Elements and Performance Criteria

The range of variables places the competency in context and allows for differences between enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. The range of variables also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The following variables may be present.

Operations:
· collecting sea animals:
· pearls
· abalone
· molluscs
· beche-de-mer
· crayfish
· sea urchins
· broodstock
· ornamental fish
· tending aquaculture animals
· installing, servicing and maintaining ponds, farm environment, cages and associated equipment
· retrieving lost tools and equipment
· collecting dead stock
· eradicating predators
· from a beach
· from a vessel
· from a jetty.

Equipment:
· main and reserve air supplies
· breathing apparatus:
· demand type (band mask and helmet)
· free-flow type
· diver's clothing
· weights, fins and masks
· buoyancy compensator
· safety harness
· depth-measuring instruments
· diving watch
· shot-line
· umbilicals
· gauges
· surface-supply panel
· surface-supply compressor unit
· communication systems:
· topside and diver
· power supply
· tape recorders and tapes
· catch bags
· knives.

Emergency:
· entrapment
· entanglement
· malfunctioning equipment
· predator
· injury
· medical.

Communication:
· voice
· lifeline signals
· hand signals
· slate.

Assistance:
· rescue:
· conscious diver
· unconscious diver
· disentangle
· remove cause of entrapment
· in-water surface resuscitation.

Ascent:
· with or without air supply
· lifeline
· buoyancy compensator
· shedding weights
· stage
· underwater propulsion device.

Shedding weights:
· seabed
· mid-water
· surface.

Each unit of competency has an evidence guide that relates directly to the performance criteria and the range of variables. Its purpose is to guide assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program. The following components provide information to assist this purpose.

Underpinning knowledge
The underpinning knowledge identified for this unit is comprehensive due to its likely inclusion in a group of units that may be used as the basis for the issue of licences by regulatory bodies.

The essential knowledge and understanding a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· effective methods to handle a range of physical emergencies
· emergencies that may occur during diving operations in the seafood industry
· treatment of medical emergencies
· procedures related to the use of equipment in relation to identified emergencies
· risk of hyperthermia or hypothermia when fully dressed as a standby diver
· need for and limitations of shedding weights in particular emergency situations
· suit inflation and buoyancy compensator inflation procedures
· free-ascent practices and associated dangers and limitations.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· dressing appropriately for standby-diver duties and maintaining a state of readiness
· using a safety line to locate a diver in distress
· applying emergency/rescue procedures in accordance with the situation
· giving expired-air resuscitation to a surfaced diver while in the water
· recovering a diver in distress to the surface
· applying emergency first aid procedures
· free ascending correctly, completing proper drills during ascent and on the surface
· maintaining communication with diver's tender and following instructions.

Literacy skills used for:
· reading regulations and industry guidelines
· reading dive tables
· keeping records
· reading diver's first aid literature
· following an emergency action plan
· completing 'dive accident medical information' forms.

Numeracy skills used for:
· making calculations involving pressure, volume and temperature relationships
· using decompression information while underwater.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· perform standby-diver duties
· apply emergency/rescue procedures to:
· conscious diver
· unconscious diver
· undertake in-water surface resuscitation
· recover a distressed diver and apply first aid
· free ascend correctly and safely
· communicate and follow instructions.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· physical emergency procedures
· treatment of medical emergencies
· hyperthermia and hypothermia
· shedding weights in emergency situations
· inflation procedures and free-ascent practices.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit may be assessed after/with:
· No recommendations.

Context of assessment
Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
· observation of practical demonstration
· written or oral short answer testing
· practical exercises.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· suitable diving environment
· diving equipment for SSBA diving operations as listed in the range of variables.