Elements and Performance Criteria

Working environment may be
hazardous, unpredictable, subject to time pressure, chaotic and expose responders to risk, on land or water, by day or night

Safety information and procedures must include
relevant legislation, Australian Standards, codes of practice, manufacturer's instructions and organisational procedures

Procedures may include
safe working
permit entry plan
entry testing procedures
appropriate rescue and first aid plans
risk management
measurement
computer plume modelling

Response situations must include
confined spaces
enclosed and partially enclosed spaces
and may also include
storage tanks, silos, pits, pipes, shafts, ducts, transport vehicles and ships
obstructed entry/exit points
low visibility or lack of illumination
unsound or insecure structures
single and multi agency response

Equipment must include
breathing apparatus, chemical protective clothing and equipment, portable instruments, radiation detectors, sampling tubes and pumps, oxygen level meter, carbon monoxide detector and combustible gas detectors

Workplace atmospheres may
include visible and invisible hazards
include hazardous surfaces
range from safe to unsafe

Incidents may include
all fire, Hazmat or rescue incidents

Critical aspects of evidence
It is essential in this unit that competence be demonstrated in:
applying personal safety principles
interpreting atmospheric conditions using atmospheric monitoring equipment
recommending appropriate action
maintaining monitoring equipment

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units:
PUAFIR207A Operate breathing apparatus
Co-requisite units:
PUATEA001A Work in a team

Underpinning knowledge
use and limitations of protective clothing and equipment
risk assessment
applicable exemptions for emergency services
purging agents
common chemical asphyxiants including: hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide, and hydrogen sulphide
common irritants and corrosives including: chlorine, ammonia and acid bases
common flammable gases including: acetylene, petroleum, methane, ethane, propane and butane
narcotics
(explosive range, upper and lower explosive limits)
exposure standards (time weighted average, short term exposure limits, peak limitation values, examination of toxic effect at the level of a range of flammable gases
conditions under which atmospheres become hazardous
organisational procedures for entering hazardous atmospheres
toxic effects on humans exposed to commonly encountered combustion gases
units of measurement used to express concentration of atmospheric contaminants (mg/cubic m. ppm, % v/v)

Underpinning skills
Don, operate in, decontaminate and remove personal protective clothing and equipment.
Analyse and communicate results of sampling.

Resource implications
For the demonstration of competence in this unit it will be necessary to provide a real life environment and/or simulations based on possible incidents. This should be done with access to a range of personal protective clothing and equipment, range of detection equipment as well as suitable simulation and/or sites.

Underpinning knowledge
May be assessed through written assignments, and observation at simulated incidents.

Consistency of performance
Evidence should be gathered over a range of variables, all using different types of monitoring equipment.

Context of assessment
A demonstration activity using workplaces/atmospheres with detectable but safe levels of contaminants should be used.