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

PUASAR001B Participate in a rescue operation

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for structural collapse operation

1.1 Operation and task information is obtained and analysed

1.2 Rescue resources are identified and selected based on incident information and cross-checked to ensure they are ready for use

1.3 Personal protective equipment is selected relevant to the nature of the structural collapse operation

2. Assess and manage structural collapse scene

2.1 Situational and environmental hazards are assessed, minimised, controlled, marked and constantly monitored

2.2 Physical features of structural collapse are assessed before deploying rescue resources

2.3 Scene is managed to control access and maintain a safe and effective operational environment

2.4 Communication with other personnel on site is established and maintained

2.5 Site of structural collapse is sectorised and boundaries are defined

2.6 Structural collapse marking system is implemented

3. Determine location and condition of casualties

3.1 Reconnaissance of incident scene is undertaken

3.2 Evidence of location of casualties within collapsed structure is collected and reported

3.3 Appropriate resources are used for surface or lightly trapped casualties

3.4 The condition of surface or lightly trapped casualties and nature of entrapment is ascertained where possible

3.5 Search marking systems are utilised

4. Gain access to casualties

4.1 Techniques and equipment are employed to stabilise and make safe the incident scene

4.2 Located casualties are treated in consultation with medical personnel in accordance with organisational policies

5. Remove casualties

5.1 Entrapped casualties are released, treated and stabilised in accordance with organisational procedures

5.2 Casualties are removed from scene using recognised techniques

5.3 Evidence of casualty's identity is collected and processed according to agreed procedures

5.4 Appropriate actions are taken to preserve incident scene where possible

6. Terminate rescue operations

6.1 Equipment is recovered, cleaned and serviced according to organisational standards and manufacturer's guidelines

6.2 Signs and symptoms of operational stress are recognised and promptly reported

6.3 Operational documentation is completed to organisational standards

6.4 Exposure records are completed

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

Required Skills

ability to use trapped person locating devices

air bags and other lifting equipment

cutting reinforced concrete

debris tunnelling shoring and propping

national marking systems

props

safe and effective use of generators and lighting equipment

shoring and tunnelling techniques

use of appropriate rescue equipment

use of atmospheric monitoring equipment

use of concrete cutting, coring, breaching and lifting equipment

use of heavy duty cutting, breaking and lifting equipment

use of jacks

use of ladders

use of ropes, anchors and rigging systems

use of visual and audible locating devices

working in teams

Required Knowledge

agency incident command and control systems

confined spaces legislation and procedures

coronial and other legal documentation requirements

disaster victim identification procedures

equipment capabilities and limitations

medical considerations for structural collapse casualties

operational briefing and debriefing procedures

principles of structural collapse operations

procedures for atmospheric monitoring

relationship of local USAR teams with local rescue response and emergency management

relevant OH&S principles and procedures

signs and symptoms of operational stress

types of construction and collapse

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

It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in safe use of tunnelling, shoring and propping techniques; safe use of breaching, coring, cutting and lifting of reinforced concrete

Atmospheric monitoring techniques to AS2865-1995

Extrication of casualty minimising further injury to self or others

Application of safe work practices

Consistency in performance

Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Evidence is gathered in an actual or simulated structural collapse and rescue incident over a minimum of four shift changes

Specific resources for assessment

Assessment of this competency requires access to an appropriate training location/venue; organisation's rescue equipment and personnel for team-based activities

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.

Structural collapse rescue is defined as

the mobilisation of resources required to safely and expeditiously locate and remove trapped and often injured victims from partially or totally collapsed structures or environments and the provision of emergency care in doing so

Rescue resources may include

hand tools

atmosphere monitoring equipment

concrete cutters and corers

trained dogs

aerial ladders

platforms

bulldozers

bob cats

cranes

back hoes

generators

hydraulic jacks

lights and towers

wire rubble baskets

acoustic devices

fibre-optic cameras

time-lapse cameras

search cameras

thermal imaging cameras

infra-red cameras

concrete cutting chain saws

air-hammers

drills

lighting

ropes

bolt cutters

wheel barrows

buckets

communications

portable toilets

tents

heaters

Situational and environmental hazards may include

below debris hazards

surface hazards

overhead hazards

structural and terrain instability

dangerous goods and hazardous substances

utilities

irrespirable atmosphere

adverse weather conditions

Recognised techniques may include

breaching

concrete coring

shoring and tunnelling

concrete slab removal

steel cutting

Operational documentation may include

site sectorisation plan

memorandums of understanding

equipment

running and repair logs

notes or sketches and other relevant information required for potential coronal or other legal proceedings

incident reports

communication logs

injury register

Protective equipment may include

respiratory protection

ear

eye and head protection

knee pads

appropriate footwear

overalls

wet weather gear

This unit contains employability skills.