Unit Sector

Pre-Requisites

Nil

Performance Criteria

1.  Identify nature of emergency
1.1 Identify details of the nature, type and severity of the emergency including existing and potential hazards and report to appropriate person

2.  Respond to emergency 
2.1 Identify potential risks and hazards and incorporate into emergency response action
2.2 Follow emergency response procedures in accordance with company requirements and relevant legislation
2.3 Communicate full details of emergency to all relevant parties
2.4 Use emergency and personal protective equipment safely and efficiently in accordance with manufacturers' specifications and company OHS requirements
2.5 Contain and isolate emergency situation, where possible, to minimise danger to surrounding equipment, area, environment, other personnel and general public
2.6 Avoid risks to personnel and follow evacuation procedures in accordance with company requirements
2.7 Take all necessary actions to protect company interests in accordance with company requirements and relevant legislation 

3.  Review emergency response
3.1 Monitor and evaluate emergency response actions continuously and make modifications to response actions, where appropriate, to reduce the impact of the emergency
3.2 Exercise control of emergency situation until formal relief is notified or received, in accordance with company requirements, OHS and relevant legislation 

4.  Assist with clean-up
4.1 Conduct clean-up to remove waste, contamination, equipment and hazards from the emergency site, in accordance with company, legislative and OHS requirements

5.  Document and report emergency 
5.1 Document and report full details of emergency situation and response actions in accordance with company requirements and relevant legislation

Range Statement

Appropriate person includes:

• client, supervisor and team member

Clean-up includes:

• removal of plant/equipment/vehicle from site, removal/disposal of contaminated soil/liquid, shovelling, sweeping out, use of cleaning products/fluids, use of high pressure water or air-hosing and vacuuming 

Client/company includes:

• all forms of business enterprises in this context including government agencies, local governments/councils, private and public companies, and residents/ratepayers.

Containment and isolation may include:

• bund area
• erect barricades
• move vehicle or equipment away from hazardous area
• seal leaks
• transfer waste
• turn off electricity and gas
• use fire extinguisher
• water-hosing

Documentation includes but is not limited to:

• authorities notified
• cause or suspected cause of emergency
• damage incurred (including to personnel, vehicle, equipment and general public)
• emergency and personal protective equipment used
• emergency response procedures undertaken
• nature of clean-up
• nature, type, source and severity of emergency
• recommendations for preventing future emergencies
• regulatory authority documents

Emergency may include:

• chemical reaction, contamination, fire, gas leak, hazardous waste spill, powerlines and vehicle accident

Emergency and personal protective equipment must include:

• emergency procedure guides
• face shield/mask
• hard hat
• hearing protection
• material safety data sheets (MSDS)
• spill kit 

Emergency response/action procedures include but are not limited to:

• clean up
• contain emergency
• equipment/plant isolation and shut-down
• evacuation
• First Aid
• make safe
• notification of authorities
• use of appropriate personal protective equipment

Evacuation procedures:

• can be found in company requirements, emergency procedures manual and relevant legislation (including occupational health and safety)

Manufacturers' specifications:

• are found in equipment specifications and operator manuals 

Performance of this unit is carried out in accordance with relevant requirements of the following:

• Australian Standards
• environmental regulations
• legislative requirements
• manufacturers' specifications
• OHS procedures
• organisational procedures
• relevant state/territory regulations

Personal protective equipment required:

• will be cleaned/maintained, stored, worn/fitted in accordance with equipment specifications, company requirements, manufacturers' specifications, and occupational health and safety and other legislation

Potential risks and hazards:

• are those risks and hazards identified by the organisation that could lead to injury or illness of employees, contractors, visitors or the public; damage to plant, vehicles or property; or that could cause harm to the environment
• This relates to on-site and off-site activities (whether company owned or occupied premises, customer/client premises or public property) over which it could be expected the organisation had control 

Protection of company interests may include:

• collecting details from witnesses, not admitting liability and not talking to media

Regulated waste identification signage requirements may include:

• classification of dangerous goods
• communications equipment
• First Aid
• hazardous class
• HAZCHEM codes
• packaging group number

Relevant legislation and codes cover state and federal:

• Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail
• duty of care
• industry codes of conduct
• occupational health and safety
• Australian Standards
• environmental protection legislation

Relevant parties include: 

• emergency services, other affected parties, relevant company personnel and relevant environmental protection agency

Safe operating procedures include:

• any activity or operation conducted on site to ensure health and safety of personnel/equipment in the area

Evidence Guide

Critical aspects of competency:

• Identification and communication of nature and details of emergency.
• Following emergency procedures.
• Implementation of correct emergency response.
• Review and modification of emergency response.
• Documentation of emergency situation and response actions in standardised report template (in accordance with company requirements).

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria:

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below.

• HAZCHEM identification systems.
• Waste types and implications in an emergency situation.
• Standard emergency response procedures.
• Basic First Aid appropriate to likely risks and hazards in work environment.
• Methods of containment and isolation of emergencies.
• Confined space procedure.
• Occupational health and safety requirements.
• Duty of care provision of services.
• Relevant industry standards.
• Relevant legislation.
• Relevant industry standards.
• Relevant environmental regulations.
• Emergency procedures.
• OHS hierarchy of control.
• Location of alarms.
• Location of emergency equipment.
• Identification of areas.
• Location of communication equipment.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria 

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These are:

• oral communication skills including questioning, listening, following instructions, giving information, signalling, directing traffic
• written communication skills
• identifying regulated waste types
• following emergency procedure guidelines
• using emergency equipment (including fire extinguisher and spill kit)
• area isolation (including bunding and erecting barriers)
• using personal protective equipment (including breathing apparatus)
• clear thinking and working under pressure
• using communications equipment (two-way radio and mobile phone)
• problem-solving
• following MSDS
• safe and efficient work practices

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit 

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function, for example:

• PRMCMN201A Participate in workplace safety arrangements
• PRMCMN301A Contribute to workplace safety arrangements
• BSBCMN215B Participate in environmental work practices 

Resources required to assess this unit  The following resources should be available:

• range of emergency situations
• case studies
• role-play
• emergency equipment and personal protective equipment
• standard emergency procedures
• site safety plan
• MSDS
• OHS requirements

Gaining evidence to assess this unit 

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment). The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations, which may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

Evidence of competency is best obtained by observing activities in the response to a waste emergency in a variety of waste environments. If this is not practicable, observations in realistic simulated environments may be substituted.
 
 

Consistency in performance 

Assessment requires that the plan meets the objectives of the client and that it complies with industry expectations in the particular client environment. If the environment is narrowly defined or is not representative of industry needs, it may be necessary to use simulated emergencies with a variety of waste characteristics to assess competency in waste emergency response.

Oral questioning or written assessment and hypothetical situations (scenarios) may be used to assess underpinning knowledge. (In assessment situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral questioning and written audit, questions are to be identical.)

Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence from existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

Note: All practical demonstrations must adhere to the safety and environmental regulations relevant to each state or territory.