The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisite Unit/s

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare resources for erection of the shelter

1.1 Threat to personal survival posed by the elements is identified and natural features are used to provide immediate protection in order to conduct survival planning

1.2 Survival shelter's siting is optimised for protection from the elements and to minimise hazards to the survivalist, taking advantage, where possible, of existing natural resources

1.3 Survival shelter resources are collected, maximising shelter strength and protection while minimising the physical effort to obtain

2. Construct survival shelter

2.1 Traditional two-ply string is constructed for use in binding and securing

2.2 Survival shelter's framework is established taking maximum advantage of the strength of natural junction points such as forks

2.3 Survival shelter is protected from wind and rain

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

Required Skills

tie knots and lashes

Required Knowledge

priorities of survival (shelter, water, food, warmth)

threat to survival from elements (wind, rain, sun)

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to construct a shelter capable of withstanding a vertical or horizontal loading to the framework of 300N (roughly equivalent to an adult leaning at not more than 10 degrees from the vertical):

that repels all water when 20 litres is poured along the top/leading edge of the structure to simulate rain

whose tiling and thatching remains adhered to the shelter under wind conditions of Beaufort Scale 4 (11-16 knots).

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated constructing at least two shelters.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment.

While a person can demonstrate the technical ability to construct and maintain a shelter, doing so in a survival situation is crucial; consequently it is strongly recommended that holistic assessment be conducted with other associated survival units.

Assessment under simulated survival conditions should include:

food restrictions (food should be restricted to half the recommended daily caloric intake)

the absence of normal living conditions and amenities such as showers, beds and bedding (warmth to be provided by fire), kitchens etc. with the attendant levels of personal discomfort and fatigue•

a significant period of time - the recommendation is four days.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to a suitable survival area which is remote and has suitable natural resources and natural features; and a knife.

Guidance information for assessment

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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.

Natural features may include

Caves/rock scoops

Embankments

Hollow logs

Trees

Natural resources may include

Bark

Grass

Timber

Hazards may include

Animal pads

Deadfall

Exposure to wind, rain, sun

Flood

Insects

Lightning

Survival shelter resources may include

Binding materials

Framing materials (e.g. live tree trunks and branches, fallen limbs)

Roofing and siding materials (bark shingles, grass bundles, large leafs e.g. 15+ cm diameter)

Constructing traditional two-ply string may include

Associated fibrous material

Bark

Establishing survival shelter's framework includes

Using and binding with improvised cordage such as:

animal skins/gut

bark strips

reeds and grasses

traditional two-ply string

Protecting the survival shelter from wind and rain includes using

Shingling (bark sections and large leaves) for roofing and siding

Thatching (bound grass and bundled grass) for roofing and siding

This unit contains employability skills.