Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Mortuary instruments and equipment may include:
injection instruments, including:
gravity and bulb syringe
arterial tube
hand pump
parietal needle
centrifugal pump
stopcock
Y tube
embalming machine
drainage instruments, including:
drain tube
iliac drain tube
grooved director
angular spring forceps
electric or motorised aspirating instruments, including:
autopsy aspirator
hydroaspirator
nasal tube aspirator
trocar
hydrovalve trocar
personal protective equipment
positioning devices
sterilisation equipment
sterilisation chemicals and solutions
portiboy
instruments and instrument tray
dressing table
disinfectant hand solution, paper towels and soap
pedestal lamps
first aid kit
aneurysm needle
bistoury knife
scalpels
scissors
separators
suture needles
needle holder
forceps
cavity fluid injectors
trocar buttons and applicator.


Workplace policies and procedures may include:
standard operating policies and procedures
standards and certification requirements
communication protocols
quality assurance procedures
OHS procedures, such as:
infection control procedures
manual handling procedures
material handling procedures, including hazardous or infectious materials
emergency procedures, including fire and accident procedures
security procedures.


Relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice may include:
OHS
Anatomy Act
Human Tissue Act
Skin Penetration Act
Coroner's Act
Public Health Act
Environment Protection Act
local government regulations
funeral services industry code of practice
Worksafe Australia certification and standards.


Infection control practices may include:
universal precautions, including:
use of personal protective equipment
presumption that all blood and body fluids are infectious
covering exposed cuts and abrasions, particularly on workers' hands, with waterproof coverings prior to commencing work
immediate treatment of puncture wounds or abrasions
use of protective clothing when cleaning spillage of body fluids
checking for infectious and transmittable disease
sterilising apparatus and instruments
providing sterile storage areas for instruments
using disinfectants
safe removal and disposal of soiled and contaminated garments
safe ventilation
avoiding invasive procedures on bodies
immunisation
periodic X-rays
seeking medical advice
recording injury and incidence
reporting injury and incidence
providing first aid kit
performing first aid as necessary
labelling clothing.


Personal protective equipment may include:
disposable gloves
heavy duty gloves
barrier gown or suit
waterproof overshoes
waterproof aprons
splash proof masks
eye goggles
face visor
hair cover
filtered air supply:
negative air pressure
powered positive air supply.


Non-invasive observation techniques may include:
checking for no pulse
looking for fixed and dilated pupils
observing no apparent breathing.


Social, cultural and religious requirements may include:
dress standards
gender of embalming personnel
time required between death and burial or cremation
orientation of the deceased person
restrictions on methods of embalming permissible.


Body classification may include:
gender
age
weight
size
body build.


Body conditions may include:
body moisture content
vascular problems
delayed embalming
discolouration
exposure to drug therapies.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
ability to analyse the embalming requirements by examination to evaluate the treatments and effects for specified body conditions and problems and calculate fluid dilutions for specific conditions using appropriate formulas
ability to determine the appropriate embalming techniques and communicate these to mortuary staff advising of potential emotional issues
knowledge of infection control practices and a full range of embalming procedures
determining embalming requirements on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to and evaluate different situations.


Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
demonstration of skills in a facility, most commonly a mortuary, where deceased bodies may be safely stored and examined
access to deceased bodies that require embalming
access to mortuary instruments and equipment
access to personal protective equipment.


Methods of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of candidate inspecting deceased bodies and identifying appropriate embalming techniques for a range of body conditions
written or verbal questioning to assess knowledge and understanding of all OHS and infection control practices and procedures
review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
SIFMWK014A Treat the arterial system
SIFMWK015A Treat abdominal and thoracic cavities.



Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.