Elements and Performance Criteria

Incident scene may include
urban fire
wild fire
vehicle fire
crime scene
search for missing persons or evidence
vehicle accident
natural disaster
industrial/mining accident
incident involving death or injury to person or damage to property
urban scene
rural scene
indoor scene
outdoor scene
animal incident
marine
aircraft
train
explosions
hazardous materials

Assessment of scene may be conducted
at scene
en route to and from scene

Factors impacting may include
public safety risk factors including factors that could impact on the safety of investigators
response team
the security/ preservation of the actual site
the security and preservation of situational evidence
traffic
tactical factors affecting the quality of the investigation including environmental circumstances
chronology of events
access to scene
number of persons at scene
availability of support services
boundaries

Persons at scene may include
incident scene specialists
forensic experts
potential witnesses
victims
other bystanders
personnel from other organisations
media
coroners
pathologists
medical practitioners
undertakers
forensic accountants
information technology consultants
legal officers
owners and/or occupiers

Security of scene may be affected by
topography
climatic conditions
human interference
animal interference
preservation of life/ property
structural integrity
availability of personnel

Securing scene may include
removing non-emergency personnel from scene
isolating scene
erecting barriers

Details of scene may include
date
time
location
damage
persons present
property involved
possible causes
items of evidence
injuries
status of utilities services such as broken water pipes
animal species present
flora
fauna
size and construction of building
occupancy
insurance details

Witness details may include
name
contact details
other details in accordance with organisation's policies and procedures

Relevant personnel may include
supervisor
team leader
police
investigating officer
other organisation's personnel

Communication may include
verbal
completing standard forms
written

Recording and reporting may include
taking notes
completing standard forms
making sketches
taking photographs
taping
electronic videoing

Preserving scene may include
Preserving evidence and the area of origin

Organisational and legislative requirements may vary between sectors and organisations and may include
legislation relevant to the operation/incident/response
legislation relevant to the organisation
operational
corporate and strategic plans
operational procedures
operational performance standards
organisation's personnel practices and guidelines
organisation's quality standards

Critical aspects of evidence
Demonstrated ability to effectively secure scene and record and report details in accordance with the organisation's policies and procedures

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units: Nil
Co-requisite units: Nil

Underpinning knowledge
methods of securing scene
techniques for removing public from scene
organisation requirements for taking witness details and information
regulatory requirements for taking witness details and information
legislative and organisation requirements relating to scene preservation
types of information which may assist in investigations
techniques for estimating distance

Underpinning skills
observation
listening
note taking
questioning
reporting

Resource implications
No special requirements

Consistency of performance
Evidence should be gathered over a period of time in a range of actual or simulated workplace environments

Context of assessment
Performance at an incident, exercise or simulation is required to demonstrate competence in this unit. Written or verbal questions may be used as supporting evidence