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.

Roles:
· support aquaculture operations
· support wild catch fishing operations
· supervise other divers
· support vessel maintenance
· undertake aquaculture farm maintenance
· act as standby.

Qualifications:
· Australian Diver Accreditation Scheme (ADAS)
· industry
· recreational.

Physical condition:
· lung or eardrum barotrauma
· decompression sickness and predisposing factors
· squeezes
· near drowning, drowning and salt water fever
· poisoning and toxicity:
· carbon monoxide
· carbon dioxide
· oxygen
· stings and wounds inflicted by marine animals
· shocks from bleeding
· hypothermia
· hyperventilation
· bites.

Applied:
· calculations
· Boyle's Law
· Charles' Laws
· Dalton's Law
· Henry's Law
· Archimedes Principle.

Guidelines and regulatory requirements:
· Australian standards
· training and certification of occupational divers
· industry codes of practice
· OHS codes of practice and regulations.

Identified:
· directly
· advised by a third party.

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 occupational diving certificates.

The essential knowledge and understanding a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· principles relating to:
· the relationship between pressure and volume (Boyle's Law)
· the relationship between pressure and temperature (Charles' Laws)
· the partial pressure of gases (Dalton's law)
· the solubility of gases (Henry's Law)
· buoyancy (Archimedes Principle)
· understanding of:
· the ADAS
· recreational dive-industry qualifications relating to occupational diving
· obligations, responsibilities and required health status for accreditation as an occupational diver
· Australian standards relating to diving: AS/NZ2299 and AS 2185
· the relationship between the ADAS and diver-training establishments
· atmospheric, hydrostatic, absolute, ambient and gauge pressures
· the effect on divers of pressure, volume and temperature changes
· the effect on divers of partial pressure and solubility of gases
· the need for decompression as it relates to partial pressure and solubility of gases
· different effects of salt water and fresh water on buoyancy
· positive, negative and neutral buoyancy
· equipment used to compensate for buoyancy changes
· the behaviour of light and sound under water and their effect on divers
· equipment used to compensate for light and sound effects under water
· statutory requirements for OHS in diving operations
· hazards other than those directly related to diving that may affect divers
· the use and effect of nitrox in surface-orientated diving operations using self-contained underwater breathing apparatus
· advantages and limitations of the use of one hundred per cent oxygen in managing diving illnesses
· procedures relating to maintaining the health and safety of the individual and others
· information relating to:
· industry and government bodies associated with diving
· reciprocal recognition arrangements of dive standards with other countries.

Practical skills
The essential skills a person needs to perform work to the required standard include:
· calculating:
· volume changes with changing depths and pressures
· pressure changes with changes in temperature
· partial pressure of gases at different depths
· buoyancies of various objects at different depths
· complying with OHS regulatory requirements
· complying with the general requirements of Australian standards for diving
· complying with any relevant codes of practice
· assessing and establishing the needs of a diving casualty
· providing first aid to a diving casualty
· assisting in the treatment of diving-related health conditions and illnesses.

Literacy skills used for:
· following dive tables
· reading diving information and instruments.

Numeracy skills used for:
· calculations for diving operations.

Critical aspects of competence
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
· comply with regulations and industry standards relating to occupational diving
· follow OHS requirements for diving operations
· complete calculations accurately relating to depth, pressure, temperature, gases and buoyancy
· assess the needs of a diving casualty and provide first aid as required
· assist in the treatment of diving-related health conditions and illnesses.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
· regulations, Australian standards and industry standards related to diving
· the laws and principles relating to depth, pressure, temperature, gases and buoyancy
· the statutory requirements for OHS in diving operations
· hazards associated with diving
· the use and effect of gases
· the advantages and limitations of the use of gases
· first aid principles as they relate to diving-related conditions, illnesses and accidents.

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
· project work.

Resources required for assessment
Resources may include:
· suitable dive sites
· relevant diving equipment
· manuals relating to the various regulations and codes of practice
· current first aid manuals.