Description

This unit covers the competency required to implement workplace emergency prevention procedures within a workplace or a defined group of workplaces.

The person undertaking this work may be supervising some people in the workplace.

This unit:

• has been developed to cover the broad range of emergencies and workplaces as considered in Australian Standard 3745—2002
• is part of a suite of eleven workplace emergency response units of competency that has three streams
• is part of the prevention stream

Unit Sector

Prevention

Pre-Requisites

Nil

Performance Criteria

1. Ensure workplace emergency prevention processes are implemented
1.1 Workplace emergency prevention inspections are carried out according to workplace procedures, safe practices and workplace emergency management plan
1.2 Situations that could lead to workplace emergencies are identified, mitigated or corrected, and recorded or reported according to workplace procedures
1.3 Processes are reviewed and reported according to workplace procedures

2. Ensure appropriate hazard analysis is undertaken and results are implemented
2.1 Workplace procedures are implemented to ensure that an emergency prevention hazard analysis in the area is routinely undertaken
2.2 Personnel are designated to implement the processes according to the hazard analysis
2.3 Workplace procedures are implemented to ensure personnel comply with identified emergency prevention processes

3.1 Workplace procedures are implemented to ensure work practices do not interfere with the area’s emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems
3.2 Workplace procedures are implemented to ensure problems or deficiencies with area emergency protection systems, emergency control equipment and evacuation systems are corrected and reported according to workplace procedures

Key Competencies

• Collect, Analyse & Organise Information
• Communicate Ideas & Information
• Plan & Organise Activities
• Work with Others & in Teams
• Use Mathematical
• Ideas & Techniques
• Solve Problems
• Use Technology

Range Statement

Emergencies must include those emergencies identified by the workplace hazard analysis, which may include:

•  Animal or livestock emergencies
• Bomb threat
• Building invasion/armed invasion
• Chemical, biological and radiological
• Civil disorder
• Criminal acts
• Cyclones, including storm surge
• Deliberate self-harm
• Earthquake
• Failure of utilities
• Fire
• Flood
• Hazardous substances incidents
• Hostage situations
• Industrial accident
• Letter bomb
• Medical emergency
• Severe weather/storm damage
• Structural instability
• Terrorism
• Transport accident
• Toxic emission
• Veterinary emergencies
• Wildfire

Workplaces include:

• Workplaces, buildings and structures as outlined in Australian Standard 3745—2002

Workplace emergency prevention processes may include:

• Audits
• Inspections
• Records that indicate equipment and systems operate within acceptable safety limits
• Training logs and records
• Visual checks

Situations that could lead to workplace emergencies may include:

• Deficient or ineffective security arrangements
• Failure to follow safe practices
• Fire/smoke hazards
• Poor housekeeping
• Unreported faults
• Unsafe practices
• Unsafe storage and handling of dangerous goods and hazardous materials
• Unsafe use of electrical or mechanical equipment

Hazard analysis is:

• Assessed either subjectively (non-quantitatively) or numerically
• Ongoing and dynamic
• Part of an emergency risk management process
• The process of determining the degree of threat that is posed by one or more hazards to one or more resources, or the product of that process

Emergency protection systems may include:

• Automatic fire/leak/spill/movement detectors
• Communications equipment
• CCTV
• Fire/smoke doors
• Manual alarms
• Security infrastructure
• Special hazard identification systems
• Spill/leak containment systems (sprinkler and deluge systems
• Warning systems

Emergency control equipment may include:

• Communications equipment
• Escape equipment
• Fire/smoke detection, alarm, mitigation and suppression systems
• First-aid kits
• Forcible entry tools
• Initial response firefighting equipment
• Isolation barriers
• Personal protection kits
• Shower and eyewash
• Spill control kits/equipment

Evacuation systems include:

• Access, egress
• Exits
• Procedures

Evidence Guide

Critical aspects of evidence

• Assessment must confirm the ability to identify workplace emergency prevention procedures and to ensure  these procedures are routinely implemented

Underpinning knowledge

• Basic types, principles of operation and limitations of emergency prevention and protection systems and emergency control equipment typically installed in the workplace
• Hazard analysis processes
• Reporting procedures
• Workplace procedures to rectify problems

Underpinning skills

• Communicate
• Delegate
• Leadership
• Organising

Resource implications

• Access to:
  • scenarios that reflect a range of emergency situations that may be expected in the workplace
  • relevant workplace hazard analysis results

Consistency in performance

• Competency should be demonstrated over time with a range of emergencies that could be expected in the workplace
• Context of assessment Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace