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. Survive in the water

1.1 Dangerous situation is escaped from using surface and underwater swimming techniques

1.2 Water is entered from a height and surfaced from using appropriate techniques

1.3 Heat-retaining positions are assumed in the water as an individual and in a group environment

1.4 Buoyancy is supplemented through improvised flotation devices

1.5 Purpose personal flotation device (PFD) is fitted and buoyancy is maintained through manual techniques

2. Operate and maintain survival flotation craft and its resources

2.1 Survival flotation craft are deployed, inflated, righted (upon inversion) and boarded

2.2 Survival flotation craft are escaped from (i.e. inside) after inversion

2.3 Survival flotation craft are rigged for protection from the elements and optimisation (or minimisation) of movement

2.4 Survival flotation craft are inspected and maintained throughout the survival period

2.5 Survival resources are managed during the survival situation

2.6 Water procurement and food procurement devices are deployed and operated

2.7 Signal equipment is operated safely and effectively from the survival flotation craft

2.8 Recognition and response signals from search aircraft are interpreted and responded to

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

Required Skills

fit life-vests

swim, tread water, duck-dive

team work

tie knots and lashes

Required Knowledge

aircraft response signals

emergency signalling

heat escape lessening position

improvised flotation techniques

life jacket operation

occupational health and safety

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

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

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

swim 30 metres in clothing

tread water for a minimum of five minutes in clothing

adopt the HELP for at least ten minutes

rig and use two different improvised flotation devices for at least five minutes each

survive at sea over three hours using a multi person raft by:

rigging the drogue

rigging the canopy

rigging water procurement devices including solar stills and reverse osmosis machines, and producing at least 300 ml of water

bailing

inspection the craft

rig and safely employ the following signalling devices from the survival craft:

heliograph - accurately illuminating a target at least 300 m away

sea marker dye - deploying a sea marker dye effectively and safely using prevailing currents to optimise signature

flare - employing a signal flare effectively without threatening persons or survival equipment.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of situations that could be expected in a survival situation.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency must be assessed in a simulated workplace environment.

All aspects of competence must be tested as part of an unbroken continuum from entry into the water at the individual level to the boarding and conduct aboard a survival flotation craft.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to a suitable sea-survival area, buoyancy devices, signalling devices and life-rafts.

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.

Dangerous situations may include

burning oil

downed aircraft

sunken vessel

Surface and underwater swimming techniques include

duck-diving

swimming while clothed

treading water in location

Improvised flotation devices may include

buoyant flotsam

personal clothing:

trouser (tied) floats

inflated shirts/jumpers

Survival flotation craft includes

single person life raft

multi person life raft

Survival flotation craft rigging may include

using canopy/overhead protection

using drogue/sea anchor

Inspection and maintenance of survival flotation craft may include

inspecting for/of leaks

manual inflation

operating purpose and improvised bailing equipment

repairing punctures

security of knots

security of tie-down points

strength of ropes

Survival resources may include

food

food procurement devices (fishing gear)

signalling equipment

water

water procurement devices

Managing survival resources may include

accounting

protecting

rationing

Water procurement and food procurement devices may include

improvised collection techniques during periods of rain

reverse osmosis machine

solar stills

Signal equipment may include

flares

heliographs

marker panels

sea marker dyes

Search aircraft recognition and response signals may include

message received and understood

message received but not understood

This unit contains employability skills.