Application
This unit has application for occupational diving in the fishing and aquaculture sectors only. All enterprise or workplace procedures and activities are carried out according to relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements, including occupational health and safety (OHS) guidelines, maritime and occupational diver codes of practice and procedures and ecologically sustainable development (ESD) principles. Equipment operation, maintenance, repairs and calibrations are undertaken in a safe manner that conforms to manufacturer instructions. Appropriate personal protectiveequipment (PPE) is selected, checked, used and maintained. |
Prerequisites
Apply first aid | ||
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Prepare for dive | 1.1. Pre-dive plan, systems and procedures, and work schedule are devised to identify hazards and contingencies according to enterprise procedures and industry guidelines. 1.2. Equipment is checked to confirm suitability for planned work and serviceability. 1.3. When used, diving assistant/observer is briefed on procedures to be used during diving operation. |
2. Perform work during a breath-hold dive | 2.1. Water is entered and a descent is made to the required depth according to accepted diving practice. 2.2. Equipment is used to establish working environment. 2.3. Work is performed under water according to dive plan. 2.4. Signs and symptoms of injury and other information relevant to the situation are monitored on a continuous basis and used to assess one's physical condition. 2.5. Ascent from the dive and access to the shore or vessel is made correctly. |
3. Employ techniques that reduce underwater hazards | 3.1. Occupational hazards that may cause injury or harm are assessed and action taken to remove or minimise hazards according to pre-dive plan. 3.2. Dive procedures used are according to the pre-dive plan. 3.3. Systems and procedures to reduce hazards are devised and implemented. |
4. Complete post-dive activities | 4.1. Post-dive checks are performed on all essential equipment. 4.2. Components of diving equipment are maintained to ensure they are working efficiently and safely. 4.3. Equipment is cleaned, dried and stowed. 4.4. Records are completed in a legible manner and forwarded to supervisor, industry or regulatory body or stored. |
Required Skills
Required skills |
briefing dive assistant or observer on procedures conforming with breath-holding dive procedures as used by the diver: clearing squeezes clearing water from mask donning and doffing gear above and below water swimming without the effects of current diagnosing one's own physical condition as a result of a dive identifying occupational hazards under water perform the work specified in the range of variables applicable to the diving operation snorkelling. Literacy skills are used for: completing records. Numeracy skills are used for: calculations associated with dive, such as depth, time, duration of submersion and number of dives. |
Required knowledge |
breath-holding limitations dangers of barotrauma, and squeezes dangers of cold water dangers of hyperventilation signs and symptoms of medical conditions associated with diving operations organisational procedures. |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit | Assessment must confirm the ability to: perform dives in an occupational setting from either a vessel or from shore using breath-holding techniques to perform work in the fishing or aquaculture sectors of the seafood industry use diving equipment: clearing squeezes donning and doffing weights, fins, mask and wetsuit mask clearing devise and implement systems and procedures that reduce underwater hazards self-diagnosis of one's physical condition when diving. Assessment must confirm knowledge of: content of the pre-dive plan that forms the basis of dive briefings hazards associated with the operation safety procedures associated with the operation signs and symptoms of medical conditions associated with diving. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment. Resources are to include: a range of diving equipment a suitable swimming area. |
Method of assessment | The following assessment methods are suggested: observation of practical demonstration practical exercises project work written or oral short-answer testing. |
Guidance information for assessment | This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification. |
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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Relevant government regulations, licensing and other compliance requirements may include | biodiversity and genetically modified organisms biosecurity, translocation and quarantine Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) and other import requirements business or workplace operations, policies and practices ESD principles, environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control fisheries or aquaculture regulations, permits and licences food safety, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP), hygiene and temperature control along chain of custody health and welfare of aquatic animals Indigenous land rights and cultural activities, including fishing by traditional methods maritime and occupational diving operations, safety at sea and pollution control OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control. |
OHS guidelines may include: | appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction or industry sector enterprise-specific OHS procedures, policies or standards hazard and risk assessment of workplace, maintenance activities and control measures induction or training of staff, contractors and visitors in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner OHS training register safe lifting, carrying and handling techniques, including manual handling, and the handling and storage of hazardous substances safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, fall protection, confined space entry and the protection of people in the workplace systems and procedures for the safe maintenance of property, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving parts the appropriate use, maintenance and storage of PPE. |
ESD principles may include: | applying animal welfare ethics and procedures controlling effluents, chemical residues, contaminants, wastes and pollution controlling weeds, pests, predators and diseases, and stock health maintenance improving energy efficiency increasing use of renewable, recyclable and recoverable resources maintaining biodiversity by sustainable fisheries or broodstock/seedstock collection minimising noise, dust, light or odour emissions reducing emissions of greenhouse gases reducing use of non-renewable resources reducing energy use reducing interactions with native and protected flora and fauna, marine or land parks or areas reducing live cultured or held organisms from escaping into environment undertaking environmental hazard identification, risk assessment and control undertaking facility quarantine, biosecurity and translocation of livestock and genetic material using and recycling of water, and maintaining water quality. |
PPE may include: | buoyancy vest or personal floatation device (PFD) personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses). |
Systems and procedures may include: | briefings check in and out direct supervision. |
Procedures may include: | communication techniques duration of submersion. |
Diving operations may include: | checking underwater equipment collecting sea animals: abalone beche-de-mer crayfish molluscs sea urchin tending aquacultured animals collecting lost tools and equipment, dead animals, and debris installing, servicing and maintaining ponds and associated equipment. |
Diving practice may include: | checking for underwater dangers eliminating eardrum barotrauma eliminating the danger of cold water cramp and hypothermia eliminating reverse blockages. |
Equipment may include: | buoyancy vest catch bag and tool kit face mask and snorkel fins gloves safety line weights wetsuit. |
Physical condition may include: | bites, stings or punctures from aquatic organisms burns ear problems: colds, influenza and ear, nose and throat infections eardrum barotrauma hyperventilation hypothermia near drowning and saltwater aspiration shock from bleeding squeezes. |
Occupational hazards may include: | aquatic animals cold water cramp eardrum barotrauma hyperventilation hypothermia lack of swimming ability reverse blockages and squeezes underwater dangers or snags underwater terrain. |
Assessed may include: | listing hazards describing the causes of hazards indicating when hazards might occur describing the likelihood of the hazard occurring. |
Post-dive checks may include: | deterioration of rubber and straps presence, suitability and operability of: diving equipment safety and emergency equipment seals: face mask wetsuit. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Fishing operations |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor