Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range of Variables explains the range of contexts within which the performance and knowledge requirements of this unit may be assessed. The scope of variables chosen in training and assessment may depend on the work contexts.

What might assessing the situation involve?
Assessment of a given situation might include consideration of the safety of members of the public, self, team members and animals; road safety; environmental issues concerning residential properties, public facilities, open spaces, roads, etc; circumstances such as aggressive / large / injured animal, crowded place, time of day; type, size and number of animals to be seized; and the health and wellbeing of animals to be seized.

What things may be considered in the development of the seizure plan?
The development of the seizure plan may include consideration of risk issues involved; making the area safe (e.g. roadway where traffic needs to be stopped); urgency (e.g. how quickly resolution is required); whether the situation can be quarantined; if better arrangements can be made for a later time; appropriate capture strategy and methods for the circumstances; number of personnel available to assist and their relevant skills; involvement of other emergency services personnel (e.g. police, paramedics and fire and rescue); availability of equipment and qualified equipment operator; number, type, size, weight and height of animals; animals' behaviour such as fear, panic or aggression; injuries animals might have sustained; legislative requirements; immediate area (e.g. paddock, main road, etc); role of participants in the seizure; restraint procedures; transport requirements; where animal will be taken or disposed of in the event of its death; and relevant documentation to be completed.

What capture equipment might be required and how might it be used?
The equipment used in securing or restraining livestock and / or large animals would include demountable yards, temporary fencing, stock transporter vehicles, winch loaders, trail bikes, nets, bells and horns, catch poles, traps, leads, bribes such as food, ropes, halters and headstalls, hessian bags / woolpacks, protective clothing and cages.
The equipment used in routine dog capture techniques to restrain dogs that are not manageable would include trapping devices.
In some situations, and when permitted by legislation, restraining drugs (e.g. tranquillisers or anaesthetics) may need to be remotely administered to livestock or unmanageable dogs via projectile firing devices (e.g. firearm or capture gun) and using a limited number of the most appropriate drugs.
On occasions where no other reasonable option exists, animals that can't be effectively restrained may need to be shot dead where they are.
Appropriate licences and permits must be held by the user and relevant records must be kept in accordance with legislation and standard operating procedures.

What personnel could be included in the consultations?
Animal control officers, other council staff, veterinarians, wildlife officers, police, emergency services such as fire and ambulance and relevant state department officers.

What animals would be involved in this unit?
Large animals may include livestock (e.g. cattle, horses and sheep), kangaroos, camels and emus and may also include escaped circus animals.
Aggressive animals in most cases would refer to dogs but may include livestock or escaped circus animals.
Dangerous animals could include snakes, aggressive animals or escaped circus animals. Animals not normally dealt with should also be treated as dangerous animals on approach by an officer to ensure the safety to the officer and bystanders.
Injured animals may include all of the above as well as wildlife and / or native animals.

What type of OHS and emergency procedures could be relevant?
The capture and seizure of animals in animal control and regulation has a range of associated risks from bites, envenomation, kicks or scratches. All duties should reflect an awareness of and a respect for these risks.
The handling of chemicals and firearms requires extra care to ensure safe work practices are maintained.
Safe work practices are used in packaging and handling loads, including animals. Appropriate safe handling techniques are used to reduce muscle load on exertion. Protocols for safe work practices include animal hazard identification and animal handling.
Animal control and regulation environments may expose personnel to risks such as zoonoses, release of infective agents (both animal and human) and chemical spillage. Procedures to reduce the spread of disease may include incident reporting, cleaning, removal of waste and spillage, containment or elimination of risk, the use of personal protective clothing and equipment and seeking advice from supervisors.
Policies and procedures are followed in selecting appropriate drugs and administering them in a safe and humane manner.
Emergency procedures would relate to the potential escape of an animal or injury to an animal, other animals, staff and potentially the public.

What is involved in transporting animals?
Loading animals into vehicles; applying appropriate restraints; in some cases an officer may have to feed, water and / or provide temporary housing for the animal (this will depend on the opening hours of the end destination that may include a veterinary clinic or pound).

What types of action may be taken?
Action may include discussion with owners in respect to their responsibilities and the animal's future, retrieval process of an animal and legal proceedings.

What are the critical aspects of evidence required for this unit of competency as a whole?
The critical requirements that are valuable for this unit of competency as a whole are listed below.

Assessment must confirm one's ability to:

assess a situation to determine an appropriate seizure plan to be implemented
coordinate a seizure plan including requesting backup / assistance as required and minimising risk to self, bystanders, the public and target animal
capture a range of dangerous, aggressive, large or injured animals
use capture / seizure, restraint, sedation and transportation equipment / devices in a safe manner
communicate effectively with bystanders and the personnel involved in the seizure
administer drugs remotely to seize animals as required and permitted by legislation
keep accurate records of seizure
prepare brief for supervisor after the event as required by organisational policies and procedures.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit of competency are listed below and include:

equipment, methods and strategies for seizing, restraining and transporting animals
relevant legislation and codes of practice relating to the capture / seizure and transportation of animals
organisational policies and procedures, including OHS
health, hygiene, diseases and zoonoses
animal stress and threat signs (e.g. aggression)
animals' interpretation of human body language when being approached
appropriate capture and restraint methods for different animals
specific restraint drugs, their pharmacology, antidotes, dose rates, methods of administration and effects (to both animals and humans in case of error)
use of equipment including firearms, capture guns and anaesthetic agents
importance of maintaining equipment
relevant health legislation and drug use regulations.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These skills include:

ability to implement organisational policies and procedures
ability to develop a seizure plan quickly in consultation with others
ability to capture / seize animals
ability to use safe handling techniques
ability to calculate doses of specific drugs and administer medications
ability to use firearms safely and with accuracy
ability to administer specific drugs where permitted by legislation
ability to estimate target animals' body weights sufficient to calculate drug doses
ability to procure, store and record use of specific drugs and dispose of discarded materials
ability to maintain tools and equipment in accordance with manufacturers' specifications
ability to coordinate others
ability to demonstrate a mature approach to the daily application of safe work practices
literacy skills to read and interpret relevant legislation
interpersonal skills to relate to people from other related agencies
excellent teamwork skills
oral communication skills to fulfil the job role as specified by the organisation including questioning techniques, active listening, asking for clarification from third parties and reporting to supervisor
problem-solving skills to use available resources and prioritise daily tasks.

What are the specific resource implications for this unit of competency?
For valid assessment, one
an appropriate workplace or an environment that reproduces normal work conditions
equipment and resources normally used in the workplace
range of dangerous, aggressive, large and / or injured animals
relevant equipment used for seizure / capture, restraint, sedation and transportation
relevant safety equipment, including personal protective equipment.

What considerations should there be for consistency in performance?
To ensure consistency in one's performance, competency should be demonstrated on more than one occasion over a period of time in order to cover a variety of circumstances, cases and responsibilities, and where possible, over a number of assessment activities.
The skills and knowledge required to

What considerations should there be for context of assessment?
Assessment for this unit of competency is to be largely practical in nature and will be most appropriately assessed in an animal control and regulation workplace.
There must be access in this situation to the appropriate equipment and / or resources to enable one to demonstrate competency.

Are there other units of competency that could be assessed with this one?
This unit of competency
RUV4202A Assess and impound animals

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this unit of competency. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
Through discussion with team members, stakeholders and other agencies about the seizure plan. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By determining the correct seizure technique based on the analysis of a range of information. (2)

Planning and organising activities
By planning the seizure procedure. (3)

Working with others and in teams
By working with others on agreed tasks. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By using arithmetic calculations when preparing dosages for the administration of medications. (2)

Solving problems
By analysing the animal and its situation to determine the best approach to seizure. (3)

Using technology
By using electronic databases and the Internet for accessing information and applying that information to management systems, using two-way radios, mobile phones and other electronic equipment. (2)