Elements and Performance Criteria

Context
This unit of competency covers the management of the corporate media response during an incident. The media may include:
· local media (e.g. newspapers, radio and local news sheets)
· national media (e.g. newspapers, magazines, TV, radio)
· news personnel (e.g. reporters, photographers, TV crews)

It includes all such items of equipment and workplace operations which form part of the incident response system. This may include:
· personal protective equipment
· communication equipment (e.g. telephones, facsimiles, tape recorders, cameras).

Typical problems for your facility may include:
· unauthorised access to hazardous areas
· corporate representatives and what they say
· dealing with uncooperative media
· communication breakdowns
· incorrect or misleading information.

HSE
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent Health, Safety and Environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

Relationship to Major Hazard Facility Legislation
· Organisations within the Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Oil Refining industries may find themselves falling under the provisions of various Major Hazard Facilities legislation. In developing this unit consideration has been given to the requirements of Sections 8 and 9 of the National Standard For The Control Of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:1014(2002)] and the National Code Of Practice For The Control Of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:2016(1996)].
· This unit will assist individuals to meet some of their obligations under the relevant State or Territory legislation. Responsibility for appropriate contextualisation and application of the unit to ensure compliance however, remains with the individual organisation.

Assessment context and methods
· Assessment for this unit of competency will be by way of simulation or observation under incident conditions. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which can include a variety of incident circumstances.
· Simulations must, as closely as possible, approximate actual incident conditions and should be based on the actual facility. Assessments should include 'walk throughs' of the relevant competency components and may include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.
· This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of 'what if' scenarios both in the facility (during demonstration of normal operations and walk throughs of abnormal operations) and off the site.

Critical aspects
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate responsive action. The emphasis should be on the ability to deal effectively with the incident or to contribute effectively to the recovery from the incident.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
· incident responses are in accordance with company procedures
· correct incident response equipment (where required) is used appropriately
· actions taken do not inhibit incident response effectiveness or further contribute to the incident
· appropriate documentation including reports, journal entries, logs and/or clearances are completed in accordance with procedures

These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations which may have been generated from past workplace incident history, incidents in similar workplaces around the world, hazard analysis activities and/or similar sources.

Resource implications
Assessment will require (1) access to an accurately simulated environment in the absence of an on-site incident environment, or (2) a suitable method of gathering evidence of responding ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Other assessment advice
In all workplace environments it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant units.

Essential knowledge
The knowledge referred to in the evidence guide for this Unit includes:
· dealing with the media
· access to key operational information concerning the incident
· key contact details (eg. emergency hotline numbers)
· potential and actual road closure details
· factors behind facility closures
· issued warnings, danger zones and evacuation details
· procedures and company policies concerning persons police are seeking to interview
· company policy on public information/assurance

Competence also includes the ability to isolate the causes of issues within the incident response system and to be able to distinguish between causes of issues indicated by:
· media entering or encroaching on hazardous areas
· media organisations using unauthorised contacts with emergency personnel
· lack of cooperation by the media with the company
· premature release of details concerning evidence or about incident victims
· failures to adhere to company policies and/or guidelines for media communication