Elements and Performance Criteria

Appropriate personnel may include
all employees
department head or manager
emergency response teams
employees' safety representative
health and safety committee
responsible officer
supervisors or leading hands.

Clean-up includes but is not limited to
removal of plant/equipment/vehicle from site
removal/disposal of contaminated soil/liquid
shovelling
sweeping out
use of cleaning products/fluids
use of high-pressure water or air-hosing
vacuuming.

Client/company includes all forms of business enterprises in this context, including
general public
government agencies
local governments
private and public companies
residents/ratepayers.

Company requirements may include
company policy, contractual arrangements and organisational procedures.

Containment and isolation may include
bund area
erect barricades
move vehicle or equipment away from hazardous area
seal leaks
transfer waste
use fire extinguisher.

Emergency and personal protective equipment must include
appropriate footwear
communications equipment
eye protection
eyewash kit
fire extinguishers
First Aid kit
gloves
overalls and protective clothing.

Emergency escape details include but are not limited to
all-clear procedures
clean-up procedures
procedure and route
procedures for all critical plant operator personnel
procedures to account for all personnel after emergency evacuation complete.

Emergency response plan includes but is not limited to
a chain of command or supervision in an emergency
emergency communication system and central control
emergency evacuation procedures including emergency escape route
emergency response teams
names or regular job titles of person or department to be contacted for further information or explanation of duties under the plan
personal protective equipment (PPE)
procedure for accounting for personnel
procedures to account for all employees after emergency evacuation has been completed
procedures to be followed by personnel who remain to perform or shut down critical plant operations before site is evacuated
rescue and medical duties for those employees who are to perform them
security measures
the preferred means for reporting fires and other emergencies
training
vehicle contact with overhead wires.

Emergency response procedures include but are not limited to
assembly points
controller and wardens
emergency contacts
evacuation points
First Aid
floor plans
personnel checklists
raising the alarm
site safety plan
standard orders
the alarm system
training of emergency response teams
training of employees.

Emergency service specialists include
ambulance service, fire brigade, medical service and police department.

Emergency systems/equipment may include
communication systems
emergency lighting
exit doors
fire escape/stairwells
fire protection equipment.

Evacuation procedures can be found in
company requirements and relevant legislation (including occupational health and safety).

External emergencies may include
airplane crash
bushfires
civil disturbance
explosion
flood
hazardous material/toxic emissions
motor vehicle accident
storm
terrorism.

Internal emergencies may include
bomb threat/suspect package
explosion
fire
hazardous material spill/toxic emissions
machinery/equipment malfunction
medical emergency
other hazards specific to the organisation
powerlines
security breach/civil disturbance
vehicle accident.

OHS requirements may include
company OHS reporting and audit systems
company policy
duty of care
PPE
safe work procedures.

Personnel training plans include but are not limited to
alarm systems
containment and isolation procedures
evacuation plans
readiness for various types of potential emergencies
reporting and shut-down procedures
storage, selection and use of PPE.

Potential hazards include but are not limited to
those potential hazards identified by the organisation that may cause harm, injury or illness to its employees, contractors, visitors and general public; and damage to plant, vehicles, property or the environment.
This relates to on-site or off-site activities (whether company-owned or occupied premises customer/client premises or public property), over which it could be expected the organisation had control.

Protection of company interest may include
collecting details from witnesses, not admitting liability and not talking to media.

Relevant stakeholders include
client/customers
company personnel
emergency services
emergency services
general public
government agencies
local governments
neighbouring people/premises
other affected parties
relevant environmental protection agency
residents/ratepayers.

Report documentation includes but is not limited to
authorities notified
cause or suspected cause of emergency
damage incurred (including to personnel, vehicle, equipment and general public)
emergency response procedures undertaken
nature of clean-up
nature, type, source and severity of emergency
recommendations for preventing future emergencies
regulatory authority documents.

Response to vehicle contact with overhead wires may include
ensure vehicle involved in incident has been thoroughly inspected prior to reintroduction to service
liaise with relevant parties to ensure remedial action is implemented
notify relevant statutory authority(s)
notify wire owner and other parties who may be affected by incident
response team attending incident scene and conducting preliminary investigation of the incident in accordance with company procedures
review incident report form completed by operator
review response team investigation findings and propose remedial/preventative actions with parties involved.

State and federal legislative requirements may include
Australian Code for the Transport of Dangerous Goods by Road or Rail
duty of care
industry codes of conduct
occupational health and safety
relevant Australian Standards
relevant environmental protection legislation.

Critical aspects of competency
All risks are continually monitored in order to minimise the potential of an emergency.
Emergency response plans are formulated and reviewed in consultation with personnel, emergency service specialists, and in line with statutory requirements.
Plans are simple yet effective to implement.
All personnel, including key emergency response personnel, are regularly trained in their appointed duties and appropriate emergency response procedures.
Documentation of emergency situation and response actions is in standardised report template (in accordance with company requirements).

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria
Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below.
OHS requirements.
Standard emergency response requirements.
Components, features and layout of an emergency response plan.
Company policy and procedures in relation to emergency response.
Personnel work requirements and company site operations.
Duty of care to personnel and general public.
Personal protective equipment types and uses.
Emergency communication systems.
Relevant industry standards.
Relevant legislation.
Relevant industry standards.
Relevant environmental regulations.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These are:

communication skills including liaison with stakeholders, asking questions, providing information, explaining strategy and objectives
reading and interpreting data, information and legislation
prioritising
evaluation.

Resources required to assess this unit

The following resources should be available:

range of emergency situations
case studies
simulated evacuation/emergency response exercise in workplace environment
emergency response plan
emergency equipment and personal protective equipment.

Consistency in performance
Assessment requires that the emergency response plan meets the needs of the workplace and complies with industry standards and legislative requirements.
It is important the plan's procedural elements reflect the emergency response requirements identified at the initial review stage. The plan needs to show a broad level of consultation with all relevant stakeholders. Equally, the plan is required to be clearly and accurately written to ensure concise understanding by all stakeholders.

Context of assessment
Valid and reliable assessment of this unit can be obtained through the presentation of a documented emergency response plan.
Further evidence of competency can be achieved through observing the management processes within a simulated emergency response/evacuation in the workplace and a variety of waste environments.

Communicating ideas and information
Formulate and document the plan in a clear and accurate format and communicate the plan concisely, clearly and effectively to relevant personnel and other stakeholders. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Gather information from a number of sources (including regulatory sources and company requirements) about the standard requirements, procedures and principles to be incorporated within an emergency response plan. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Undertake detailed planning at a management level to develop the emergency response plan. (3)

Working with others and in teams
Incorporate overall management procedures for the chain of command, communication and training functions within the emergency response plan. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Document mathematical components of the response and reporting mechanisms within the emergency response plan. (1)

Solving problems
Apply problem-solving skills throughout the process of determining emergency response requirements and effective management of the emergency response within the plan. (3)

Using technology
Incorporate the use of technology-based systems and equipment within the management plan for emergency response. (2)