Application
This unit applies to canine search specialists intending to work with task forces actively involved in USAR incidents and disaster operations.
This unit has been aligned to the basic operational level of the Australian USAR Canine Capability Operational Framework as outlined in the Australian Urban Search and Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline; canine search teams seeking accreditation as operational task force members under this framework should refer to the guideline and not rely only on the information contained in this unit of competency.
Prerequisites
PUASAR020A Develop a canine search team for USAR incidents
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for search | 1.1 Interviews and site assessment are conducted to establish an appropriate search strategy. 1.2 Risks contained in the search area are identified and assessed, and appropriate safety procedures are implemented. 1.3 Adjustments are made where appropriate to search strategy in accordance with any changes in environmental conditions, search progress, any other relevant information that becomes available and current rescue work being undertaken. |
2. Handle and control canine | 2.1 Work is undertaken with canine in a safe and appropriate manner. 2.2 Control of canine is maintained at all times. 2.3 Willingness to work independently is demonstrated by canine. 2.4 Commands are responded to by canine in the presence of distractions. 2.5 Assistance is provided to canine where appropriate. |
3. Conduct search | 3.1 Canine is deployed off lead and appropriate actions, indications and characteristics to ensure search area is covered effectively are demonstrated by canine. 3.2 Location of and commitment to live human scent is demonstrated by canine. 3.3 Location of live human scent with a bark alert is correctly indicated by canine during a search on a simulated collapse site. 3.4 Actions, indications and characteristics of the canine to correctly identify the presence of live human scent are correctly interpreted. 3.5 Location of live human scent is correctly interpreted by canine search specialist. 3.6 Search areas are covered within required timeframe. |
4. Provide search debriefing | 4.1 Relevant information is recorded accurately in accordance with legislative and jurisdictional requirements. 4.2 Sketch of search area is provided on completion of search. 4.3 Recommendations are provided to relevant personnel on completion of the search. |
5. Maintain canine welfare and safety | 5.1 Appropriate care/safety/welfare for the canine and self is demonstrated in accordance with relevant legislation, policy and guidelines. 5.2 Basic care of canine is implemented. |
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 maintain physical fitness make sound decisions in rapidly changing and often high risk environments 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 biological and infectious hazards and safe management, particularly involving human remains canine olfactory system capabilities of canines working within USAR operations disaster victim identification principles and phases of operation canine behaviour canine physiology canine psychology factors used to determine appropriate search strategies INSARAG structural and victim marking systems organisational occupational health and safety (OH&S) legislation as it applies to urban search and rescue organisational task force policies and procedures principles of canine training including control, association, repetition, commands, rewards, correction and positive motivational methodologies 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: follow the Australian Urban Search&Rescue Canine Capability Best Practice Guideline implement USAR canine search methods and techniques handle a canine to maintain control and prevent accidents or injury to self and/or other/s including members of the public apply emergency first aid techniques for canines only accompanying the canine on the rubble pile when find is indicated or when directed by the assessor conduct four searches within a 24 hour period; two searches must be conducted consecutively Consistency in performance Competency should be demonstrated over time under a range of conditions that would be expected in the workplace. |
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. | |
Interviews must include questions that determine: | 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 |
Risks may include: | climatic conditions distractions lighting other animals present protruding objects slippery floors steps terrain and obstacles to be traversed |
Environmental conditions may include: | building configuration and size cold heat rain time delay wind |
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 |
Maintaining control may include: | recalling the canine canine being responsive to direction controls canine responding to an emergency stop canine directing away from canine search specialist on command |
Working independently may include: | canine working at a distance from canine search specialist canine working out of sight of canine search specialist |
Distractions may include: | noises such as: running generators machinery rescue tools other distractions such as: personnel smoke food |
Assistance may include: | assisting canine to traverse difficult obstacles guiding canine helping canine onto unstable elevated surfaces intervening to prevent accident or injury to the 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 |
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 |
Correctly indicating location of live human scent with a bark alert must include: | canine remaining at location of victim after indication of scent canine search specialist notifying assessor of find |
Required timeframe is defined as: | twenty minutes to search each search area after the completion of the briefing |
Relevant information to be recorded may include: | details of areas searched details of search and its conclusion potential victim locations and any influencing factors unidentified hazards |
Sketch of search area must include: | alert locations compass orientation prominent features |
Recommendations may include: | alternate search strategies (such as technical search, additional canine resources) improving search processes potential extrication points for victims |
Relevant personnel may include: | member of incident management team other canine search specialists USAR canine search team leader |
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 |
Basic care must include: | examining pads, webbing, toes, nails and bones of the foot of the canine irrigating canine's eyes in an appropriate manner treating minor injuries and contamination such as cuts, abrasions, foreign bodies, torn nails, fractures, sprains, irritant substances |
Sectors
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Licensing Information
Not applicable.