Description
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This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to safely operate a multi-place hyperbaric chamber |
Pre/Co-Requisites
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The following are co-requisite units of competency:
This unit can be assessed independently, however holistic assessment practice with other health services units of competency is encouraged |
Application
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Work will be performed within a prescribed range of functions involving routine and non-routine methods and procedures which require the exercise of some discretion and judgement
Compliance with industry standards and guidelines
All activities are carried out in accordance with organisation policies, procedures and infection control guidelines |
Performance Criteria
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1. Compress hyperbaric chamber for a clinical and non-clinical treatment
1.1 Establish door seals
1.2 Communicate readiness of occupants for compression
1.3 Complete documentation in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
1.4 Complete compression in accordance with the treatment table
1.5 Carry out stop compression routine when initiated
2. Maintain chamber environment
2.1 Notify Attendant to administer oxygen to clients
2.2 Adjust chamber pressure to maintain treatment profile
2.3 Maintain gas levels
2.4 Identify and meet occupants’ needs
2.5 Maintain breathing gas pressures
2.6 Maintain chamber environment for comfort
2.7 Communicate with inside attendant as required
2.8 Identify and respond to machinery & equipment breakdowns or malfunctions in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
3. Decompress hyperbaric chamber for a clinical and non-clinical treatment
3.1 Communicate readiness of occupants for decompression
3.2 Complete documentation in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
3.3 Complete ascent in accordance with the treatment table
3.4 Maintain gas levels
3.5 Carry out stop compression routine when initiated
3.6 Identify decompression routine for attendant
4. Pass equipment through medical lock
4.1 Inform inside attendant of procedure
4.2 Maintain chamber pressure
4.3 Pressurise medical lock
4.4 Transfer equipment into chamber
4.5 Depressurise medical lock
5. Transfer personnel into/out of chamber whilst under pressure
5.1 Establish door seal
5.2 Communicate readiness of occupant for decompression
5.3 Complete documentation
5.4 Complete pressurisation in accordance with the treatment table
5.5 Carry out stop compression routine when initiated
5.6 Maintain main chamber environment
5.7 Transfer personnel into/out of main chamber
5.8 Depressurise transfer lock in accordance with organisation policies and procedures
5.9 Decompress personnel in accordance with treatment table
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Required Skills & Knowledge
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Essential Knowledge:
- Function of a compression chamber and equipment
- Safety procedures/actions in event of an emergency related to compression chambers
- Contraindications for attendants and clients undergoing compression
- Correct valve alignment on chamber and control panel, compressors and storage cylinders
- Operational procedures relating to compression chambers
- Function of valves and regulators
- Function of electrical and communication systems
- Function of gas analysing systems
- Relationship between 100% oxygen and metals/non metals under pressure
- Legal and regulatory requirements
- Medical terminology related to clients who may be undergoing compression relevant to operating a compression chamber
- Pathophysiology and the interrelationship with compression and decompression relevant to operating a compression chamber
- Decompression/treatment tables
- Interpret pressure gauge increments
- Basic first aid
- Infection control policies and procedures
- Safe manual handling practices
Essential Skills:
- Supervise the safe operation of a compression chamber
- Interpret gas systems diagrams
- Operate all compression chamber systems
- Operate the Built In Breathing System
- Solve problems flexibly including the ability to use available resources
- Deal with conflict
- Work with others and display empathy with clients and relatives
- Use reading and writing skills-literacy competence required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation. The level of skill required involves reading and documenting clinical information and understanding complex policy and procedure manuals
- Use oral communication skills-language competence required to fulfil job roles in a safe manner and as specified by the organisation. Assessors should look for skills in asking questions, providing clear information, listening to and understanding workplace instructions, and clarifying workplace instructions when necessary. Effective verbal and non verbal communication skills with a range of internal and external persons are essential. Organisation may require competence in English or a community language, depending on client group
- Use numeracy skills ranging from the ability to complete basic arithmetic calculations, recording stock levels and statistical information
- Communicate with people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds
- Apply confidentiality requirements in relation to client information
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Range Statement
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Communication methods may include:
- Visual
- Headsets
- Intercom
- Sound powered telephone
Occupants may include:
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Clients
- Technicians
Documentation may include:
- Treatment tables
- Databases
- Time record sheets
- Standard operating procedures
Treatment tables must include:
- Decompression tables (as per AS/NZ 2299 )
- Hospital treatment tables
Initiation of stop dive routine may include:
- Malfunction of equipment
- Safety of occupants
Methods of administration of oxygen may include:
- Hoods
- Built In Breathing System
Gas levels must include:
Occupants needs may include:
- Sanitation needs
- Medications
- Reading material
- Food and fluids
Breathing gases may include:
- Oxygen
- Air
- Gas mixtures eg oxygen/helium
Maintenance of chamber environment may include:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Oxygen percentage levels
Equipment may include
- Medications
- Client records
- Food/fluids
- Blankets
- Built In Breathing Systems/hoods
- Sanitary needs
Transfer of personnel may include:
- Nurses
- Doctors
- Client
- Technicians
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Evidence Guide
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate this competency unit:
- The assessee must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
- Where, for reasons of safety, space, or access to equipment and resources, assessment takes place away from the workplace, the assessment environment should represent workplace conditions as closely as possible
- Consistency of performance should be demonstrated over the required range of situations relevant to the workplace:
- Compliance with industry standards and guidelines
- Compliance with organisation policies and procedures including those of OHS and infection control
- Demonstration of the ability to safely operate the hyperbaric chamber
- Identification and the correct response to contraindications for compression during compression
- Identification of the steps that must be taken to ensure that equipment and environment is safe
- Identification and the correct response to emergency situations
Context of and specific resources for assessment:
- Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements
- Relevant organisation policy, guidelines, procedures and protocols
Method of assessment:
- Clinical skills involving direct client care are to be assessed initially in a simulated clinical setting (laboratory). If successful, a second assessment is to be conducted during workplace application under direct supervision
- Observation of work activities when operating multi-place hyperbaric chamber
- Observation of simulation and/or role play when operating multi-place hyperbaric chamber
- Discussion of physical and/or behavioural contingency scenarios involving duty of care
- Authenticated transcripts of relevant education/training courses
- Recognition of relevant life/work experience
- Questioning, written assessments/projects, elearning can be used to assess knowledge
- Authenticated reports of experience in a operating multi-place hyperbaric chamber (Documentation associated with performance reviews, supervisor/coordinator evaluations of work performance)
- Training records associated with First Aid, OH Safety training, Orientation/Induction Training, Safe Manual Handing, Universal infection control procedures
- Case study and scenario as a basis for discussion of issues and strategies to contribute to best practice
Access and equity considerations:
- All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
- All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
- In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities
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