Assessor Resource

PUAFIR608A
Investigate fatal fires

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Application of this unit is relevant to specialist fire investigators who are required to apply a systematic approach to the investigation of a fatality/ies at a fire scene.

This unit covers the competency required to undertake an investigation of a fire involving a fatality/ies.

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

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

PUAFIR605A Determine origin and cause of mobile property fire (Fire sector specific)

PUAFIR609A Collect, record and coordinate the analysis of physical evidence (Fire sector specific)

And either

PUAFIR603A Determine origin and cause of wildfire (Fire sector specific)

OR

PUAFIR604A Determine origin and cause of structure fire (Fire sector specific)

Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.



Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

apply a systematic approach to the investigation of fatal fires based on scientific method

apply relevant laws, legislation, codes of practice and standards in fire investigation and court procedures

interpret findings of forensic data and physical evidence analyses

conduct interviews and accurately record information.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time and across a range of workplace and/or simulated situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace and in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

legislation, policy, procedures and protocols relating to gathering and managing evidence

case studies and workplace scenarios to capture the range of fire fatalities likely to occur for which evidence needs to be gathered and managed.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this unit may include a combination of:

case studies

demonstration

observation

questioning

scenarios

authenticated evidence from the workplace.

Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)

Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

Required Skills

accurately record information

interview potential witnesses (members of the public, emergency services personnel, members of statutory agencies, property owners/occupants)

prepare reports

take notes to support research and court preparation

Required Knowledge

agency and legal requirements for writing and presenting reports

common causes of fire (accidental, chemical, deliberate, electrical, incendiary, natural, negligence)

effects of fire on the human body

evidence collection (admissibility, body bags, collection, continuity, identification, packaging, sampling techniques)

functional responsibilities and authorities

memorandums of understanding

note taking procedures and processes

OHS regulations

other regulators

processes and outcomes of post mortems and coronial inquests

relevant legislation such as the Fire Service Act, Coroner’s Act, and Criminal Code and Evidence Act

relevant Australian Standards and international standards such as those that relate to clothing design, fabric, flammability

rules of evidence including identification, collection and continuity, and admissibility

safe work practices involving biological hazards

standard disaster victim identification procedures

standard operating procedures for conducting investigations

The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Effect of heat range fire on human remains may include:

Carboxyhemoglobin

Common injuries (pre and post fire)

Degrees of burns

Effects of products of combustion

Origin and cause determination may include:

Identification of ignition sources

Scene interpretation

Scene processing

Recording observations may include:

Audio

Computers

Notes

Photography (digital, multimedia, CCTV [closed circuit television], other media images)

Sketches and plans

Video

Occupational health and safety procedures include:

Biological hazards

Safe work practices and procedures

Safety equipment and clothing

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Presence of human remains is identified and confirmed at the scene and processed in accordance with coronial/agency requirements 
Appropriate notifications (to coronial services, police etc.) are made in accordance with statutory and agency procedures 
Effect of heat range fire on human remains is assessed 
Visible burn patterns and injuries on human remains are identified, assessed and documented 
Origin and cause determination options are assessed 
Human factors that may have prevented occupant/s escaping from the fire and products of combustion are examined 
Structural factors that may have impeded occupant egress from the structure are analysed 
Effectiveness and operation of early warning detection and suppression systems are assessed 
Observations regarding deceased’s clothing are made and recorded 
Observations of human behaviour before, during and after the fire are recorded 
Occupational health and safety(OHS)procedures for removal of human remains are implemented 
Disaster victim identification procedures are implemented as required 
Methods of protecting human remains prior to removal from a fire scene are implemented 
Methods to ensure all human remains are collected from a fire scene are implemented 
Consequential damage to human remains is recorded and reported to the appropriate authority 
Human remains collected from a fire scene arerecorded according to agency procedures 
Appropriate techniques to minimise evidence deterioration are followed 
Appropriate techniques and equipment are used for scene analysis, reconstruction and testing of hypothesis 
Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities/stakeholders 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUAFIR608A - Investigate fatal fires
Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

PUAFIR608A - Investigate fatal fires

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: