Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 3:21 PM AWST
22/07/2026 3:21 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Undertake emergency procedures in diving operations using surface-supplied breathing apparatus
Undertake emergency procedures in diving operations using surface-supplied breathing apparatus
Unit of competency
National Code
SFIDIVE304B
SFIDIVE304B
State Code
D9173
D9173
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
17/10/2012
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
17/10/2012
Nominal Hours
15
Description
This unit of competency involves acting as a surface and in-water standby diver, providing assistance in an emergency situation and performing a self-rescue ascent during occupational diving operations using surface-supplied breathing apparatus (SSBA). Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Perform surface standby-diver activities for divers using SSBA
- 1.1. Surface standby-diver activities during operations conform to appropriate emergency/rescue procedures, according to the equipment used.
- 1.2. A state of readiness to ensure prompt action in the event of an emergency is maintained at all times.
2. Perform in-water standby-diver activities using SSBA
- 2.1. In-water standby-diver activities during operation conform to appropriate emergency/rescue procedures, according to the equipment used.
- 2.2. Communication lines are maintained with the surface team to ensure all necessary rescue action is undertaken.
3. Employ correct techniques for emergency situations when using SSBA
- 3.1. Assistance is given in the recovery of an unconscious or injured diver from the surface to dry land or the deck of a dive platform in a manner that prevents further injury.
- 3.2. Ascent in an emergency situation is managed by controlling buoyancy, while identifying an emergency situation where shedding weights may be necessary.
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:
business or workplace operations, policies and practices
maritime and occupational diving operations, safety at sea
OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
OHS guidelines may include:
appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits
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 in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner
OHS training register
safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, 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.
PPE may include.
buoyancy vest or personal floatation device (PFD)
personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
protective outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses).
Operations may include:
cleaning and maintaining display tanks
collecting aquatic animals:
abalone
beche-de-mer
broodstock or seedstock
crayfish, lobsters and crabs
ornamental fish, live, rock, corals and other invertebrate
other molluscs
pearls
sea urchins and sponges
seaweed or aquatic plants
collecting dead stock
collecting environmental water samples
eradicating or releasing predators
from a beach
from a jetty
from a vessel
installing, servicing and maintaining ponds, farm environment, cages and associated equipment
retrieving lost tools and equipment
tending aquaculture animals.
Equipment may include:
catch bags
communication systems:
topside and diver
power supply
tape recorders and tapes
tools
breathing apparatus:
demand type (band mask and helmet)
free-flow type
buoyancy compensator
depth-measuring instruments
dive computer
diver's suits or clothing, wet, dry or warmed
diving watch
gauges
main and reserve air supplies
self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)
safety and emergency:
first aid
oxygen
bail out bottle
spare air
safety harness
shot-line
SSBA
surface-supply compressor unit
surface-supply panel
umbilicals
weights, fins and masks.
Emergency may include:
entanglement
entrapment
injury
malfunctioning equipment
medical
predator.
Communication may include:
hand signals
lifeline signals
slate
voice.
Assistance may include:
disentangle
in-water surface resuscitation
remove cause of entrapment
rescue:
conscious diver
unconscious diver.
Ascent may include:
buoyancy compensator
lifeline
shedding weights
stage
underwater propulsion device
with or without air supply.
Shedding weights may include:
mid-water
seabed
surface.
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:
business or workplace operations, policies and practices
maritime and occupational diving operations, safety at sea
OHS hazard identification, risk assessment and control.
OHS guidelines may include:
appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits
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 in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner
OHS training register
safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, 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.
PPE may include.
buoyancy vest or personal floatation device (PFD)
personal locator beacon or Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB)
protective outdoor clothing for tropical conditions
sun protection (e.g. sun hat, sunscreen and sunglasses).
Operations may include:
cleaning and maintaining display tanks
collecting aquatic animals:
abalone
beche-de-mer
broodstock or seedstock
crayfish, lobsters and crabs
ornamental fish, live, rock, corals and other invertebrate
other molluscs
pearls
sea urchins and sponges
seaweed or aquatic plants
collecting dead stock
collecting environmental water samples
eradicating or releasing predators
from a beach
from a jetty
from a vessel
installing, servicing and maintaining ponds, farm environment, cages and associated equipment
retrieving lost tools and equipment
tending aquaculture animals.
Equipment may include:
catch bags
communication systems:
topside and diver
power supply
tape recorders and tapes
tools
breathing apparatus:
demand type (band mask and helmet)
free-flow type
buoyancy compensator
depth-measuring instruments
dive computer
diver's suits or clothing, wet, dry or warmed
diving watch
gauges
main and reserve air supplies
self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (SCUBA)
safety and emergency:
first aid
oxygen
bail out bottle
spare air
safety harness
shot-line
SSBA
surface-supply compressor unit
surface-supply panel
umbilicals
weights, fins and masks.
Emergency may include:
entanglement
entrapment
injury
malfunctioning equipment
medical
predator.
Communication may include:
hand signals
lifeline signals
slate
voice.
Assistance may include:
disentangle
in-water surface resuscitation
remove cause of entrapment
rescue:
conscious diver
unconscious diver.
Ascent may include:
buoyancy compensator
lifeline
shedding weights
stage
underwater propulsion device
with or without air supply.
Shedding weights may include:
mid-water
seabed
surface.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
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:
apply emergency/rescue procedures to:
conscious diver
unconscious diver
communicate and follow instructions
free ascend correctly and safely
perform standby-diver duties
recover a distressed diver and apply first aid
undertake in-water surface resuscitation.
Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
hyperthermia and hypothermia
inflation procedures and free-ascent practices
physical emergency procedures
shedding weights in emergency situations
treatment of medical emergencies.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.
Resources may include:
diving equipment for SSBA diving operations as listed in the range of variables
suitable diving environment.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
observation of practical demonstration
practical exercises
written or oral short-answer testing.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with other diving units.
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:
apply emergency/rescue procedures to:
conscious diver
unconscious diver
communicate and follow instructions
free ascend correctly and safely
perform standby-diver duties
recover a distressed diver and apply first aid
undertake in-water surface resuscitation.
Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
hyperthermia and hypothermia
inflation procedures and free-ascent practices
physical emergency procedures
shedding weights in emergency situations
treatment of medical emergencies.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.
Resources may include:
diving equipment for SSBA diving operations as listed in the range of variables
suitable diving environment.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
observation of practical demonstration
practical exercises
written or oral short-answer testing.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with other diving units.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| S4189 | SFIDIVE304A | Undertake emergency procedures in diving operations using surface-supplied breathing apparatus | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WI715 | SFIDIVE312A | Undertake emergency procedures in diving operations using SSBA | Unit of competency |
