Assessor Resource

PUASAR020A
Develop a canine search team for USAR incidents

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


This unit applies to people actively involved in and/or training as a canine search specialist for USAR incidents and disaster operations.

This unit covers the competency required to prepare a canine search team to search for and locate people concealed in a structural collapse, and to manage the canine during the search.

The types of incidents that may require the skills and knowledge of an urban search and rescue (USAR) canine search team working as a member of a USAR task force include earthquake, terrorist incident, aircraft crash, disaster or major structural collapse.

A canine search team consists of one disaster search canine and one canine search specialist.

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

PUASAR018A Select and maintain canines to be part of a canine search team for USAR incidentsPUASAR019A Train canines to work in a USAR environmentPUASAR023A Participate in an urban search and rescue Category 1

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.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

construct direction and control course as per the requirements of the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

follow the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

implement USAR canine search methods and techniques

conduct a search of one search area

handle a canine to maintain control and prevent accidents or injury to self and/or other/s including members of the public

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time under a range of conditions that would be expected in the workplace.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a controlled, simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

facilities as outlined in the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

canines training to work in a USAR environment

two assessors

Method of assessment

In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.

Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment according to the workplace environment.

Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:

direct observation

interviewing the candidate

journals and workplace documentation

third party reports from supervisors

written or oral questions

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.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills

adjust handling strategies in response to changing environments

adjust search strategies in response to changing environments

carry out and interpret verbal instructions

collect, analyse and organise information to develop an effective search strategy

control a canine off lead including in public locations

demonstrate appropriate commands when handling a canine

handle a canine to maintain control and prevent accidents or injury to self and/or other/s including members of the public

interpret the actions and indications given by a canine

make sound decisions in rapidly changing and often high risk environments

maintain physical fitness

manage time and priorities in response to changing environments

work with other canine search teams

Required Knowledge

alert behaviours of canines and their causes such as the bark alert (spontaneous repetitive barking for twenty seconds barking, which may be interspersed with digging and attempts to penetrate)

Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

canine olfactory system

capabilities of canines working within USAR operations

canine behaviour

canine physiology

canine psychology

factors used to determine appropriate search strategies

organisational occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation as it applies to USAR

organisational task force policies and procedures

principles of canine training including control, association, repetition, commands, rewards, correction and positive motivational methodologies

principles of training a canine for obedience and agility

risk analysis

safe working systems to reduce canine related incidents

scent theory and its application to the USAR environment such as commitment to live human scent (very good penetration drive, being committed to the scent, not leaving victim location)

USAR canine search methods and techniques

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.

Basic obedience must include:

about turn

change of pace (normal pace, fast pace, slow pace)

drop

halt

heel off/on lead

left turn

right turn

sit

Emergency stop must include:

canine responding quickly upon the stop command from the canine search specialist, slowing to a stop position

position in which canine stops after being given the emergency stop command is suggested to be the down position

Recall must include:

canine quickly returning to canine search specialist and sitting in front of canine search specialist until released

Distractions may include:

banging pot lids

clapping hands

noises such as talking

walking past in front or behind canine

Agility course must include:

climbing

elevated plank

tunnel

unpleasant surface

unstable surface

and must be constructed as per the requirements of the Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline (canine search specialist can remain in close proximity to canine but must not go in front of canine)

Required timeframe includes completing:

agility course within five minutes

alert exercise within two minutes from release of canine to the commencement of the bark alert

canine direction and control course within five minutes

simulated search within 20 minutes

Controlled, safe and appropriate manner may include:

canine search team being confident, calm and methodical

canine working off lead

managing canine in unsafe and high risk environments

working in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and guidelines

Elevation is defined in:

Australian Urban Search and Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

Distance is defined as:

between 20 and 25 metres

Commitment to live human scent includes:

commitment to the scent

not leaving victim location

very good penetration drive

Directions may include:

back

centre/Middle

forward

left

right

Bark alert includes:

spontaneous repetitive barking for twenty seconds, which may be interspersed with digging and attempts to penetrate

Interviews must include questions that determine:

definition of search area

time of the structural collapse

type of occupancy of the structure (school, office, apartment, building, etc.)

number of suspected missing

if structure has been searched before

if structural engineer has checked the building and findings

if structure is safe to enter

if blueprints are available

if HAZMAT has checked the area and findings

if utilities have been isolated, how and by whom

if heavy rescue is available

if medical is available

if a veterinarian is available

Site assessment techniques may include:

identifying any exclusion zones

identifying hazards

incident action plan

prevailing wind and weather conditions

results of initial reconnaissance

Search strategy must include:

delineation of primary and secondary search areas based on:

information gathered from interview/s

site assessment

Canine actions, indications and characteristics must include:

ability to handle any distractions that may occur

ability to work scent cones

canine does not avoid obstacles

canine identifies live human scent with a bark alert

canine searches independently of canine search specialist

canine traverses all surfaces efficiently

canine covers search site as directed

high levels of search drive/eagerness/willingness to work

Canine actions indications and characteristics may include:

false alert

passive alert behaviours

Assistance may include:

assisting canine to traverse difficult obstacles

guiding canine

helping canine onto unstable elevated surfaces

intervening to prevent accident or injury to canine

providing motivation and support where necessary, however during an alert, support and motivation can only be provided after the canine has initiated the bark alert

stopping and restarting the search

taking appropriate breaks, rest and water

Appropriate canine care may include:

checking condition of feet pads

fatigue management

irrigating canine's eyes to remove dust

treatment as required

watering of canine as required

Legislation, policy and guidelines may include:

Australian Standards

Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline

guidance notes

national codes of practice

organisational policies and procedures

state/territory and federal animal welfare legislation

state/territory occupational health, safety and welfare legislation and regulations

Post-search examination must include:

examining:

ears

eyes

legs

mouth

nails and bones of the foot of the canine

pads

toes

webbing between toes

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
Basic obedience is demonstrated by canine and canine search specialist while canine is heeling off lead. 
Emergency stop with recall is performed by canine and canine search specialist. 
At the direction of the canine search specialist, a down stay is performed by canine while under distraction. 
Canine tasks are performed without demonstrating aggressive behaviour towards people. 
Canine tasks are performed without demonstrating aggressive behaviour towards other animals. 
Under canine search specialist's direction, agility course is completed by canine within required timeframe. 
Under canine search specialist's direction, turn on an elevated plank is performed by canine. 
Agility course is negotiated by canine and canine search specialist in a controlled, safe and appropriate manner. 
Canine is directed to required elevation, direction commands are followed by canine and elevation is jumped on by canine as directed by canine search specialist. 
Elevation is sustained by canine for a minimum of five seconds and until directed by canine search specialist. 
Direction and control course is negotiated by canine and canine search specialist within required timeframe. 
Ability to work at a distance from canine search specialist is demonstrated by canine. 
Location of and commitment to live human scent is demonstrated by canine. 
Alert exercise is undertaken by canine and canine search specialist within required timeframe and location of live human scent is correctly indicated by canine with a bark alert. 
Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline is followed. 
Interviews and site assessment are conducted to establish an appropriate search strategy. 
Canine is deployed off lead and appropriate actions, indications and characteristics are used to ensure search area is covered effectively. 
Control of canine is maintained at all times and assistance is provided where appropriate. 
Adjustments are made to search strategy where appropriate in accordance with any changes in environmental conditions, search progress, any other relevant information that becomes available and current rescue work being undertaken. 
Location of live human scent is correctly indicated by canine with a bark alert during a search on a simulated collapse site. 
Canine actions, indications and characteristics are interpreted correctly to identify the presence of live human scent. 
Location of live human scent is correctly interpreted 
Appropriate care/safety/welfare for the canine and self is followed in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and guidelines. 
Search area is covered within required timeframe. 
Post-search examination of canine is conducted. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

PUASAR020A - Develop a canine search team for USAR incidents
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PUASAR020A - Develop a canine search team for USAR incidents

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