Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 12:44 AM AWST

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Supervise machinery use in wildfire operations

Supervise machinery use in wildfire operations

Unit of competency
National Code
PUAFIR415
State Code
WG127
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
02/05/2013
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
19/06/2013
Field of Education
039905 - Fire Technology
Original Release Date
19/06/2013
Nominal Hours
20
Description
This unit covers the competency required to task and supervise the use of machinery to undertake a range of activities to support fireground operations, including control line construction and rehabilitation, reduction and removal of hazards, improvement of existing tracks and roads, creating access and egress to control lines, constructing helipads and assisting in blacking out. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Assess the work area
  • 1.1 Risk assessmentof the site is undertaken, and hazards and assets at risk are identified and inspected.
  • 1.2 Trees to be pushed are identified, marked for attention, options to avoid pushing trees are examined and permission to remove trees is obtained.
  • 1.3 Terrain through which the tasks must be undertaken to achieve the incident objective is assessed.
  • 1.4 Route selected for construction of the control line and removal or avoidance of hazards is assessed to determine the most appropriate path and type of machinery suitable for the activity.
  • 1.5 Consultation and communication with land owners and managers is undertaken prior to machines entering the property, as appropriate.
2. Brief and task machine operators
  • 2.1 Personnel are briefed on the strategies and tactics to be implemented by the machine operators in accordance with the incident action plan.
  • 2.2 Machine operators are tasked and briefed on work standards and safe work practices to be adhered to.
  • 2.3 Reporting arrangements between machine operators, fire crew and supervisor are outlined.
  • 2.4 Machine operators are checked to confirm that they are wearing the appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment.
  • 2.5 Appropriate communications equipment is provided and instructions for use given to machine operator.
  • 2.6 Machine is inspected to ensure compliance with safety requirements.
  • 2.7 Machine is selected to ensure compliance with work and/or contract requirements.
  • 2.8 Machine is checked for compliance with hygiene guidelines in respect to spread of disease and weeds, and remedial action is taken as required.
  • 2.9 Anchor points, escape routes and safety zones are established and communicated to personnel in the area.
3. Supervise the use of machinery
  • 3.1 Machine safety requirements are monitored.
  • 3.2 Near misses or accidents are reported.
  • 3.3 Communications with the machine operator, support crew and chain of command are maintained in accordance with communications plan.
  • 3.4 Location and standard of construction of control line is adapted to changes in fire behaviour and intensity.
  • 3.5 Fire spread and the location of the control line are monitored, taking into account changes in fuel, weather and topography.
  • 3.6 Progress of tasks delegated is continually monitored and regular reports are provided to appropriate supervisor.
  • 3.7 Performance of delegated tasks by machine operators is monitored in accordance with the relevant codes of practice and standard operating procedures.
  • 3.8 Fuel and maintenance requirements are monitored and requests are organised through appropriate chain of command.
  • 3.9 Minimisation of machine operations damage to agricultural, environmental, forestry, cultural and other community assets is ensured.
  • 3.10 Records of machine work hours are maintained and provided in accordance with agency guidelines.
4. Conduct mop-up and support patrol activities
  • 4.1 Machine operators are tasked and mop-up activities are carried out in accordance with organisational guidelines.
  • 4.2 Threats to the security of the perimeter or sector of the fire are identified and reported or acted upon.
  • 4.3 Rehabilitation of fire control lines no longer required is undertaken.
5. Recover and maintain equipment
  • 5.1 Requests for repairs or maintenance of machinery are communicated through the appropriate chain of command.
  • 5.2 Damaged or missing equipment is recorded and/or reported in accordance with organisational procedures.
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.
Risk assessment of the site must include:
fire behaviour
fuel type
terrain
weather conditions
Hazards may include:
burns
disorientation
environmental
fatigue
heat-related illness (heat exhaustion and dehydration)
falling branches and trees
falling objects
lack of visibility
machines
manual handling
overhead hazards
beehives
powerlines
tree limbs
trees weakened by fire, rot or cracks
rolling objects
smoke inhalation
snake or insect bite
sprain or fracture
terrain and soil types
trips/falls
water bombing operation

Assets may include:
area of rare or sensitive flora and fauna
buildings and other property
historic and cultural sites
plantation and other crops
public lands
utilities (power and telephone lines, rail lines, water supply structures, communications towers)
Marking for attention may include:
use of flagging tape
Options may include:
changing the alignment of the control line
isolating hazards
Type of machinery may include:
Bobcat (skid steer loader)
Brompton Rat
bulldozer
excavator
front-end loader
grader
scrub rollers
tractor with blade or plough
wheeled dozer
wheeled log skidder with blade
Strategies may include:
defensive strategies
direct attack
indirect attack
parallel attack
Safe work practices must include:
brakes being set and blade being lowered before personnel mount or dismount machine
cleaning up/repairing oil leaks on machine
operators cleaning out build up of leaves, grass and twigs from machines
personnel gaining the attention of the operator before approaching a machine
personnel never mounting or dismounting from a moving machine
personnel remaining outside of risk zone during machine operations to avoid possible injury
taking refuge with a machine when threatened by wildfire
trained operators
wearing of a seat belt
Personal protective clothing and equipment must include:
dust mask
gloves
goggles
hearing protection
helmet
leather boots
overalls or long sleeve shirt and long trousers made of natural fibres
Communications equipment may include:
radio
phone
satellite-navigation devices
Anchor points may include:

bare ground
burnt out fire edge
road or track
site of a recent wildfire
Safety zones may include:
bare ground
burnt areas
clearings
rivers
site of a recent wildfire or prescribed burn
static water bodies
Machine safety requirements may include:
audible reversing alarm
fire blanket
fire extinguishers
lights
machine being in good operating order
operator protective systems (rops & fops)
Standard of construction of control line may include:
fire behaviour
fire control strategies chosen
fuel type and density
machine attachments
machine resources
machine type and configuration
obstacles
operator skill
spot overs
support resources
terrain
time of day
visibility
Mop-up activities may include:
closing and rehabilitating fire control line no longer required
cutting through the duff or peat layer to mineral earth
moving large amounts of material as required by fire crews
providing access to hot spots
pushing logs that are on the fire edge into the fire
pushing or ripping stumps to increase efficiency of mop-up
pushing trees likely to threaten the control line
reopening tracks or roads by clearing fallen debris and trees
spreading out heaps of logs
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:
supervise and communicate effectively
assess hazards and risks in work area
establish and maintain standards of work performed by machine operators
monitor and report on the effectiveness of machinery operations in fire suppression activities
monitor the application of safe work practices during fire suppression activities including control line construction and pushing trees
maintain health and safety of self, other workers and people in the wildfire area
monitor mop-up and patrol
Consistency in performance
Competency should be demonstrated over time in a range of field-based environments.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed in an agency approved field-based environment.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
wildfire or prescribed burn
machinery
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
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
OAY60 PUAFIR417 Supervise machinery use in wildfire operations Unit of competency
No information