Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 12:59 AM AWST
23/07/2026 12:59 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 secure an incident site
Assess and secure an incident site
Unit of competency
National Code
PMAOMIR346B
PMAOMIR346B
State Code
W8925
W8925
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
18/12/2008
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
18/12/2008
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit applies to a person who would typically be an incident team leader and who, following an incident, undertakes the inspection of the site and makes an initial assessment as to the immediate safety of the area.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Secure and preserve the scene
- 1.1. Undertake an initial assessment of the site to identify factors which will impact on safety and scene preservation
- 1.2. Ensure that secondary incidents are prevented by isolating the site from associated or ancillary processes
- 1.3. Coordinate arrangements to secure the incident/accident site to preserve the site and maintain the safety of personnel in line with procedures
- 1.4. Restrict access to the site until the arrival of authorised company or external authority representatives
2. Record details of the incident site
- 2.1. Record details of the scene according to the organisation's policies and procedures
- 2.2. Note the status of any equipment in the incident area
- 2.3. Communicate information to relevant personnel in line with the procedures
3. Gather information
- 3.1. Record witness details and note any information given in accordance with procedures
- 3.2. Take statements from witnesses and record details of persons believed to be near the site prior to or during the incident
- 3.3. Develop an initial timeline of events leading up to the incident
4. Ensure safety when responding to an incident
- 4.1. Identify hazards
- 4.2. Assess the risks arising from those hazards
- 4.3. Implement measures to control those risks in line with procedures and duty of care
5. Respond to problems
- 5.1. Identify possible problems in equipment or process
- 5.2. Determine which problems need action
- 5.3. Determine possible fault causes
- 5.4. Rectify problem(s) using appropriate solution(s) within area of responsibility
- 5.5. Follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
- 5.6. Report problems outside area of responsibility to designated person
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, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Codes of practice/ standards
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.
Context
This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the incident response system. In your facility this may include (select relevant items):
note taking materials
standard forms
sketching materials
photographic equipment
taping or electronic videoing equipment
non sparking or radio transmission equipment (where safety permits)
Examples of problems that may arise include:
rescue equipment or personnel contaminating the site
inherent site dangers from debris or damaged equipment
weakened structures
difficulties in maintaining communication
explosive atmospheres
Health, safety and environment (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.
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, if used in the Performance Criteria, is detailed below. Add any essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment depending on the work situation, needs if the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts.
Codes of practice/ standards
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, the latest version must be used.
Context
This unit of competency includes all such items of equipment and unit operations which form part of the incident response system. In your facility this may include (select relevant items):
note taking materials
standard forms
sketching materials
photographic equipment
taping or electronic videoing equipment
non sparking or radio transmission equipment (where safety permits)
Examples of problems that may arise include:
rescue equipment or personnel contaminating the site
inherent site dangers from debris or damaged equipment
weakened structures
difficulties in maintaining communication
explosive atmospheres
Health, safety and environment (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.
EVIDENCE GUIDE
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 the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Assessment for this unit of competency will be by way of simulation or 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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to correctly respond to incident situations and in implementing appropriate action. The emphasis should be on the ability to stay ahead of the problem rather than to have to take drastic action in order to recover the situation.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
incident responses are in accordance with company procedures
site is secured to preserve and maintain safety of personnel and restricted access
the safety and/or successful recovery of the person and others affected by the incident response is afforded priority in the actions taken
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.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
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.
Method of assessment
In all workplace environments it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant units such as
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
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 the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Assessment for this unit of competency will be by way of simulation or 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 for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to correctly respond to incident situations and in implementing appropriate action. The emphasis should be on the ability to stay ahead of the problem rather than to have to take drastic action in order to recover the situation.
Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
incident responses are in accordance with company procedures
site is secured to preserve and maintain safety of personnel and restricted access
the safety and/or successful recovery of the person and others affected by the incident response is afforded priority in the actions taken
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.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
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.
Method of assessment
In all workplace environments it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with relevant units such as
Guidance information for assessment
Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate and appropriate to the oracy, language and literacy capacity of the assessee and the work being performed.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| C7859 | PMAOMIR346A | Assess and secure an incident site | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AXN65 | PMAOMIR346 | Assess and secure an incident site | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J835 | UEG40114 | Certificate IV in Gas Supply Industry Operations | Qualification |
| J834 | UEG30114 | Certificate III in Gas Supply Industry Operations | Qualification |
| J572 | PMA30113 | Certificate III in Process Plant Operations | Qualification |
| W516 | PMA30108 | Certificate III in Process Plant Operations | Qualification |
| J571 | PMA40113 | Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology | Qualification |
| W517 | PMA40108 | Certificate IV in Process Plant Technology | Qualification |