Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 5:12 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.

Maintain police operational safety

Maintain police operational safety

Unit of competency
National Code
PUAPOLGD001A
State Code
WG928
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
3.00
Current Release Date
28/08/2012
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
07/07/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
07/07/2014
Nominal Hours
70
Description
This unit covers the competency required to assess and respond to operational safety risks.This unit does not cover the specialised safety practices required of specialist officers such as police diver, search and rescue squad member, special operations/tactical response group member, covert investigators or some forensic investigators.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Assess and action situational risks in workplaces
  • 1.1 Situational safety is assessed and well-informed judgements are made in accordance with agreed operational practices and the surrounding environment
  • 1.2 Potential risks to own safety, the safety of fellow officers and members of the public are quickly and correctly identified, assessed and actioned where appropriate
2. Maintain a safe working environment
  • 2.1 Operational safety responses/procedures are identified and/or planned and implemented within organisational policies and procedures
  • 2.2 Equipment, materials and environment are assessed for hazards and protective action is planned to ensure the health and safety of people
  • 2.3 Safety issues are evaluated and advised to relevant officers and alternate responses are actioned where appropriate
  • 2.4 Appropriate protective clothing and equipment are correctly identified, worn and utilised where and when required
  • 2.5 Incidents are identified, and observations are recorded and reported accurately, promptly and in the required format to relevant personnel
3. Employ operational safety skills and tactics
  • 3.1 Situations are assessed correctly and informed judgements made as appropriate for the use of operational safety skills and tactics
  • 3.2 Operational safety skills and tactics are applied in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, subject to surrounding conditions
  • 3.3 Documentation regarding the use of force is completed and submitted in accordance with organisational requirements
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.
Workplaces may include:
Crime/incident scenes
Foot or mobile patrol environments
Industrial/business/domestic buildings
Police stations
Public crowd/traffic control tasking sites
Public transport systems
Sporting and social venues
Watch houses
Potential risks may include:
Buildings or property and could be already present or evolve as a result of actions taken
Matters or events that could harm persons
Assessing and actioning potential risks may include:
Analysing situational intelligence and evidence
Communicating with other agencies such as the Road Traffic Authority (RTA), local government, community services
Gathering existing situational intelligence from colleagues
Identifying and valuing potential risks (and their strengths) arising from a situation or a situation's particular timeframe
Other emergency service workers and/or public present at site
Reporting
Reviewing previous reports
Safe control/management of hazard
Techniques such as personal observation
Safety issues may include:
Issues/matters that may impact on the future safety of officers and could include faulty equipment
Inappropriate operational procedures or the need for skills enhancement
Operational safety skills and tactics may include:
Crowd control
Dealing with aggressive/violent/intoxicated/drugged/ injured/uncooperative persons
Dealing with potentially hazardous substances such as noxious gases, chemicals, fuels
Lifting and carry persons
Operation of police vehicles and equipment including weapons
Preventing disease transmissions
Range of skills and tactics sanctioned by an organisation to enable an officer to defend against or restrain persons attempting to physically harm themselves
Risk assessment and contingency planning
Situational communication techniques
Use of force techniques/options/strategies
Use of safety clothing (such as visibility vests, wet weather gear, riot clothing/headgear, rubber gloves)
Warning devices (portable lamps, signs, torches) and safety barriers/warning tapes
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
identify workplace safety risks, work practices and defensive tactics to ensure the safety of self and others.
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed over time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
standard organisational operational accoutrements
operational safety equipment and vehicles.
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions.
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
D3782 PUAPOL001B Maintain operational safety Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AVN52 POLGEN019 Operate safely within a policing environment Unit of competency