ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Establish and maintain initial response teams

1.1 Role, authority, structure and scope of the team are negotiated with the management of the workplace and are clearly defined and documented in the workplace emergency procedures.

1.2 An appropriate and effective system for alerting initial response team members to an emergency is developed, demonstrated to members and regularly tested.

1.3 An appropriate business plan and budget are developed and maintained for the initial response team.

1.4 Workplace emergency systems and procedures are audited for compliance.

2. Provide appropriate information and procedures

2.1 Risk assessment relevant to the expected activities of the initial response team is conducted at intervals relevant to the levels of risk.

2.2 Possible hazards are identified, and appropriate controls for those hazards are developed and implemented.

2.3 Relevant, current information is provided to the initial response team about its role, authority, structure, scope, equipment, training.

2.4 Workplace emergency procedures are developed, provided to appropriate people and regularly reviewed.

2.5 Pre-incident planning information about the current layout of the workplace and key features relevant to emergencies is provided to the initial response team in an accessible form.

2.6 Members of the initial response team and emergency control organisation are consulted and encouraged to participate in the development and review of relevant workplace emergency procedures.

3. Make recommendations for the provision of appropriate emergency equipment and manage its maintenance

3.1 Recommendations are made for the acquisition of emergency equipment appropriate to the role and scope of the initial response team.

3.2 Safe operating procedures, based on risk assessment and manufacturers' instructions, are developed and communicated to initial response team.

3.3 Appropriate arrangements are made for the storage of emergency equipment in a location that is safe, convenient and readily accessible to initial response team.

3.4 Appropriate arrangements are made to ensure emergency equipment is maintained in an accessible and serviceable condition, according to relevant standards and/or the manufacturers' instructions.

3.5 Appropriate personal protective equipment, and information about its characteristics, limitations, safe use and care, are provided to each member of the initial response team.

4. Arrange appropriate training for the initial response teams

4.1 Training and assessment is arranged before a person is assigned initial response duties.

4.2 Training is arranged according to the needs analysis to ensure currency of competence and where the duties or risks within the workplace change.

4.3 Arrangements are made for the effective scheduling, promoting, reporting and recording of training.

4.4 Feedback on performance during training is used to validate and improve the training.

5. Monitor and report on effectiveness of the initial response teams

5.1 Initial response team is regularly audited and reviewed for relevance and ability of the workplace to implement the system.

5.2 Status of the initial response team and emergency control system is reported to management on a regular basis.

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

Required Skills

assess resources needed by workplace emergency initial response teams

communicate and consult effectively with a range of agencies, professions and advisers

conduct meetings

deal with conflict

develop procedures

leadership

manage and conduct risk assessments/analysis

negotiation

plan and promote training

relate to a range of people from a range of cultural, linguistic, social and ethnic backgrounds, and a range of physical and intellectual abilities

select team members

write reports for a range of audiences including senior management and external agencies

Required Knowledge

appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment

audit management systems

emergency warning systems

equipment operating characteristics, limitations, hazards, precautions, procedures and general care

general emergency priorities and strategies

hazards and relevant precautions

how people react in emergency situations

maintenance management systems

situational awareness

statutory and legislative requirements

tactics for safely handling specific emergencies

training management systems

workplace emergency management plan

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to conduct a risk assessment; to identify hazards; to implement controls effectively; and to audit all processes. There should also be clear evidence of a systematic approach to managing the workplace emergency initial response team.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time with a range of emergencies and workplace emergency team management issues that could be expected in the workplace.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to scenarios that reflect a range of emergency situations that may be expected in the workplace.

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.

Hazards may include:

chemical, biological, radiological

climatic

electrical

environmental

explosive

fire

mechanical

psychological (e.g. critical incident stress)

noise related

security related

storm/flood

structural

thermal

wildlife related

Pre-incident planning may include:

contingency plans

sketches or notes about workplace layout

features

hazards

emergency control facilities

discussions and/or use of operational procedures involving emergency plans, sketches, notes, procedures or material safety data sheets

Emergency equipment may include:

emergency vehicles, trailers, trolleys or caches

fire protection equipment

forcible entry tools

life support equipment

monitors (or turrets)

monitoring equipment

personal protective clothing and equipment

rescue equipment

spill or leak control kits