Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to conduct an initial assessment on receipt of a call, when enroute and/or at the incident and to then take action to maintain public safety, preserve scene and record details and information on arrival at the scene of an accident or incident.

The unit is applicable personnel who are the first to arrive at the scene of an accident or incident. It applies to public safety personnel at an incident who need to understand the importance of maintaining the legal integrity of a scene.

The fire sector is those sections of government departments, statutory authorities or organisations that have responsibility under jurisdictional arrangements for the delivery of firefighting and fire management services.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

Not applicable.

Fire

Fire

ELEMENTS 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1  

Secure and preserve scene 

1.1 

Participation in initial assessment when enroute and at the incident is undertaken to identify factors which will impact on public safety and scene preservation

1.2 

Incident and/or accident site is secured to preserve the scene, identify evidence and area of origin and to maintain public safety, in accordance with legislative requirements

2 

Record and report details of incident scene 

2.1 

Details of the scene are noted, recorded and reported, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures

2.2 

Witness details and information volunteered is recorded, in accordance with organisational and legislative requirements

2.3 

Information is communicated to relevant personnel, in line with organisation's procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

types of incident scene must include one or more of the following

• aircraft
• animal incident
• crime scene
• explosions
• hazardous materials
• incident involving death or injury to person or damage to property
• industrial/mining accident
• marine
• natural disaster
• search for missing persons or evidence
• structure fire
• train
• urban scene
• vehicle accident
• vehicle fire
• wildfire

This unit replaces and is equivalent to PUALAW001B Protect and preserve incident scene.

Release 1.  This is the first release of this unit of competency in the PUA Public Safety Training Package.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions on at least one occasion and includes

• applying questioning skills to gain accurate information
• applying Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements
• communicating information and liaising with all stakeholders
• conducting assessment enroute and at the incident scene
• implementing organisational policies and procedures
• observing scene and surrounding environment
• recording and reporting details of incident scene in accordance with organisational requirements
• securing and preserving scene, evidence and area or origin
• securing scene including removing non-emergency personnel from scene, isolating scene and erecting barriers
• taking notes accurately

Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy all the requirements of the elements, performance criteria and range of conditions and includes knowledge of

• factors impacting on public safety and scene preservation including those that could impact on safety of investigators, response team, security and/or preservation of actual site, security and preservation of situational evidence and traffic
• factors that may impact security of scene including topography, climatic conditions, human interference, animal interference, preservation of life/property, structural integrity and availability of personnel
• methods of securing scene
• organisational and legislative requirements
• organisational documentation, policies and procedures
• organisational procedures relative to scene preservation, collecting information and taking witness details
• tactical factors affecting quality of investigation including environmental circumstances, chronology of events, access to scene, number of persons at scene, availability of support services and boundaries
• types of incident scenes
• witness details including name, contact details and other details are recorded, in accordance with organisational policies, procedures and legislative requirements
• Work, Health and Safety (WHS)/Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) organisational requirements including risk mitigation

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

As a minimum, assessment must satisfy applicable regulatory requirements, which include requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations current at the time of assessment.

Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.

Assessment must occur in workplace operational situations. Where this is not appropriate, assessment must occur in industry approved simulated workplace operational situations that reflect workplace conditions.

Resources for assessment must include access to

• a range of relevant exercises, case studies and/or simulations
• relevant and appropriate materials, equipment, tools and personal protective clothing and equipment currently used in industry
• applicable documentation including organisational procedures, industry standards, equipment specifications, regulations, codes of practice and operation manuals.