This unit of competency involves the skills and knowledge required to maintain and operate a small power craft and motor and to direct a crew during rescue operations. It includes a range of open water rescue situations using small boats.

The unit is applicable for personnel from emergency services, volunteer organisations and/or organisations where surveillance and rescue operations in open water is required.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

ELEMENTS

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1

Prepare powercraft and motor for operations

1.1

Logbooks are reviewed for previous operational feedback and pre-use information is completed, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

1.2

Prelaunch check of motor and fuel cell is completed and they are installed on powercraft, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' guidelines

1.3

Crew person is overseen in prelaunch checking of powercraft and ancillary equipment

1.4

Personal protective clothing and equipment is stowed, as appropriate, in accordance with organisational procedures

1.5

Two-way radio equipment is prepared for operational communications, in accordance with organisational procedures

2

Transport powercraft to launch site

2.1

Powercraft is transported to launch site with safe manual handling techniques used by crew and other support personnel

2.2

Powercraft is unloaded and positioned at water's edge ready for operational activities, in accordance with organisational procedures

2.3

Safety brief is completed with crew person and other team members, in accordance with organisational procedures

3

Launch and operate powercraft through surf

3.1

Competence level of operator and crew person is reviewed in relation to surf conditions

3.2

Powercraft is lifted and dragged to water with crew person

3.3

Motor is started when appropriate and safe to do so

3.4

Powercraft is boarded safely and a secure position is assumed

3.5

Crew person is instructed to enter craft, when appropriate, in accordance with organisational procedures and surf conditions

3.6

Instructions are communicated to crew person, as required

4

Maintain safe working environment for self and crew

4.1

Powercraft is operated safely around bathing public, in accordance with organisational procedures and prevailing surf conditions

4.2

Safe distances from bathing public and hazards in the water are maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.3

Communication is maintained with shore and crew person

4.4

Safe operational conditions of powercraft is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and prevailing surf conditions

4.5

Emergency procedures are implemented, in accordance with organisational procedures

4.6

Powercraft is safely manoeuvred without operational motor

5

Perform rescue and operational task

5.1

Requests for assistance or tasks from supervisor are acknowledged, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.2

Rescue or task information is communicated to crew person

5.3

Operational tasks are safely performed, in accordance with organisational procedures

5.4

Crew person is directed to retrieve casualty or object using appropriate retrieval techniques, in accordance with organisational procedures

6

Return powercraft to shore safely

6.1

Safety and security of powercraft, operator, crew person and casualty or cargo for beaching is maintained

6.2

Permission to return to shore is signalled, in accordance with organisational procedures

6.3

Observation for hazards is maintained throughout rescue operation

6.4

Powercraft is beached on shoreline with appropriate speed or direction

6.5

Casualty or cargo is lifted from powercraft safely

6.6

Safe position of craft is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and operational readiness

7

Recover and restore powercraft

7.1

Powercraft is transported to storage using safe manual handling techniques

7.2

Post operational checks and maintenance of motor are performed, in accordance with organisational procedures and manufacturers' guidelines

7.3

Post operational checks are supervised with powercraft washed down and ancillary equipment stored by crew person

7.4

Powercraft and motor are stored, in accordance with organisational procedures and requirements

7.5

Crew person is debriefed and operational documentation is completed, in accordance with organisational procedures

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.

Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment.

Non-essential conditions may be found in the Companion Volume Implementation Guide.

Not applicable

Search and Rescue