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Evidence Guide: PUAFIR608A - Investigate fatal fires

Student: __________________________________________________

Signature: _________________________________________________

Tips for gathering evidence to demonstrate your skills

The important thing to remember when gathering evidence is that the more evidence the better - that is, the more evidence you gather to demonstrate your skills, the more confident an assessor can be that you have learned the skills not just at one point in time, but are continuing to apply and develop those skills (as opposed to just learning for the test!). Furthermore, one piece of evidence that you collect will not usualy demonstrate all the required criteria for a unit of competency, whereas multiple overlapping pieces of evidence will usually do the trick!

From the Wiki University

 

PUAFIR608A - Investigate fatal fires

What evidence can you provide to prove your understanding of each of the following citeria?

Assess impact of fire on human remains

  1. Presence of human remains is identified and confirmed at the scene and processed in accordance with coronial/agency requirements
  2. Appropriate notifications (to coronial services, police etc.) are made in accordance with statutory and agency procedures
  3. Effect of heat range fire on human remains is assessed
  4. Visible burn patterns and injuries on human remains are identified, assessed and documented
  5. Origin and cause determination options are assessed
Presence of human remains is identified and confirmed at the scene and processed in accordance with coronial/agency requirements

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appropriate notifications (to coronial services, police etc.) are made in accordance with statutory and agency procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effect of heat range fire on human remains is assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Visible burn patterns and injuries on human remains are identified, assessed and documented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Origin and cause determination options are assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Examine factors impacting on origin and cause of death

  1. Human factors that may have prevented occupant/s escaping from the fire and products of combustion are examined
  2. Structural factors that may have impeded occupant egress from the structure are analysed
  3. Effectiveness and operation of early warning detection and suppression systems are assessed
  4. Observations regarding deceased’s clothing are made and recorded
  5. Observations of human behaviour before, during and after the fire are recorded
Human factors that may have prevented occupant/s escaping from the fire and products of combustion are examined

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Structural factors that may have impeded occupant egress from the structure are analysed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Effectiveness and operation of early warning detection and suppression systems are assessed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observations regarding deceased’s clothing are made and recorded

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Observations of human behaviour before, during and after the fire are recorded

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implement procedures for recovery of human remains and report findings

  1. Occupational health and safety(OHS)procedures for removal of human remains are implemented
  2. Disaster victim identification procedures are implemented as required
  3. Methods of protecting human remains prior to removal from a fire scene are implemented
  4. Methods to ensure all human remains are collected from a fire scene are implemented
  5. Consequential damage to human remains is recorded and reported to the appropriate authority
  6. Human remains collected from a fire scene arerecorded according to agency procedures
  7. Appropriate techniques to minimise evidence deterioration are followed
  8. Appropriate techniques and equipment are used for scene analysis, reconstruction and testing of hypothesis
  9. Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities/stakeholders
Occupational health and safety(OHS)procedures for removal of human remains are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disaster victim identification procedures are implemented as required

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods of protecting human remains prior to removal from a fire scene are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Methods to ensure all human remains are collected from a fire scene are implemented

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consequential damage to human remains is recorded and reported to the appropriate authority

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Human remains collected from a fire scene arerecorded according to agency procedures

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appropriate techniques to minimise evidence deterioration are followed

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appropriate techniques and equipment are used for scene analysis, reconstruction and testing of hypothesis

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investigation report is completed and forwarded to appropriate authorities/stakeholders

Completed
Date:

Teacher:		 Evidence:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessed

Teacher: ___________________________________ Date: _________

Signature: ________________________________________________

Comments:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructions to Assessors

Evidence Guide

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

apply a systematic approach to the investigation of fatal fires based on scientific method

apply relevant laws, legislation, codes of practice and standards in fire investigation and court procedures

interpret findings of forensic data and physical evidence analyses

conduct interviews and accurately record information.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time and across a range of workplace and/or simulated situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed in the workplace and in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access is required to:

legislation, policy, procedures and protocols relating to gathering and managing evidence

case studies and workplace scenarios to capture the range of fire fatalities likely to occur for which evidence needs to be gathered and managed.

Guidance information for assessment

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this unit may include a combination of:

case studies

demonstration

observation

questioning

scenarios

authenticated evidence from the workplace.

Required Skills and Knowledge

Required Skills

accurately record information

interview potential witnesses (members of the public, emergency services personnel, members of statutory agencies, property owners/occupants)

prepare reports

take notes to support research and court preparation

Required Knowledge

agency and legal requirements for writing and presenting reports

common causes of fire (accidental, chemical, deliberate, electrical, incendiary, natural, negligence)

effects of fire on the human body

evidence collection (admissibility, body bags, collection, continuity, identification, packaging, sampling techniques)

functional responsibilities and authorities

memorandums of understanding

note taking procedures and processes

OHS regulations

other regulators

processes and outcomes of post mortems and coronial inquests

relevant legislation such as the Fire Service Act, Coroner’s Act, and Criminal Code and Evidence Act

relevant Australian Standards and international standards such as those that relate to clothing design, fabric, flammability

rules of evidence including identification, collection and continuity, and admissibility

safe work practices involving biological hazards

standard disaster victim identification procedures

standard operating procedures for conducting investigations

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.

Effect of heat range fire on human remains may include:

Carboxyhemoglobin

Common injuries (pre and post fire)

Degrees of burns

Effects of products of combustion

Origin and cause determination may include:

Identification of ignition sources

Scene interpretation

Scene processing

Recording observations may include:

Audio

Computers

Notes

Photography (digital, multimedia, CCTV [closed circuit television], other media images)

Sketches and plans

Video

Occupational health and safety procedures include:

Biological hazards

Safe work practices and procedures

Safety equipment and clothing