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. |
Interviews must include questions that determine: | 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 |
Risks may include: | climatic conditions distractions lighting other animals present protruding objects slippery floors steps terrain and obstacles to be traversed |
Environmental conditions may include: | building configuration and size cold heat rain time delay wind |
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 |
Maintaining control may include: | recalling the canine canine being responsive to direction controls canine responding to an emergency stop canine directing away from canine search specialist on command |
Working independently may include: | canine working at a distance from canine search specialist canine working out of sight of canine search specialist |
Distractions may include: | noises such as: running generators machinery rescue tools other distractions such as: personnel smoke food |
Assistance may include: | assisting canine to traverse difficult obstacles guiding canine helping canine onto unstable elevated surfaces intervening to prevent accident or injury to the 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 |
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 |
Correctly indicating location of live human scent with a bark alert must include: | canine remaining at location of victim after indication of scent canine search specialist notifying assessor of find |
Required timeframe is defined as: | twenty minutes to search each search area after the completion of the briefing |
Relevant information to be recorded may include: | details of areas searched details of search and its conclusion potential victim locations and any influencing factors unidentified hazards |
Sketch of search area must include: | alert locations compass orientation prominent features |
Recommendations may include: | alternate search strategies (such as technical search, additional canine resources) improving search processes potential extrication points for victims |
Relevant personnel may include: | member of incident management team other canine search specialists USAR canine search team leader |
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 |
Basic care must include: | examining pads, webbing, toes, nails and bones of the foot of the canine irrigating canine's eyes in an appropriate manner treating minor injuries and contamination such as cuts, abrasions, foreign bodies, torn nails, fractures, sprains, irritant substances |