Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 1:38 AM AWST
22/07/2026 1:38 AM 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.
Assess and evaluate a facility's fire/incident safety management systems in hazardous materials
Assess and evaluate a facility's fire/incident safety management systems in hazardous materials
Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR508B
PUAFIR508B
State Code
WG152
WG152
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
21/03/2013
Field of Education
039905 - Fire Technology
Original Release Date
21/03/2013
Nominal Hours
200
Description
This unit covers the competence required to assess and evaluate a facility's fire/incident safety management systems for dangerous goods and/or hazardous substances.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Assess hazards of on-site materials
- 1.1 On-site hazards are identified
- 1.2 Facility risk factors are determined
- 1.3 Potential incidents are identified
- 1.4 Factors which may contribute to loss of containment, control of, or fire involving hazardousmaterials are assessed
2. Identify, determine and assess the likely consequence of the release on on-site materials (non-fire scenario)
- 2.1 The range of dangerous goods releases is identified and assessed in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 2.2 The consequence of each of the dangerous goods releases is identified and assessed in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 2.3 The impact on the immediate area, personnel, property and the environment is identified in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 2.4 The likelihood of the events occurring is determined in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 2.5 Resources available to combat the release of on-site materials are identified and assessed
3. Determine and assess the fire scenario (fire, chemical, gas release) involving hazardous materials
- 3.1 The range of fire scenarios involving hazardous materials is identified in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 3.2 The range of consequences of each scenario involving hazardous materials is identified and assessed in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 3.3 Impact on the immediate area, personnel, property and the environment in the event of a hazardous materials fire is identified in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 3.4 The likelihood of a fire occurring is determined in accordance with the organisation's procedures
- 3.5 Resources available for each fire are identified and assessed in accordance with the organisation's procedures
4. Assess fire/incident and safety management systems and their performance
- 4.1 Fire/incident and safety management systems including prevention, preparedness, response and recovery are identified
- 4.2 Performance of fire/incident and safety management systems is assessed in accordance with relevant legislation, standards, codes of practice and performance based criteria
- 4.3 Survivability of the systems is evaluated in accordance with the organisation's procedures Fire/incident and safety management system design assumptions and fire organisation's operations are assessed
- 4.4 Recovery strategies are identified and assessed
5. Report and recommend action
- 5.1 Proposed or existing fire/incident and safety management systems are documented
- 5.2 Evaluation of the fire/incident and safety management systems are recorded
- 5.3 Recommendations for action to be taken and proposed upgrades to fire/incident and safety management systems are reported, documented and forwarded in accordance with the organisation's procedures
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.
Hazardous materials may include
any materials which, without adequate safeguards, may contaminate the environment, and/or threaten life or property
dangerous goods, hazardous substances, or scheduled poisons, environmental pollutants and listed (prescribed) wastes
Information enabling the identification of hazardous materials must include
United Nations Numbers
proper shipping names
product names or trade names
chemical names and Chemical Abstract Service Numbers
dangerous goods class labels
packing groups
emergency information panels
placarding
storage manifests
transport documents
Fire/incident safety systems must include
fire main system
static water and pump sets
fire sprinkler system
cooling water system
fire/flame detection and alarm system
gas/vapour detection and alarm system
communication system
evacuation system
fire suppression system
smoke/ventilation control system
passive fire protection
explosion relief devices
bunding
Safety systems may include
facility fire/incident response teams material handling systems
facility work practices
facility emergency procedures
facility mutual aid agreements
Australian and New Zealand Standards and Codes
Operation of these systems may include compliance with
Australian and New Zealand Standards and Codes
NFPA Standard
British/European Union Standard
industry association specification
manufacturer's specification
system designer specification
company/owner requirements
NSW Planning Guidelines Advisory Paper No. 2 (Fire Safety Study)
Factory Mutual System - Loss Prevention Data
Information about hazardous materials must be accessed from
Emergency Response Guide Books
HAZCHEM Code
NFPA Code
European Marking ADR Hazardous Identification Numbers
emergency procedures guides
electronic databases
HAZMAT Action Guides
material safety data sheets
and may also include
safe storage and handling information cards
technical advice
Worksafe List of Hazardous Substances
Consequences of a release may include
vapour cloud formation and tracking
ground water/watercourse contamination
fauna/flora impact
soil contamination
effects on people
effects on property
atmospheric contamination
Consequences of a fire must include
heat flux contours
explosive over pressure
toxic smoke/water/air concentration
direct flame impingement
direct impact from debris
potential for propagation/knock-on effect
secondary incidents
effects on people
effects on property
Scenarios must include
leak into bunded/unbunded areas
structural failure of storage vessels on part of manufacturing plant
percussive unconfined vapour cloud explosion
vapour cloud explosion
boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion
bund fires
jet fires
pool fires
flash fires
toxic vapour clouds
vehicle fires
Recovery strategies may include
commercial mutual aid agreements
fire organisation's resources working with government and non-government organisations
contaminated fire water containment
fire agency clean-up
facility restoration
hazardous waste disposal
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.
Hazardous materials may include
any materials which, without adequate safeguards, may contaminate the environment, and/or threaten life or property
dangerous goods, hazardous substances, or scheduled poisons, environmental pollutants and listed (prescribed) wastes
Information enabling the identification of hazardous materials must include
United Nations Numbers
proper shipping names
product names or trade names
chemical names and Chemical Abstract Service Numbers
dangerous goods class labels
packing groups
emergency information panels
placarding
storage manifests
transport documents
Fire/incident safety systems must include
fire main system
static water and pump sets
fire sprinkler system
cooling water system
fire/flame detection and alarm system
gas/vapour detection and alarm system
communication system
evacuation system
fire suppression system
smoke/ventilation control system
passive fire protection
explosion relief devices
bunding
Safety systems may include
facility fire/incident response teams material handling systems
facility work practices
facility emergency procedures
facility mutual aid agreements
Australian and New Zealand Standards and Codes
Operation of these systems may include compliance with
Australian and New Zealand Standards and Codes
NFPA Standard
British/European Union Standard
industry association specification
manufacturer's specification
system designer specification
company/owner requirements
NSW Planning Guidelines Advisory Paper No. 2 (Fire Safety Study)
Factory Mutual System - Loss Prevention Data
Information about hazardous materials must be accessed from
Emergency Response Guide Books
HAZCHEM Code
NFPA Code
European Marking ADR Hazardous Identification Numbers
emergency procedures guides
electronic databases
HAZMAT Action Guides
material safety data sheets
and may also include
safe storage and handling information cards
technical advice
Worksafe List of Hazardous Substances
Consequences of a release may include
vapour cloud formation and tracking
ground water/watercourse contamination
fauna/flora impact
soil contamination
effects on people
effects on property
atmospheric contamination
Consequences of a fire must include
heat flux contours
explosive over pressure
toxic smoke/water/air concentration
direct flame impingement
direct impact from debris
potential for propagation/knock-on effect
secondary incidents
effects on people
effects on property
Scenarios must include
leak into bunded/unbunded areas
structural failure of storage vessels on part of manufacturing plant
percussive unconfined vapour cloud explosion
vapour cloud explosion
boiling liquid expanding vapour explosion
bund fires
jet fires
pool fires
flash fires
toxic vapour clouds
vehicle fires
Recovery strategies may include
commercial mutual aid agreements
fire organisation's resources working with government and non-government organisations
contaminated fire water containment
fire agency clean-up
facility restoration
hazardous waste disposal
EVIDENCE GUIDE
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in:
identification of hazardous materials
assessment of hazardous materials
identification, determination and assessment of the consequences of a release (fire and non-fire)
assessment of performance of a fire/incident safety and management systems
report writing
Consistency in performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Evidence of competence may be demonstrated on the job or in a simulated workplace environment
Specific resources for assessment
Facility plans, documentation, fire safety study and access to a suitable facility for inspection
Guidance information for assessment
Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in:
identification of hazardous materials
assessment of hazardous materials
identification, determination and assessment of the consequences of a release (fire and non-fire)
assessment of performance of a fire/incident safety and management systems
report writing
Consistency in performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Evidence of competence may be demonstrated on the job or in a simulated workplace environment
Specific resources for assessment
Facility plans, documentation, fire safety study and access to a suitable facility for inspection
Guidance information for assessment
Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.
No information