the Australian Emergency Manual Road Crash Rescue

roles and responsibilities of, and relationship with, other emergency service/s

use of PPE

vehicle construction and dangers in cutting vehicle parts and panels

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

extricate casualties

minimise further injury or discomfort while conducting rescue operation

operate rescue equipment safely and effectively

apply safe work practices.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual and/or simulated workplace environments conducting rescues from a range of vehicles.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in an industry-approved simulated and/or workplace environment involving road crash rescues using a range of equipment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

vehicles for exercise simulations

relevant transport

communications and emergency equipment

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.

Operationally ready may include:

Serviced as per manufacturers' recommendations and/or standard operating procedures

Operation and task information may include:

Environmental and other hazards

Location

Other agencies responding

Type and number of casualties/vehicles

Type of collision may include:

Crushed vehicle

Head-on

Jack knife

Load movement

Multiple vehicle accidents

Off-set (quarter oblique)

Rear impact

Side impact (t-bone)

Vehicle roll-over

Vehicle under-ride/over-ride

Rescue equipment may include:

Fire extinguishers

Glass management kit

Hand tools

Ladders

Lighting equipment

Powered tools (battery, electric, fuel) such as:

lifting bags

chain saws

cutting tools

drills

excavating tools

hydraulic tools

pneumatic equipment

Rescue vehicles

Ropes

Stabilising equipment such as:

winches

Tarpaulins

Personal protective equipment may include:

Appropriate protective clothing

Boots

Ear protection

eye protection

gloves, boots

helmets

infection protection

respiratory protection

Hazards may include:

adverse weather and environmental condition

after dark operations

bio-hazards

Composite materials (carbon fibre and fibre glass)

Difficult terrain

Electricity

Gas

Hazardous materials/dangerous substances

Other road users

Supplementary restraint systems

Traffic and bystanders

Vehicle fuel

Vehicle propulsion systems

Vehicle glazing

wild farm or domestic animals

water and sewerage utilities

Scene management procedures may include:

access and egress

cordoning and screening scene

glass management

isolating vehicle electrical systems

managing bystanders and media

positioning of response vehicles

preserving evidence

removing hazards

searching for missing occupants

staging areas

traffic control and traffic plan

Vehicles may include:

buses

cars

farm vehicles

motorcycles

semi trailers

trucks

Stabilising vehicles may include:

chaining

chocking

jacking

packing

propping

ratchet straps

roping

tensioning (manual operated cable winch)

use of soft webbing (rated)

Extrication plan may include:

Alternate entries

Controlled release

Immediate release

Procedures to protect casualties may include:

Padding of sharp hazards (hard and soft protection)

PPE for casualty (helmet, glasses, dust mask, ear protection)

Shielding from debris, glass and tools

Appropriate rescue techniques may include:

Door removal

Folding down sill

Foot well/front seat techniques:

pulling and pushing the column (fitted with uni-joints)

lifting the dash

dash roll

winching the dash

exposing the foot well

light commercial vehicle techniques:

van dash roll

Overturned vehicle techniques:

inverted side removal

flapping the floor pan

inverted ramming (including inverted cross ramming techniques)

roof techniques:

create openings

forward roof flap

roof flap

side impact techniques:

cross ramming

side removal:

'B' pillar rip

'B' pillar removal

Third door entry

Rescue removal techniques may include:

cervical collars

extrication devices

spinal immobilisation device

spine board (back board)

Preserving the incident scene must include:

disturbing only to gain access or make scene safe

not disturbing fatality scenes until police investigation activities are completed

preserving integrity of evidence

Operational documentation may include:

exposure records

incident field notes

incident report

organisation's reporting system

post operational report