SFIAQUA220A
Use waders

This unit of competency involves preparing and using waders in freshwater or marine work environments. The unit does not cover the risks associated with working in high flow water. The unit includes risk minimisation and safe practices, and the personal survival and rescue skills required in situations of flooded waders, lost footing, sudden immersion and other aquatic emergencies that may be complicated by the wearing of waders.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Application

This unit has relevance for anyone who uses waders in fishing operations, aquaculture operations and fisheries compliance sectors of the seafood industry. The unit could have application in other industries.

All enterprise or workplace procedures and activities are carried out according to relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements, including occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for safe use of waders

1.1. Types of waders with suitable characteristics for the type of work to be undertaken are selected and checked for condition, fit and adjustment.

1.2. Potential environmental hazards and factors contributing to aquatic emergencies are identified.

1.3. Risks associated with sudden immersion in cold water are identified and minimised in the preparations for use of waders.

1.4. The types of aquatic emergencies that might arise when working in waders are identified and risks minimised.

1.5. Water temperatures are identified and in-water survival times calculated, taking into account factors that influence cold water survival.

1.6. Appropriate clothing and safety equipment are donned.

2. Use safe wading techniques

2.1. Selection of entry technique accounts for potential environmental hazards.

2.2. Wading techniques are appropriate for water and environmental conditions.

3. Apply simple survival skills on sudden immersion and loss of footing

3.1. Wader safety tuck position is adopted when footing is lost and on sudden entry to water.

3.2. Survival techniques are appropriate to water conditions.

3.3. Techniques to extend survival time are applied in deep water.

3.4. Survival strokes are used to swim to exit point.

3.5. Independent exits from the water, with and without waders, are performed.

4. Perform a simple water rescue

4.1. A person in need of assistance is identified.

4.2. The situation is assessed and a rescue plan is developed according to best practice principles of water safety.

4.3. Simple search techniques are demonstrated in shallow water.

4.4. A simple rescue is performed and the person assisted to exit the water.

4.5. Appropriate first aid and after-care is provided.

Required Skills

Required skills

identifying factors leading to emergencies in aquatic workplaces

improvising in the use of workplace equipment to assist a rescue

prioritising rescue techniques and performing a simple rescue of one person in difficulty

providing first aid and after-care, including management of immersion-related illness and injury

recognising and assessing aquatic emergencies and situations requiring a rescue response

selecting and preparing wading and safety equipment

undertaking safe entry, wading and exit techniques

utilising OHS for prevention of illness and injury in aquatic environments

utilising personal water safety and survival skills, including self-preservation in rescue situations.

Literacy skills used for:

checking data on weather and water conditions

reading safety instructions.

Numeracy skills used for:

determining immersion times.

Required knowledge

characteristics of a person in difficulty

characteristics of different types of waders and their safe use

factors that contribute to aquatic emergency situations

first aid and resuscitation techniques

hazards in marine and freshwater environments and workplaces

local water temperatures and factors that influence survival time

physiological effects of cold water immersion

principles of individual and group survival in aquatic emergencies

principles of water rescues, including how to prioritise rescues, and rescue techniques

relevant equipment and safety requirements, including OHS and legislative requirements

treatment of temperature-related illnesses

water rescue equipment and principles for improvised use of other equipment to assist rescue.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

identify factors that contribute to an aquatic emergency

minimise risks associated with use of waders in a natural environment

dress appropriately and prepare waders for use in the workplace

enter water safely whilst wearing waders as an individual and in a group

respond appropriately to a situation where footing is lost or unexpected deep water encountered

manage an individual and group cold water survival situation wearing waders

correctly identify a casualty requiring assistance and perform a rescue that minimises risk to self and others

assess the condition of a casualty and provide first aid and after-care consistent with current guidelines

accurately report incident and notify other relevant personnel according to legislative, regulatory and organisation requirements.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

factors that influence survival time in water

hazards and risks associated with use of waders

principles of individual and group survival in aquatic emergencies

water rescue techniques.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit of competency must be assessed in the context of marine or freshwater workplaces in which waders are used. For valid and reliable assessment there must be access to water of varying depths, including water too deep to stand up in. The environment should be safe, with simulation of the hazards and circumstances likely to be encountered in a real workplace, such as the simulation of waves or tidal affects.

The following resources must be available at assessment:

a real or simulated aquatic work environment

bucket, container or similar object that can be used to assist flotation

buoyant equipment

PFDs

poles or boat hook or other equipment used to reach someone in difficulty

ropes

rules, policies and regulations of relevant peak bodies and/or employer organisations

safety and rescue equipment normally used in the workplace

suitable clothing normally worn under or with waders

waders

wide adjustable belt, such as a diver's webbing belt with quick release buckle.

Method of assessment

This unit must be assessed with candidates wearing the type of clothing, including waders that will be worn in the workplace and with access to the type of equipment that is likely to be used in survival and rescue situations. Competency must be assessed in water that is shallow enough to stand in before candidate is assessed in deeper water.

The following assessment methods are suggested:

consideration of required attitude to safety

demonstration of processes and procedures

oral and/or written questioning on required knowledge and application of required skills

performance of survival and rescue tasks.

Guidance information for assessment

This competency should be assessed independently of other units, and before candidate undertakes work in waders.


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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements may include:

business or workplace operations, policies and practices

correct marketing names and labelling

safety at sea

OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control.

OHS guidelines may include:

appropriate clothing and safety equipment for use with waders

appropriate workplace provision of first aid

codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction or industry sector

enterprise-specific OHS procedures, policies or standards

hazard and risk assessment of workplace, maintenance activities and control measures

induction or training of staff, contractors and visitors in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner

OHS training register

safe lifting, carrying and handling techniques

safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, use of waders and the protection of people in the workplace

systems and procedures for the safe maintenance of property, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving parts.

Types of waders include:

neoprene waders

PVC waders

waders with and without bibs.

Environmental hazards may include:

bottom composition

changing bottom characteristics over time

cold air temperature, including wind chill factor

cold water

floating debris and equipment

sudden changes in water depth or bottom composition

underwater obstructions and snags

water clarity

water depth

water movement (e.g. currents, tides and flow)

wave action.

Factors contributing to aquatic emergencies may include:

condition of casualty

consumption of alcohol or use of prescription or other drugs that might affect performance

environmental conditions

equipment failure

risk taking behaviour

slippery surfaces

swimming ability

vessel instability or capsize.

Sudden immersion in cold water may result in:

changes in blood circulation and pressure

gasp reflex and hyperventilation, including reduced breath-holding capacity

heart attack

hypothermia

impaired physical performance

Mammalian Diving Reflex

stroke.

Types of aquatic emergencies may include:

bleeding wound

cramping

flooding of waders

injury

insect or aquatic organism bite or sting

loss of footing

medical emergency (e.g. heart attack, stroke and asthma)

weak or non-swimmer in difficulty

temperature related illness

unexpected immersion.

Factors that influence cold water survival time include:

body composition and size

buoyancy aids

clothing

duration of immersion

heat escape lessening techniques

level and type of physical activity

sea or water conditions

water temperature

wind chill.

Appropriate clothing and safety equipment may include:

hat

helmet

jacket

non-slip footwear

personal flotation device (PFD)

thermal or woollen wear

wide belt to assist trapping of air.

Entry techniques may include:

wade into water of shallow depth

slide into water of unknown depth and obstructions

step into water of known depth without obstructions

dive into clear water of known depth without obstructions.

Wading techniques include:

adjustment of equipment to prevent water ingress

feeling with feet when wading in turbid water

leaning against water when wading

maintaining a safe working depth.

Wader safety tuck position includes:

appropriate orientation for safe movement through water

positioning on back

sculling for efficient propulsion

tucking legs to trap air in waders.

Survival techniques include:

heat escape lessening techniques, including Heat Escape Lessening Posture (HELP) and huddle

in-water removal of clothing and waders to achieve exit

sculling and tread water techniques

use of a belt to assist trapping of air in waders

use of buoyant objects, including PFD.

Techniques to extend survival time include:

energy conservation

HELP and huddle techniques

retention of clothing in cold water

use of buoyant aids

use of thermal protective clothing.

Survival strokes may include

head and feet first sculling

kicking on back

underwater recovery arm action on front or back.

A person in need of assistance may include:

injured swimmer

non-swimmer

unconscious person

weak or tired swimmer.

A rescue plan may include:

availability of assistance

availability of rescue aids

awareness of personal capabilities

condition of person in difficulty

environmental factors

rescue priorities in the situation of more than one person in need of assistance

self-preservation.

Best practice principles of water safety may include:

guidelines and techniques published by water safety organisations, such as the Royal Life Saving Society Australia and Surf Life Saving Association Australia

relevant legislation

workplace procedures and guidelines.

Search techniques include:

wading individually or in formation with others

marking search area

use of systematic search pattern appropriate to water depth and turbidity

feeling with a stick or feet in turbid water.

Simple rescue techniques may include:

dry rescues:

reach rescue using pole, boat hook, paddle or other object

rope throw rescue using weighted and unweighted rope

throwing of a buoyant object, such as PFDs, lifebuoy or improvised aid

use of watercraft

in-water rescues:

accompanied swim rescue

wade rescue

talking the casualty to safety.

First aid and after-care may include:

hospitalisation in the case of near-drowning

protection against environmental conditions with particular attention to hypothermia

treatment according to current first aid guidelines.


Sectors

Unit sector

Aquaculture operations


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Refer to Unit Descriptor