- PUAOHS002B - Maintain safety at an incident scene
PUAOHS002B
Maintain safety at an incident scene
Application
This unit applies to all public safety workers attending an incident scene, and links to the individual’s responsibility to maintain personal safety and to be aware of how actions affect the safety of others, including team members, other agency workers, and general public.
Prerequisites
PUAFIR215 Prevent Injury (Fire sector specific)
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Determine hazards at incident site | 1.1 Issues affecting safety of self and other personnel are established by identification of hazards and assessment of risks, and by liaison with others at the scene. 1.2 Relevant operational safety procedures are implemented in accordance with organisation's policies. 1.3 Duties are undertaken in line with organisational health and safety codes of practice and relevant legislation. |
2. Implement hazard controls at incident scene | 2.1 Hazards are identified and mitigation procedures are selected in line with work instructions and procedures. 2.2 Hazardous situations rectified where possible and reported and/or recorded according to organisation's policies and procedures. 2.3 Changes in situation and/or conditions are reported immediately to designated person. 2.4 Hazard controls are monitored and communicated to relevant personnel to ensure continuing effectiveness. 2.5 Hazard control and mitigation measures are implemented with minimum damage to the environment, while maintaining safety of self and others. 2.6 Incident/accident scene is effectively secured to preserve the scene and maintain public safety in line with legislative requirements. |
3. Maintain personal safety | 3.1 Personal protective clothing and equipment is selected and checked according to organisational procedures to ensure it is operational prior to entry into incident situation. 3.2 Personal protective clothing and equipment appropriate to dealing with the hazard is worn/fitted and used in accordance with organisation's policies and procedures and manufacturer's guidelines. 3.3 Water and food intake, rest breaks and shelter requirements are maintained. 3.4 Survival technique strategies are implemented in accordance with organisation's policies and guidelines. |
4. Contribute to maintaining safety of other work group members | 4.1 Impact of own actions on safety of others is recognised. 4.2 Contact is maintained at all times with other work group members. 4.3 Signals are correctly used, interpreted, confirmed and acted upon in a timely manner. |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required Skills |
communicate non-verbally and verbally follow procedures and instructions record information use communication equipment work with others in a team situation |
Required Knowledge |
accidents and incidents commonly encountered hazards and procedures and safety precautions to prevent injury on encountering various hazards employee responsibilities and obligations food intake hazards heat induced illness - factors leading to prevention injuries labelling and storage of hazardous substances manual handling hazards means of relaying warnings to other personnel methods of hazard control and reporting organisation's occupational health and safety policy problems associated with insufficient water intake procedures for investigating injuries procedures for participating in occupational health and safety arrangements procedures for reporting hazards protection relevant standard operating procedures respiratory system - functions rest breaks State and Territory occupational health and safety requirements survival techniques for various situations symptoms and treatment techniques and aids use and limitations of relevant protective clothing and equipment |
Evidence Required
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in maintaining personal safety and safety of others. Consistency in performance Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment A real life incident, exercise or simulation, or series of tasks are required to demonstrate competence in this unit. This may involve setting scenarios to be completed either individually or as a member of a team. Written or verbal questions may be used as supporting evidence. Specific resources for assessment A range of protective clothing and equipment may be required. |
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. | |
Working environment may be: | hazardous unpredictable subject to time pressure chaotic and expose responders to risk |
Public Safety workplaces include: | any location where a Public Safety incident occurs |
Response situation include: | single and multi agency response situations |
Hazards include: | all potential sources of injury or damage to property or the environment including identified and potential hazards to persons equipment or the environment |
Risk is: | the likelihood of injury or damage occurring and the potential consequences of any injury or damage |
Incidents may include: | a variety of natural or man made events including but not limited to rescues and extrications flood storm tempest natural disaster vehicle aircraft rail industrial civil defence fires: structural wild prescribed burning search and rescue : urban rural sea hazardous materials and dangerous goods |
Hazards may be identified by: | scene assessment visual inspections plan reviews recognising hazard warnings accessing data bases interviewing others at scene seeking expert advice |
Others at scene may include: | organisational personnel personnel from other organisations general public |
Hazardous materials may include: | thermal mechanical explosives toxic corrosive asphyxiant radiation etiological hazards mutagenic materials |
Biological hazards may include: | bacteria viruses fungi and yeasts including exotic organisms |
Physical hazards may include: | noise slippery surfaces poor visibility smoky environments fallen/falling objects fatigue |
Electrical hazards may include: | pole fires electrical fires electricity in damaged/burning structures energised vehicles/structures due to downed wires photovoltaic generation systems |
Manual handling hazards may include: | heavy objects content and shape of containers |
Environmental hazards may include: | temperature darkness fire snow floods winds rain hail flora fauna postural restrictions and access terrain traffic |
Hazard control measures may include: | erection of barriers establishment of control zone use of spill clean up kits use of electrically insulated tools and equipment vehicle protection hoses and devices life support equipment (heat radiation shielded crew cabin vehicle cabins with/without sprays) entry control procedures to hazardous areas decontamination isolation of electricity supply |
Relevant legislation may include: | state or territory occupational health and safety acts and regulations |
Personal protective clothing and equipment may include: | breathing apparatus personal lines air lines personal distress units respiratory protection protective hoods goggles hearing protectors sunscreen chemical protective clothing personal flotation devices wet suits turnout uniform gloves hard hat safety boots overalls chainsaw chaps bullet proof vests firearms batons handcuffs |
Hazard control equipment may include: | atmospheric monitoring equipment meteorological equipment radiation monitoring equipment oxygen meters flammable gas detectors |
Reporting may include: | verbal written reports completing standard forms logs sitreps note taking logging entry to hazardous areas |
Designated person may include: | supervisor team leader workplace occupational health and safety representative officer in charge |
Survival strategies which may be applied in: | buildings wildfire situations water extreme heat or cold |
Factors which may require monitoring may include: | traffic weather conditions vegetation type spectators temperature structural integrity relative humidity slope terrain water supply/pressure fire development stream flows suspect atmospheres |
Contact with other personnel may include: | visual vocal touch radio audible warnings signalling |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.