Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 2:42 PM AWST
22/07/2026 2:42 PM 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.
Render hazardous materials incidents safe
Render hazardous materials incidents safe
Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR320
PUAFIR320
State Code
WG121
WG121
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
25/06/2013
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
25/06/2013
Nominal Hours
35
Description
This unit covers the competency required to safely combat incidents involving hazardous materials. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Recognise a hazardous materials incident
- 1.1 Pre-incident plans, site control and containment plan and directives from supervisor are identified and implemented.
- 1.2 Incident is approached using care and caution, and a safe distance is maintained, in accordance with organisationalprocedures or guidelines, and/or advice from appropriate authorities.
- 1.3 Hazardous materials are identified from a safe distance and using a range of sources and information is conveyed to supervisor in accordance with organisational guidelines.
2. Identify and assess hazards
- 2.1 Site hazards are identified in accordance with organisational guidelines.
- 2.2 Hazards relating to the material/s and container/s are identified in accordance with organisational guidelines.
- 2.3 Hazards are assessed in accordance with organisational guidelines and information is conveyed to supervisor.
3. Assist with the development of a plan for the mitigation of a HAZMAT incident
- 3.1 Incident objectives are identified in accordance with organisational policies.
- 3.2 Risk control measures are identified and conveyed to supervisor.
- 3.3 Entry objectives are identified and conveyed to supervisor.
- 3.4 Entry plan is developed and documented in accordance with supervisor directives and organisational policies as required.
- 3.5 Personal protective equipment (PPE) is considered in accordance with organisational policies.
- 3.6 Decontamination methods are identified in accordance with organisational policies.
- 3.7 Requirement for detection and confinement/containment strategies are identified in accordance with organisational policies.
- 3.8 Organisations required to assist with operations are identified.
4. Assist with the implementation of the plan for mitigation of a HAZMAT incident
- 4.1 Individual responsibilities within the organisation’s action plan are identified and followed.
- 4.2 Scene is isolated and secured, and hazard control zones and decontamination corridor are established according to organisational guidelines.
- 4.3 Entry plan is implemented in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.4 Response equipment is applied in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.5 PPE is applied in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.6 Decontamination procedures are applied as required in accordance with organisational procedures.
- 4.7 Requirement for detection and confinement/containment strategies are applied in accordance with organisational policies.
- 4.8 Results are recorded and reported in accordance with organisational policies.
5. Assist with the review of the plan
- 5.1 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, decontamination, detection and mitigation effectiveness 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.
Organisational procedures and guidelines must include:
government organisational procedures
organisational procedures
workplace health and safety practices and procedures
and may also include:
Australian Standards and manufacturers’ guidelines
company organisational procedures
external organisation assistance
Identification of hazardous materials must include:
awareness of physical, chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) properties and behaviour of hazardous materials including signs and symptoms of CBR agents
chemical names
dangerous goods class labels
definition of hazardous materials, hazardous substance, dangerous goods, non-dangerous goods, toxic substance, and goods too dangerous to be transported
emergency information panels/emergency information signs
HAZMAT information/initial information/site manager
identification and location of dangerous goods class labels
occupancies including site/use/manufacture location and transport
packing groups
placarding
product names or trade names
proper shipping names
United Nations numbers
visual signs and material indicators
storage manifests
transport documents
and may also include:
containers including transport and storage
environment
fixed site or community emergency response plans
identification of the material/s and their properties through onsite analytical testing
physical, chemical, biological and radiological properties, behaviour and effects of hazardous materials including signs and symptoms of CBR agents
prediction of hazardous material behaviour, for example hazard prediction modelling
toxicology and entry routes of toxins
Range of sources must include
CHEMDATA (HAZMAT Action Guides)
emergency procedures guides
emergency response guide books
HAZCHEM Emergency Action Codes
material safety data sheets (MSDSs) or safety data sheets (SDSs)
technical specialist
and may also include:
electronic databases
European/Accord Dangereuse Routiers (ADR) hazard identification numbers
external organisation assistance
legislation/codes/standards - workplace health and safety, transport, storage and handling information, environment
National Fire Protection Association Codes
reference texts
site and community emergency response plans
Detection and confinement/containment strategies must include:
defensive and offensive strategies for example:
over-packing including recovery drums or original containers
rescue
retention, absorbent materials and neutralisation of acids/bases
vapour suppression/blanketing and diking/diversion
ventilation and dispersion
and may also include:
damming - using booms, pads, overflow and underflow dams
defensive and offensive strategies that may include:
external organisation assistance
field product transfer including gases/liquids using both closed and open loop methods
flaring
freeze (ice) patching
grounding and bonding
neutralisation of other materials, adsorption, gelation, emulsification and other chemical methods
plugging and patching
venting or vent and burn
Organisations required to assist with operations may include:
ambulance
companies
emergency services
government departments
local government
police
Hazard control zones must include:
area of likely contamination (hot zone)
area of operations (warm zone)
controlled exits, entrances, refuges and emergency exits
criteria applied to determine the extent of hazardous areas
support zone (cold zone)
Decontamination must include:
decontamination plan and corridors
emergency decontamination
emergency mass decontamination
technical decontamination
Decontamination may include:
alternative water decontamination techniques
alternative wet decontamination techniques
detection strategies applied for decontamination
dry decontamination techniques
external organisation assistance
Organisational procedures and guidelines must include:
government organisational procedures
organisational procedures
workplace health and safety practices and procedures
and may also include:
Australian Standards and manufacturers’ guidelines
company organisational procedures
external organisation assistance
Identification of hazardous materials must include:
awareness of physical, chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) properties and behaviour of hazardous materials including signs and symptoms of CBR agents
chemical names
dangerous goods class labels
definition of hazardous materials, hazardous substance, dangerous goods, non-dangerous goods, toxic substance, and goods too dangerous to be transported
emergency information panels/emergency information signs
HAZMAT information/initial information/site manager
identification and location of dangerous goods class labels
occupancies including site/use/manufacture location and transport
packing groups
placarding
product names or trade names
proper shipping names
United Nations numbers
visual signs and material indicators
storage manifests
transport documents
and may also include:
containers including transport and storage
environment
fixed site or community emergency response plans
identification of the material/s and their properties through onsite analytical testing
physical, chemical, biological and radiological properties, behaviour and effects of hazardous materials including signs and symptoms of CBR agents
prediction of hazardous material behaviour, for example hazard prediction modelling
toxicology and entry routes of toxins
Range of sources must include
CHEMDATA (HAZMAT Action Guides)
emergency procedures guides
emergency response guide books
HAZCHEM Emergency Action Codes
material safety data sheets (MSDSs) or safety data sheets (SDSs)
technical specialist
and may also include:
electronic databases
European/Accord Dangereuse Routiers (ADR) hazard identification numbers
external organisation assistance
legislation/codes/standards - workplace health and safety, transport, storage and handling information, environment
National Fire Protection Association Codes
reference texts
site and community emergency response plans
Detection and confinement/containment strategies must include:
defensive and offensive strategies for example:
over-packing including recovery drums or original containers
rescue
retention, absorbent materials and neutralisation of acids/bases
vapour suppression/blanketing and diking/diversion
ventilation and dispersion
and may also include:
damming - using booms, pads, overflow and underflow dams
defensive and offensive strategies that may include:
external organisation assistance
field product transfer including gases/liquids using both closed and open loop methods
flaring
freeze (ice) patching
grounding and bonding
neutralisation of other materials, adsorption, gelation, emulsification and other chemical methods
plugging and patching
venting or vent and burn
Organisations required to assist with operations may include:
ambulance
companies
emergency services
government departments
local government
police
Hazard control zones must include:
area of likely contamination (hot zone)
area of operations (warm zone)
controlled exits, entrances, refuges and emergency exits
criteria applied to determine the extent of hazardous areas
support zone (cold zone)
Decontamination must include:
decontamination plan and corridors
emergency decontamination
emergency mass decontamination
technical decontamination
Decontamination may include:
alternative water decontamination techniques
alternative wet decontamination techniques
detection strategies applied for decontamination
dry decontamination techniques
external organisation assistance
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 standard operating guidelines
comply with relevant legislation
demonstrate safe working practices
identify hazardous materials
assist in the establishment of action plan
undertake mitigation techniques
undertake decontamination procedures
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over a period of time across a range of situations appropriate to organisational role.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in simulations or exercises and/or a series of tasks, which may involve setting scenarios to be completed either individually or as a member of a team.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
relevant PPE, transport, communication
response equipment
Method of assessment
This unit may be assessed with the following unit/s:
PUAFIR308B Employ personal protection at a hazardous materials incident.
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 standard operating guidelines
comply with relevant legislation
demonstrate safe working practices
identify hazardous materials
assist in the establishment of action plan
undertake mitigation techniques
undertake decontamination procedures
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over a period of time across a range of situations appropriate to organisational role.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in simulations or exercises and/or a series of tasks, which may involve setting scenarios to be completed either individually or as a member of a team.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
relevant PPE, transport, communication
response equipment
Method of assessment
This unit may be assessed with the following unit/s:
PUAFIR308B Employ personal protection at a hazardous materials incident.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| D2981 | PUAFIR306B | Render hazardous materials incidents safe | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAY73 | PUAFIR324 | Render hazardous materials incidents safe | 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 |