Description

This unit covers the competency required to manage the workplace emergency initial response teams assigned to control workplace emergencies in their early stages prior to the arrival of emergency services or specialist response teams.

Depending on the size and structure of the workplace, management may involve more than one workplace emergency initial response team over more than one physical location as specified in the emergency management plan.

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

Unit Sector

Initial response

Pre-Requisites

Nil

Performance Criteria

1. Establish and maintain initial response teams
1.1 Role, authority, structure and scope of the team are negotiated with the management of the workplace and are clearly defined and documented in the workplace emergency procedures
1.2 An appropriate and effective system for alerting initial response team members to an emergency is developed, demonstrated to members and regularly tested
1.3 An appropriate business plan and budget are developed and maintained for the initial response team
1.4 Workplace emergency systems and procedures are audited for compliance

2. Provide appropriate information and procedures
2.1 Risk assessment relevant to the expected activities of the initial response team is conducted at intervals relevant to the levels of risk
2.2 Possible hazards are identified, and appropriate controls for those hazards are developed and implemented
2.3 Relevant, current information is provided to the initial response team about its role, authority, structure, scope, equipment, training
2.4 Workplace emergency procedures are developed, provided to appropriate people and regularly reviewed
2.5 Pre-incident planning information about the current layout of the workplace and key features relevant to emergencies is provided to the initial response team in an accessible form
2.6 Members of the initial response team and emergency control organisation are consulted and encouraged to participate in the development and review of relevant workplace emergency procedures

3. Make recommendations for the provision of appropriate emergency equipment and manage its maintenance
3.1 Recommendations are made for the acquisition of emergency equipment appropriate to the role and scope of the initial response team
3.2 Safe operating procedures, based on risk assessment and manufacturers’ instructions, are developed and
communicated to initial response team
3.3 Appropriate arrangements are made for the storage of emergency equipment in a location that is safe, convenient and readily accessible to initial response team
3.4 Appropriate arrangements are made to ensure emergency equipment is maintained in an accessible and serviceable condition, according to relevant standards and/or the manufacturers’ instructions
3.5 Appropriate personal protective equipment, and information about its characteristics, limitations, safe use and care, are provided to each member of the initial response team

4. Arrange appropriate training for the initial response teams
4.1 Training and assessment is arranged before a person is assigned initial response duties
4.2 Training is arranged according to the needs analysis to ensure currency of competence and where the duties or risks within the workplace change
4.3 Arrangements are made for the effective scheduling, promoting, reporting and recording of training
4.4 Feedback on performance during training is used to validate and improve the training

5. Monitor and report on effectiveness of the initial response teams
5.1 Initial response team is regularly audited and reviewed for relevance and ability of the workplace to implement the system
5.2 Status of the initial response team and emergency control system is reported to management on a regular basis

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

Emergency services or specialist response teams may include

• Ambulance/medical services
• Coast guard
• Defence workplace response teams
• Fire services
• Organisational specialist response team
• Police services
• Relevant state/territory and commonwealth authorities (such as environmental protection)
• Rescue services
• Organisations identified as response or support agencies as defined in the appropriate state/territory and/or commonwealth legislation
• Other external agencies such as hazmat teams, bomb squads, animal rescue services

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

• Animal and 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

Systems for alerting initial response team members may include

• Computer screen alert
• Emergency warning system
• Fire alarm system
• Radio, telephone or pager system
• Hazards may be Chemical, biological, radiological
• Climatic
• Electrical
• Environmental
• Explosive
• Fire
• Mechanical
• Psychological (eg critical incident stress)
• Noise related
• Security related
• Storm/flood
• Structural
• Thermal
• Wildlife related

Pre-incident planning may include

• Contingency plans, sketches or notes about workplace layout, features, hazards and emergency control facilities
• Discussions and/or use of operational procedures involving emergency plans, sketches, notes, procedures or material safety data sheets

Emergency equipment may include

• Emergency vehicles, trailers, trolleys or caches
• Fire protection equipment
• Forcible entry tools
• Life support equipment
• Monitors (or turrets)
• Personal protective clothing and equipment
• Rescue equipment
• Spill or leak control kits

Management may include

• Board chairperson
• Board of directors
• Chief executive officer
• Executive officer/director
• General manager

Evidence Guide

Critical aspects of evidence

• Assessment must confirm the ability to conduct a risk assessment; to identify hazards; to implement controls effectively; and to audit all processes. There should also be clear evidence of a systematic approach to managing the workplace emergency initial response team

Underpinning knowledge

• Appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment
• Audit management systems
• Emergency warning systems
• Equipment operating characteristics, limitations, hazards, precautions, procedures and general care
• General emergency priorities and strategies
• Hazards and relevant precautions
• How people react in emergency situations
• Maintenance management systems
• Situational awareness
• Statutory and legislative requirements
• Tactics for safely handling specific emergencies
• Training management systems
• Workplace emergency management plan

Underpinning skills

• Assess resources needed by workplace emergency initial response teams
• Communicate and consult effectively with a range of agencies, professions and advisers
• Conduct meetings
• Deal with conflict
• Develop procedures
• Leadership
• Manage and conduct risk assessments/analysis
• Negotiation
• Plan and promote training
• Relate to a range of people from a range of cultural, linguistic, social and ethnic backgrounds, and a range of physical and intellectual abilities
• Select team members
• Write reports for a range of audiences including senior management and external agencies

Resource implications

• Access is required to scenarios that reflect a range of emergency situations that may be expected in the workplace

Consistency in performance

• Competency should be demonstrated over time with a range of emergencies and workplace emergency team management issues that could be expected in the workplace

Context of assessment

• Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace