Description

Pre-Requisites

Application of Unit

Performance Criteria

1. Assess level of severity.
1.1 Recognise an incident has occurred or is about to occur.
1.2 Access hazard information as appropriate.
1.3 Assess frequency, duration, actual and potential outcome.
1.4 Evaluate and communicate in a timely and appropriate manner the location, nature and extent of the emergency.

2. Undertake routine response to minimise affect of the emergency.
2.1 Determine first response requirements to contain the emergency or evacuate the affected areas.
2.2 Select the appropriate response from the emergency procedures and equipment.
2.3 Apply emergency procedures as appropriate.
2.4 Clear and secure the emergency area.
2.5 Safely locate, access and operate emergency response equipment.

3. Notify responsible authorities.
3.1 Follow emergency reporting procedures.
3.2 Identify appropriate authorities and notify.
3.3 Clearly and unambiguously communicate information concerning the emergency in a timely manner.

4. Undertake safe evacuation.
4.1 Evacuate the area in a safe and controlled manner when first response has failed to control the emergency or has proven inappropriate.
4.2 Secure the immediate area of the emergency to ensure no further loss occurs to people, equipment, materials, process and environment.

Range Statement

Context
This competency covers all emerging incidents except for fire.

Procedures
All operations are performed in accordance with procedures.

Procedures include all relevant workplace procedures, work instructions, temporary instructions and relevant industry and government codes and standards.

All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent health, safety and environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between Performance Criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

Tools and equipment

This competency includes use of equipment and tools such as:

• personal protective equipment such as breathing apparatus
• emergency response equipment such as hand held extinguishers, hose reels, fire blankets
• evacuation equipment
• survival equipment
• standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• external personnel such as:
  - police
  - fire brigade
  - ambulance.

Hazards

Typical hazards include:

• chemicals and hazardous materials
• gases and liquids under pressure
• moving machinery
• materials handling
• working at heights, in restricted or confined spaces, or environments subjected to heat, noise, dusts or vapours.

Problems

'Respond to routine problems' means 'apply known solutions to a limited range of predictable problems'.

Typical process and product problems may include:

• accidents
• chemical or oil spills
• gas leak or vapour emission
• utilities failure
• bomb scares.

Personnel

Appropriate personnel for OHS referrals may include:

• employer
• supervisor
• employees elected as emergency team leader
• other personnel with emergency team leader responsibilities.

OHS Issues

OHS issues which may need to be raised by workers with designated personnel may include:

• recognition of different types of emergencies
• problems encountered in control measures and implementation
• observation on injury and/or incident occurred in the workplace.

Required Functions

Required functions include:

• containment of incident, eg chemical/oil spill or gas/vapour leak
• communication with internal and external personnel.

Evidence Guide

Overview of assessment

The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which will include disruptions to normal, smooth operation.

Assessment will occur with simulated industrial incidents and will be undertaken in a work-like environment.

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

It is essential that competence is demonstrated in the knowledge and skills defined in this unit. These may include the ability to:

• recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action
• implement the appropriate corrective action.

The reasoning process behind the problem analysis and determining the required actions should be assessed. The emphasis should be on the ability to minimise the affect of an emergency situation.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. For example, look to see that:

• emergency situations are recognised and communicated promptly
• action is taken to ensure that the effects of the emergency situation are controlled promptly
• potential to involve others in the emergency is recognised and appropriately communicated
• emergency procedures are understood and followed.

These aspects may be best assessed using a range of scenarios/case studies and 'what ifs' as the stimulus with a walk through forming part of the response. These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and extreme situations that may have been generated from the past incident history of the workplace, incidents on similar plants around the world, hazard analysis activities (eg HAZOP) and similar sources.

Assessment method and context

Assessment for this unit will be on a processing plant or in a manufacturing environment.

Simulation may be required to allow for timely assessment of parts of this unit of competency. Simulation should be based on the actual workplace and will include walk throughs of the relevant competency components. Simulations may also include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.

This unit requires a body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of 'what if' scenarios both in the workplace (during demonstration of normal operations and walk throughs of abnormal operations) and off the job.

In all cases it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant teamwork and communication units.

In a major hazard facility, it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with:

• PMPOHS200 Participate in workplace safety procedures
• PMASUP220 Monitor and control environmental hazards.

Specific resources for assessment

Assessment will require access to an operating plant or manufacturing environment over an extended period of time, or a suitable method of gathering evidence of operating ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Required skills

This unit requires the ability to respond to data and information indicating an incident.

Writing is required to the level of completing required workplace forms and reports.

Numeracy is required to the level of interpreting and reporting relevant data.

Required knowledge

Knowledge and understanding of the emergency response procedures and equipment, sufficient to recognise standard and non-standard situations and then determine the appropriate action which is consistent with operating guidelines.

Knowledge of the relevant OHS and environmental requirements, and organisation standard operating procedures is required along with an ability to implement them in a manner that is relevant to emergency response practices.

Competence includes the ability to apply and explain procedures for:

• identifying hazard and emergency signs and labels
• evacuation of different areas
• operating various pieces of emergency response equipment
• communicating details of an emergency situation clearly.

Evidence of knowledge of all relevant workplace procedures will include:

• principles of operation of the emergency response equipment
• hazards policies and procedures
• emergency, fire and accident procedures
• procedures for the use of personal protective clothing and equipment
• organisation standard operating procedures (SOPs).