Elements and Performance Criteria

Workplaces may include
police stations
watch-houses
foot or mobile patrol environments
crime/incident scenes
public crowd/traffic control tasking sites
sporting and social venues
industrial/business/domestic buildings
public transport systems

Monitoring and assessing situations may include
identification and valuation of the potential risks (and their strengths) arising from a situation or a situation's particular 'time frame'
techniques such as personal observation
reviewing previous reports
gathering existing situational intelligence from colleagues
other emergency service workers and/or public present at site
analysis of situational intelligence and evidence
communication with other agencies such as RTA
Local Government
Community Services

Potential risks may include
matters or events that could harm persons
buildings of property and could be already present or evolve as a result of actions taken

Safe working practices should focus on the techniques/strategies that optimise the present and future safety of persons and property involved or present at the given workplace site and cover practices/matters including but not limited to
crowd control
situational communication techniques
dealing with aggressive/violent/intoxicated/drugged/ injured/uncooperative persons
operation of police vehicles and equipment including weapons
use of force' techniques/options/strategies
use of safety clothing (visibility vests, wet weather gear, riot clothing/headgear, rubber gloves, etc)
warning devices (portable lamps, signs, torches) and safety barriers/ warning tapes
dealing with potentially hazardous substances such as noxious gases, chemicals, fuels
prevention of disease transmissions
lifting and carry persons
risk assessment and contingency planning

Safety issues may include
Safety issues are defined as issues/matters that may impact on the future safety of officers and could include:
faulty equipment
inappropriate operational procedures
the need for skills enhancement

Communication in the context of this unit
In this unit communication is focused on 'officer survival' and therefore covers communication techniques required for dealing with potentially hazardous situations either as a single officer or in partnership with other officers/emergency service workers and includes both verbal and non-verbal techniques

Self-defence and/or restraining techniques may include
the range of offensive/defensive skills and tactics sanctioned by an organisation to enable an officer to defend against or restrain persons attempting to physically harm themselves
the officer
colleagues or members of the public

Critical aspects of evidence
It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in identifying workplace safety risks, work practices and defensive tactics to ensure the safety of self and others

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

Underpinning knowledge
Organisational OH&S legislation as it applies to policing
Organisational policy and procedures covering operational safety issues/practices
Potential risks associated with a full range of non-specialist operational policing activities
Established strategies to optimise safety under a range of operational scenarios
The 'use of force', its legal parameters and reporting requirements in relation to operations
General 'duty of care' responsibilities
OH&S Guidelines for lifting & carrying persons

Underpinning skills
Recognising and accurately assessing situational risks/hazards
Planning, implementing and where necessary adapting workplace safety responses to situational contexts
Minimising workplace risks to self, colleagues and the public
Effectively communicating safety issues/concerns to colleagues, supervisors and when necessary other emergency service workers and the public
Effectively communicate with a wide range of community members such as those with physical/sensory/intellectual impairment and cultural differences
The most appropriate 'use of force' (restraining and defensive tactics)
Safe operation and use of general issue and emergency operational equipment and safety clothing
Safe operation of police vehicles under a variety of operational and environmental contexts

Resource implications
All necessary equipment for operational safety and vehicles and standard organisational operational accoutrements are available

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

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