Elements and Performance Criteria

Identification of hazardous materials must include
Hazmat information
United Nations numbers
proper shipping names
product names or trade names
chemical names and chemical abstract service numbers
dangerous goods class labels
packing groups
emergency information panels
placarding
storage manifests
transport documents
visual signs and chemical indicators
colour coding (e.g. gas cylinders)

Hazardous materials information sources must include
HAZCHEM Emergency Action Codes
emergency procedures guides
material safety data sheets
technical specialist
and may also include
emergency response guide books
National Fire Protection Association Codes
European Marking ADR hazard identification numbers
electronic databases
HAZMAT Action Guides
safe storage and information handling

Control zones must include
area of likely contamination (hot zone)
area of operations (warm zone)
support zone (cold zone)

Procedures must include
organisation procedures
and may also include
OH&S practices and procedures
government organisational procedures
company or organisational procedures
emergency management
evacuation
environmental
gas plume modelling

Equipment for containment and recovery may include
Hazbins - hazardous materials recovery bins
sealable drums
original containers
shipping containers
absorbent materials
protective clothing and equipment
plugs and patches
booms
pipes
extraction equipment and machinery
hand implements
earth moving equipment
spraying equipment
pumps
non-sparking tools
intrinsically safe tools

Neutralising and diluting agents may include
water
acids and bases
bicarbonate of soda
lime

Decontamination must include
wet decontamination techniques
combination of wet and dry
dry decontamination techniques
decontamination techniques
emergency decontamination

Decontamination areas must include
holding area
wash area
disrobing and rest area

Sampling may include
gaseous samples
liquid samples
solid samples

Analysis may involve
sampling equipment
external organisation assistance

Organisations that assist operations may include
police
ambulance
local government
chemical companies
emergency services
government departments

Critical aspects of evidence
It is essential for this unit that competence be demonstrated in:
hazardous materials identification
implementing appropriate standard operating procedures
compliance with relevant legislation
demonstration of safe working practices
assisting in the establishment of incident control
containing and recovering hazardous materials
undertaking decontamination procedures.

Interdependent assessment of units
Pre-requisite units:
PUAFIR201A Prevent injury
Co-requisite units:
PUAFIR308A Employ personal protection at a hazardous material incident

Underpinning knowledge
organisation policies and procedures
legislation relevant to the organisation
roles and responsibilities of agencies involved
types of hazards and safe handling techniques
methods of identifying hazardous materials
principles of incident control
decontamination principles and procedures
containment techniques
breathing apparatus procedures
the nature and properties of hazardous materials

Underpinning skills
follow instructions and procedures
use relevant equipment
record information
work as member of a team
hazard assessments
appropriate control techniques
breathing apparatus procedures

Resource implications
Assessment of this competency will require access to relevant transport, communication and Hazmat equipment

Consistency of performance
Evidence will need to be gathered over a period of time across a range of variables appropriate to organisation roles.

Context of assessment
Simulations or exercises and/or a series of tasks are required to demonstrate competence in this unit. This may involve setting scenarios to be completed either individually or as a member of a team. Written or verbal questions should be used to support gathering of evidence.