Application
This unit applies to people actively involved in and/or training as a canine search specialist for USAR incidents and disaster operations.
Prerequisites
PUASAR018A Select and maintain canines to be part of a canine search team for USAR incidents
PUASAR019A Train canines to work in a USAR environment
PUASAR023A Participate in an urban search and rescue Category 1
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Maintain canine obedience | 1.1 Basic obedience is demonstrated by canine and canine search specialist while canine is heeling off lead. 1.2 Emergency stop with recall is performed by canine and canine search specialist. 1.3 At the direction of the canine search specialist, a down stay is performed by canine while under distraction. 1.4 Canine tasks are performed without demonstrating aggressive behaviour towards people. 1.5 Canine tasks are performed without demonstrating aggressive behaviour towards other animals. |
2. Demonstrate canine agility | 2.1 Under canine search specialist's direction, agility course is completed by canine within required timeframe. 2.2 Under canine search specialist's direction, turn on an elevated plank is performed by canine. 2.3 Agility course is negotiated by canine and canine search specialist in a controlled, safe and appropriate manner. |
3. Maintain direction and control | 3.1 Canine is directed to required elevation, direction commands are followed by canine and elevation is jumped on by canine as directed by canine search specialist. 3.2 Elevation is sustained by canine for a minimum of five seconds and until directed by canine search specialist. 3.3 Direction and control course is negotiated by canine and canine search specialist within required timeframe. 3.4 Ability to work at a distance from canine search specialist is demonstrated by canine. |
4. Develop canine to indicate live human scent | 4.1 Location of and commitment to live human scent is demonstrated by canine. 4.2 Alert exercise is undertaken by canine and canine search specialist within required timeframe and location of live human scent is correctly indicated by canine with a bark alert. |
5. Manage canine in a search to locate victims | 5.1 Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline is followed. 5.2 Interviews and site assessment are conducted to establish an appropriate search strategy. 5.3 Canine is deployed off lead and appropriate actions, indications and characteristics are used to ensure search area is covered effectively. 5.4 Control of canine is maintained at all times and assistance is provided where appropriate. 5.5 Adjustments are made to search strategy where appropriate in accordance with any changes in environmental conditions, search progress, any other relevant information that becomes available and current rescue work being undertaken. 5.6 Location of live human scent is correctly indicated by canine with a bark alert during a search on a simulated collapse site. 5.7 Canine actions, indications and characteristics are interpreted correctly to identify the presence of live human scent. 5.8 Location of live human scent is correctly interpreted 5.9 Appropriate care/safety/welfare for the canine and self is followed in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and guidelines. 5.10 Search area is covered within required timeframe. 5.11 Post-search examination of canine is conducted. |
Required Skills
This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit. |
Required Skills |
adjust handling strategies in response to changing environments adjust search strategies in response to changing environments carry out and interpret verbal instructions collect, analyse and organise information to develop an effective search strategy control a canine off lead including in public locations demonstrate appropriate commands when handling a canine handle a canine to maintain control and prevent accidents or injury to self and/or other/s including members of the public interpret the actions and indications given by a canine make sound decisions in rapidly changing and often high risk environments maintain physical fitness manage time and priorities in response to changing environments work with other canine search teams |
Required Knowledge |
alert behaviours of canines and their causes such as the bark alert (spontaneous repetitive barking for twenty seconds barking, which may be interspersed with digging and attempts to penetrate) Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline canine olfactory system capabilities of canines working within USAR operations canine behaviour canine physiology canine psychology factors used to determine appropriate search strategies organisational occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation as it applies to USAR organisational task force policies and procedures principles of canine training including control, association, repetition, commands, rewards, correction and positive motivational methodologies principles of training a canine for obedience and agility risk analysis safe working systems to reduce canine related incidents scent theory and its application to the USAR environment such as commitment to live human scent (very good penetration drive, being committed to the scent, not leaving victim location) USAR canine search methods and techniques |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package. | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Assessment must confirm the ability to: construct direction and control course as per the requirements of the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline follow the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline implement USAR canine search methods and techniques conduct a search of one search area handle a canine to maintain control and prevent accidents or injury to self and/or other/s including members of the public Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated over time under a range of conditions that would be expected in the workplace. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Context of assessment Competency must be assessed in a controlled, simulated workplace environment. Specific resources for assessment Access is required to: Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline facilities as outlined in the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline canines training to work in a USAR environment two assessors |
Method of assessment | In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook. Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment according to the workplace environment. Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include: direct observation interviewing the candidate journals and workplace documentation third party reports from supervisors written or oral questions |
Range Statement
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. | |
Basic obedience must include: | about turn change of pace (normal pace, fast pace, slow pace) drop halt heel off/on lead left turn right turn sit |
Emergency stop must include: | canine responding quickly upon the stop command from the canine search specialist, slowing to a stop position position in which canine stops after being given the emergency stop command is suggested to be the down position |
Recall must include: | canine quickly returning to canine search specialist and sitting in front of canine search specialist until released |
Distractions may include: | banging pot lids clapping hands noises such as talking walking past in front or behind canine |
Agility course must include: | climbing elevated plank tunnel unpleasant surface unstable surface and must be constructed as per the requirements of the Australian Urban Search & Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline (canine search specialist can remain in close proximity to canine but must not go in front of canine) |
Required timeframe includes completing: | agility course within five minutes alert exercise within two minutes from release of canine to the commencement of the bark alert canine direction and control course within five minutes simulated search within 20 minutes |
Controlled, 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 |
Elevation is defined in: | Australian Urban Search and Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline |
Distance is defined as: | between 20 and 25 metres |
Commitment to live human scent includes: | commitment to the scent not leaving victim location very good penetration drive |
Directions may include: | back centre/Middle forward left right |
Bark alert includes: | spontaneous repetitive barking for twenty seconds, which may be interspersed with digging and attempts to penetrate |
Interviews must include questions that determine: | definition of search area 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 |
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 |
Assistance may include: | assisting canine to traverse difficult obstacles guiding canine helping canine onto unstable elevated surfaces intervening to prevent accident or injury to 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 |
Appropriate canine care may include: | checking condition of feet pads fatigue management irrigating canine's eyes to remove dust treatment as required watering of canine as required |
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 |
Post-search examination must include: | examining: ears eyes legs mouth nails and bones of the foot of the canine pads toes webbing between toes |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.