Elements and Performance Criteria

This unit does not involve the development of search and rescue plans, nor the conduct/ coordination of a search and rescue, but rather relates to the site/facility person who will need to provide organisation input to the specialist search and rescue organisations.

Rescue scenarios may include:
· lost plane/helicopter transporting crew
· lost supply vessel
· lost truck/vehicle
· individual or groups requiring rescue
· hazardous or non-hazardous goods

Relevant agencies may include:
· national maritime search and rescue
· SES
· police

Information required may include:
· last known position
· expected route and arrival and departure times
· local weather conditions
· relevant conditions at site such as landing facilities

Conclusion to a search and rescue may be because:
· object of search found and rescued
· agencies recommend search be called off

HSE
All operations to which this unit applies are subject to stringent Health, Safety and Environment requirements, which may be imposed through State or federal legislation, and these must not be compromised at any time. Where there is an apparent conflict between performance criteria and HSE requirements, the HSE requirements take precedence.

Relationship to Major Hazard Facility Legislation
· Organisations within the Chemical, Hydrocarbons and Oil Refining industries may find themselves falling under the provisions of various Major Hazard Facilities legislation. In developing this unit consideration has been given to the requirements of Sections 8 and 9 of the National Standard For The Control Of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:1014(2002)] and the National Code Of Practice For The Control Of Major Hazard Facilities [NOHSC:2016(1996)].
· This unit will assist individuals to meet some of their obligations under the relevant State or Territory legislation. Responsibility for appropriate contextualisation and application of the unit to ensure compliance however, remains with the individual organisation.

Assessment context and methods
· Assessment for this unit of competency will be by way of simulation (eg Search and Rescue Exercise - SAREX) or under incident conditions. The unit will be assessed in as holistic a manner as is practical and may be integrated with the assessment of other relevant units of competency. Assessment will occur over a range of situations which can include a variety of incident circumstances.
· Simulations must, as closely as possible, approximate actual incident conditions and should be based on the actual facility. Assessments should include 'walk throughs' of the relevant competency components and may include the use of case studies/scenarios and role plays.
· This unit of competency requires a significant body of knowledge which will be assessed through questioning and the use of 'what if' scenarios both in the facility (during demonstration of normal operations and walk throughs of abnormal operations) and off the site.

Critical aspects
Competence must be demonstrated in the ability to recognise and analyse potential situations requiring action and then in implementing appropriate responsive action. The emphasis should be on the ability to deal effectively with the incident or to contribute effectively to the recovery from the incident.

Consistent performance should be demonstrated. In particular look to see that:
· communication links with agencies are established
· a log of relevant information is routinely maintained
· information required is able to be quickly accessed and communicated to relevant agency
· different agencies and their capabilities is known.

These assessment activities should include a range of problems, including new, unusual and improbable situations which may have been generated from past workplace incident history, incidents in similar workplaces around the world, hazard analysis activities and/or similar sources.

Resource implications
Assessment will require (1) access to an accurately simulated environment in the absence of an on-site incident environment, or (2) a suitable method of gathering evidence of responding ability over a range of situations. A bank of scenarios/case studies/what ifs will be required as will a bank of questions which will be used to probe the reasoning behind the observable actions.

Other assessment advice
In all facilities it may be appropriate to assess this unit concurrently with other relevant units.

Essential knowledge
Competence includes an understanding of search and rescue techniques and the capability of relevant search and rescue agencies and platforms and the ability to recognise and resolve problems. In particular it includes and ability to:
· negotiate with relevant agencies
· access and collate information and determine information relevant to the search and rescue
· interpret the search and rescue plans for different agencies and determine interfaces with own organisation/site/facility
· keep required records before, during and after a search and rescue incident
· effectively communicate and consult with a range of individuals by a range of means including fax, telephone and face-to-face