Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 5:38 AM AWST
22/07/2026 5:38 AM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident
Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident
Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR316
PUAFIR316
State Code
WG117
WG117
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
29/05/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
29/05/2014
Nominal Hours
24
Description
This unit covers the competency required to use specific equipment to detect airborne contaminants, liquids and solids.This unit replaces PUAFIR307B Monitor hazardous atmospheres. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Assess hazardous materials incident
- 1.1 Hazardous materials incident is approached using care and caution and a safe distance is maintained, in accordance with organisational procedures and/or advice from appropriate authorities
- 1.2 Hazardous materials are identified from a safe distance and information is conveyed to the supervisor in accordance with organisational guidelines
- 1.3 Information sources are accessed to determine the potential behaviour of hazardous materials, in accordance with organisational guidelines
2. Identify and assess hazards at incident
- 2.1 Site hazards are identified in accordance with organisational guidelines.
- 2.2 Specific hazards relating to the material/s and container/s are identified in accordance with organisational guidelines.
- 2.3 Relevant hazard information is incorporated into the detection strategy.
- 2.4 Hazards are assessed according to organisational guidelines and information is conveyed to supervisor.
3. Develop an entry plan
- 3.1 Entry objectives are identified and conveyed to supervisor.
- 3.2 Entry plan is developed in accordance with supervisor directives and organisational policies.
- 3.3 Appropriate detection equipment is assessed and selected in accordance with organisational policies.
- 3.4 Personal protective equipment is considered in accordance with organisational policies and response situation.
- 3.5 Hazard control zones are established in accordance with organisational policies.
- 3.6 Decontaminationmethods are identified in accordance with organisational policies.
- 3.7 Organisations required to assist with the operation are determined and documented.
- 3.8 Detection strategy is documented in accordance with organisational policies.
4. Implement entry plan
- 4.1 Entry plan is implemented in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.2 Detection equipment is prepared for use in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.3 Detection equipment is used and maintained in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.4 Results are recorded and reported in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.5 Upon leaving the area of operations, decontamination procedures are undertaken when required, in accordance with organisational procedures.
5. Review entry plan
- 5.1 Entry plan is reviewed and safety of entry team is monitored in accordance with organisational guidelines.
- 5.2 Contamination incidents are recorded and reported to appropriate personnel in accordance with organisational guidelines.
- 5.3 Entry is reviewed in accordance with organisational guidelines.
The Range Statement relates to the Unit of Competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Procedures must include:
government organisational procedures
organisational procedures including maintenance
work health and safety practices and procedures
and may also include:
Australian Standards and manufacturer’s guidelines
confined space procedures such as permit entry plan and entry testing procedures
dynamic risk assessment and planning procedures
Identification of hazardous materials must include:
HAZMAT information
initial information
placarding
product/trade names
site manager
visual signs and material indicators
Information sources must include:
chemdata
material safety data sheets (MSDSs) or safety data sheets (SDSs)
technical specialist
and may also include:
electronic databases
environment
reference texts
Potential behaviour of hazardous materials must include:
corrosivity
entry routes of toxins
flammability
toxicity
vapour density
vapour pressure
Hazards must include:
chemical, biological, radiological,
physical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, visual, environment and dangerous situations
pressure vessels and lines
Entry plan may include:
action levels
decontamination
detection strategy
personal protective equipment
safe approach entry and exit
Detection equipment must include:
carbon monoxide detector
flammable gas detector
hydrogen sulphide detector
indicator paper
oxygen detector
and may also include:
air sampling apparatus
biological agent detectors
chemical agent monitors
colourimetric detection tubes
field sampling kit
flame ionisation detectors and flame photometric detectors
fourier transform infrared (ftir) spectrometers
hazard categorisation (hazcat) kits
ionisation mobility spectrometers
photoionisation detectors
radiation detectors
radiation dosimeters
radioisotope identifiers and neutron detectors
Raman spectrometers
remote air sampling equipment
sampling tubes
specific electrochemical detectors such as formaldehyde, chlorine
Response situations may include:
confined spaces
ducts
hazardous waste sites
motor vehicle accidents
pits and shafts
Post fire situations
ships
simulated hazardous environments
storage tanks and silos
transport vehicles
unknown substance incidents
unsound or unsafe structures
Hazard control zones must include:
area of likely contamination (hot zone)
area of operations (warm zone)
support zone (cold zone)
criteria applied to determine the extent of hazardous areas
controlled exits, entrances, refuges and emergency exits
Decontamination methods must include:
decontamination plan and corridors
types of decontamination as per organisational procedures
Organisations required to assist may include:
ambulance
commercial organisations
emergency services
government departments
local government
police
Procedures must include:
government organisational procedures
organisational procedures including maintenance
work health and safety practices and procedures
and may also include:
Australian Standards and manufacturer’s guidelines
confined space procedures such as permit entry plan and entry testing procedures
dynamic risk assessment and planning procedures
Identification of hazardous materials must include:
HAZMAT information
initial information
placarding
product/trade names
site manager
visual signs and material indicators
Information sources must include:
chemdata
material safety data sheets (MSDSs) or safety data sheets (SDSs)
technical specialist
and may also include:
electronic databases
environment
reference texts
Potential behaviour of hazardous materials must include:
corrosivity
entry routes of toxins
flammability
toxicity
vapour density
vapour pressure
Hazards must include:
chemical, biological, radiological,
physical, electrical, mechanical, thermal, visual, environment and dangerous situations
pressure vessels and lines
Entry plan may include:
action levels
decontamination
detection strategy
personal protective equipment
safe approach entry and exit
Detection equipment must include:
carbon monoxide detector
flammable gas detector
hydrogen sulphide detector
indicator paper
oxygen detector
and may also include:
air sampling apparatus
biological agent detectors
chemical agent monitors
colourimetric detection tubes
field sampling kit
flame ionisation detectors and flame photometric detectors
fourier transform infrared (ftir) spectrometers
hazard categorisation (hazcat) kits
ionisation mobility spectrometers
photoionisation detectors
radiation detectors
radiation dosimeters
radioisotope identifiers and neutron detectors
Raman spectrometers
remote air sampling equipment
sampling tubes
specific electrochemical detectors such as formaldehyde, chlorine
Response situations may include:
confined spaces
ducts
hazardous waste sites
motor vehicle accidents
pits and shafts
Post fire situations
ships
simulated hazardous environments
storage tanks and silos
transport vehicles
unknown substance incidents
unsound or unsafe structures
Hazard control zones must include:
area of likely contamination (hot zone)
area of operations (warm zone)
support zone (cold zone)
criteria applied to determine the extent of hazardous areas
controlled exits, entrances, refuges and emergency exits
Decontamination methods must include:
decontamination plan and corridors
types of decontamination as per organisational procedures
Organisations required to assist may include:
ambulance
commercial organisations
emergency services
government departments
local government
police
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
implement appropriate organisational standard operating guidelines
comply with relevant legislation
demonstrate safe working practices
interpret hazardous conditions using detection equipment
recommend appropriate action
maintain monitoring equipment.
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over a range of situations using different types of detection equipment.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in environments with detectable but safe levels of contaminants.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
workplace and/or simulations based on possible incidents
range of personal protective clothing and equipment
range of detection equipment
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Assessment must confirm the ability to:
implement appropriate organisational standard operating guidelines
comply with relevant legislation
demonstrate safe working practices
interpret hazardous conditions using detection equipment
recommend appropriate action
maintain monitoring equipment.
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over a range of situations using different types of detection equipment.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in environments with detectable but safe levels of contaminants.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
workplace and/or simulations based on possible incidents
range of personal protective clothing and equipment
range of detection equipment
Method of assessment
In a public safety environment assessment is usually conducted via direct observation in a training environment or in the workplace via subject matter supervision and/or mentoring, which is typically recorded in a competency workbook.
Assessment is completed using appropriately qualified assessors who select the most appropriate method of assessment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an agency-approved simulated work environment. Forms of assessment that are typically used include:
direct observation
interviewing the candidate
journals and workplace documentation
third party reports from supervisors
written or oral questions
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2993 | PUAFIR307B | Monitor hazardous atmospheres | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAY84 | PUAFIR306 | Identify, detect and monitor hazardous materials at an incident | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| J679 | RII30713 | Certificate III in Mine Emergency Response and Rescue | Qualification |
| AZD6 | RII30715 | Certificate III in Mine Emergency Response and Rescue | Qualification |
| J546 | PUA30613 | Certificate III in Public Safety (Firefighting and Emergency Operations) | Qualification |