Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with the relevant regulations, conventions and codes.

Work is performed relatively independently under broad operational requirements, with accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes.

Work involves the coordination of measures to check the condition of life-saving, fire-fighting and other safety equipment and to initiate repair or replacement where equipment is found to be defective or non-functional. Contribution to the development of a broad strategy for maintaining the operational condition of life-saving, fire-fighting and other safety equipment is involved.

Work requires significant judgement in planning and coordinating the maintenance of life-saving, fire-fighting and other safety equipment on board vessels.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel.

Maintenance procedures may include:
routine checks for operational serviceability of fire-detection, fire- fighting and safety equipment and systems
identification of faults in and damage to fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and initiation of repair or replacement action where required
checking and replacement of consumable items such as extinguisher materials, detector or alarm batteries, etc.

Fire detection and fire-fighting systems may include:
fire detection devices and systems
portable fire extinguishers including foam, water, CO2, dry chemical and wet foam
CO2 fixed systems
foam installations including semi-portable and fixed systems
sprinkler systems
fire pumps - main and emergency fire pump
fire hoses, hydrants, branches and international shore connection.

Life-saving and safety systems may include:
life jackets
survival craft
life buoys
emergency radio beacons
life saving equipment and consumables.

Consumable materials and items that may used in life saving, fire detection, fire fighting and other safety systems may include:
dry and wet chemicals used in fire extinguishers
batteries for detectors, radios, beacons, etc.
flares
survival rations.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions (where applicable)
IMO STCW 95 Convention and Code
AMSA Marine Orders and Australian USL Code (as applicable)
vessel's log
fire-detection, fire- fighting and safety equipment operational and maintenance instructions and recommended procedures
instructions of relevant Maritime Authorities related to the maintenance and serviceability of ship-board fire-detection, fire- fighting and safety equipment and systems
relevant Australian and international standards.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
relevant sections of the IMO STCW 95 Code and Convention, Australian USL Code and AMSA Marine Orders
regulations for the maintenance of to fire-detection, fire- fighting and safety equipment and systems
relevant Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Check to fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems
Identify typical faults in to fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems and initiate appropriate repair or replacement action where required
Check and replace consumable materials in fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems as required
Communicate effectively with others as required during maintenance of fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit of competency must be assessed in conjunction with other mandatory units that form part of a job role of a master or engineer on a commercial vessel.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of relevant maritime regulations
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions (where applicable) as they relate to fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems
Types of fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems used on board vessels and the procedures for their use
Relevant regulations, codes of practice, policies and procedures related to the to the maintenance of fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems
Methods for checking and replacing consumable materials in typical ship-board fire-detection, fire- fighting and safety equipment and systems
The importance of maintenance of ship-board fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems and the potential consequences if the equipment or systems are not operational during an emergency
Maritime communication techniques applicable to maintenance of fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems
Faults that can occur with shipboard fire-detection, fire- fighting and safety equipment and systems and appropriate remedial action and solutions
Statutory and typical company requirements for the documentation of maintenance procedures and outcomes for fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems used on board vessels.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
carry out a range of suitably simulated practical and knowledge assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to coordinate the maintenance of fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems typically used on board vessels, and/or
assist in the coordination of the maintenance procedures for fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems on board an operational vessel.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
coordinating the maintenance of on-board fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems
identifying and evaluating operational and maintenance problems with fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems and determining appropriate courses of action
identifying and implementing improvements to maintenance procedures for fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems
assessing operational capability of fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
Relevant sections of IMO STCW Convention and Code and AMSA Marine Orders
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
job procedures and work instructions
relevant manufacturer's guidelines relating to the use of fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems, including instructions on equipment capability and limitations
following on-board housekeeping processes.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify faulty fire-detection, fire- fighting, life-saving and safety equipment and systems in accordance with established procedures.

Work is completed systematically with required attention to detail.

Context for assessment
Assessment of competence must comply with the assessment requirements of the relevant maritime regulations.

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken within relevant marine authority approved and audited arrangements by a registered training organisation:
As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral examinations
Appropriate practical assessment must occur:
at the registered training organisation, and/or
on an appropriate working or training vessel.