Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 6:53 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.

Undertake swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery

Undertake swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery

Unit of competency
National Code
PUASAR034
State Code
WE598
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
2.00
Current Release Date
02/05/2013
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
28/11/2012
Field of Education
091105 - Police Studies
Original Release Date
28/11/2012
Nominal Hours
60
Description
This unit covers the competency required to undertake swiftwater and floodwater rescues and recoveries as a member of a specialist team. No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare and respond to the rescue
  • 1.1 Operation and task information is obtained from communication centre or supervisor.
  • 1.2 Rescue equipment/resources are identified and selected based on incident information received.
  • 1.3 Personal protective equipment is selected based on the nature of the rescue operation.
  • 1.4 Any further details of the nature of the rescue are received en route.
  • 1.5 Anticipated situational and environmental hazards are discussed with rescue team members while on approach and are used as the basis for the development of a rescue plan.
2. Assess the rescue scene
  • 2.1 Information is collected from relevant persons at scene and observations are made of the scene to determine location, number, entrapment and condition of casualties.
  • 2.2 Risk assessment on situational and environmental hazards is conducted and control measures to ensure safety to self, other team members and casualty are developed.
  • 2.3 Communication with other team members is maintained during assessment to gather further information from their observations.
  • 2.4 Request for additional personnel and/or specialist equipment based on risk assessment is reported to supervisor in accordance with the recognised chain of command
  • 2.5 Personal capabilities and limitations of self and other team members are recognised and referred to the supervisor, based on assessment of rescue scene.
3. Develop primary and secondary rescue plans
  • 3.1 Rescue and recovery techniques suitable to the casualty condition, entrapment, location and swiftwater and floodwater conditions are identified.
  • 3.2 Primary and secondary rescue plans are developed based on risk assessment, identification of appropriate rescue and recovery techniques and consultation from team members and other agencies.
  • 3.3 Equipment and resources are selected to perform rescues and recoveries as identified by the rescue plan.
  • 3.4 Job roles and equipment are allocated to other team members.
  • 3.5 In conjunction with the primary plan, deployment of secondary rescue plan downstream is implemented and is acted upon.
4. Use rope and mechanical advantage systems
  • 4.1 Situations requiring the use of rope system and mechanical advantage systems are identified.
  • 4.2 Type of system required is based on the situation, and organisational policies and procedures.
  • 4.3 Suitable rope and mechanical advantage systems are established to perform rescues and recoveries in a range of situations.
  • 4.4 System equipment is used in accordance with manufacturer recommendations and organisational policies and procedures, to ensure that design limits are not exceeded.
  • 4.5 System is modified to increase efficiency, where necessary, and communication is maintained throughout.
5. Gain access and perform rescue on casualty
  • 5.1 Isolation techniques are used to stabilise positioning of casualty to assist in extrication and management of conscious casualty.
  • 5.2 Craft is tethered to perform a rescue or recovery, where required by the rescue plan.
  • 5.3 Rescue techniques and equipment are deployed to gain access to casualty as identified in the rescue plan.
  • 5.4 Rescue plan is implemented and casualty is extricated from entrapment or secured by using rescue and recovery techniques and equipment.
6. Remove casualty from swiftwater and floodwater
  • 6.1 Casualties are retrieved from swiftwater and floodwater using techniques for removal in accordance with organisational policies and procedures.
  • 6.2 Casualty is packaged and handled in accordance with organisational emergency care procedures, or as directed by first aid or medical personnel.
7. Conclude swiftwater and floodwater rescue
  • 7.1 Prior to leaving the scene, equipment is recovered, cleaned and maintained in accordance with manufacturer guidelines and organisational procedures.
  • 7.2 During cleaning of rescue equipment and personal protective equipment, hygiene procedures are followed in accordance with organisational procedures.
  • 7.3 Where identified, signs and symptoms of operational stress in self and others are recognised and reported to appropriate personnel.
  • 7.4 Operational debrief is participated in or conducted, in accordance with role during rescue.
  • 7.5 Documentation is completed to organisational standards and job role.
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.
Rescue equipment/resources must include:









And may also include:

carabiners
descender
first aid equipment
float ropes
life rescue ropes
non powered water craft
paddles
portable radios
prussiks
pulleys
stretchers
tapes/webbing
throw bags
vehicle

ascdenders
cyalume sticks
flares
harnesses
helicopters
hose inflators and encaps
electrical detection devices
line throwing device
loud hailer
sledge hammer
steel pickets for anchoring
Personal protective clothing and equipment must include:
appropriate footwear including bootees
appropriate personal floatation devices
eye protection
gloves
wetsuit and/or dry suit
whistles
And may include
fins
headlamps
helmet appropriate for swiftwater and floodwater
hoods
knives
lycra suit
mask
torches
wet shirt
wet weather gear
Situational and environmental hazards may include:
adverse water conditions
availability of assistance
below surface debris hazards
biological contaminants
boat wraps
confluence
culverts
cushions and/or stacked water cushions
diseases and infections
downstream and upstream vs
eddies
entrapment hazards
haystacks and standing waves
holes, stoppers and keepers
inundation
lightning
low visibility
manholes
overhead hazards
rocks
snakes and other dangerous animals
strainers
surface debris hazards
undercuts
utilities - electrical
water borne hazards
water contaminants
water hydraulics
waterfalls
water depth
weirs
Relevant persons may include:
bystanders
other agencies
other casualties
Entrapment may include:
body
Person static on object (e.g. tree)
Person in/on vehicle in water
Person with limb pinned
recirculation
rope entanglements
Communication may include:
hand signals
radio
verbal
whistle signals
written documents
Rescue and recovery techniques must include:




And may also include:


contact rescue
defensive swimming position
entrapment rescue techniques
line crossing techniques
mechanical advantage system
offensive or aggressive swimming position
reach rescue techniques
throw bag rescue technique

inflatable fire hoses techniques
boat and rope rescue system
paddle boat handling
shallow water crossing technique
vehicle rescue techniques
Other agencies may include:
ambulance service
fire service
interagency departments
police
state emergency service
Mechanical advantagesystems may include:
4 to 1 mechanical advantage
vector pulls
Z rigs
Organisational policies and procedures must include:
communication protocols
emergency care
rescue rating framework
removal of casualties
use, maintenance and storage of equipment
access to workplace health and safety
And may also include


Isolation techniques may include:
access to medical personnel
code of ethics
manufacturer design specifications and recommendations for equipment use

hand signals
yelling
Conscious casualty is:
a casualty who is able to follow commands and assist in stabilising their position
Craft may include:
flood rescue boats
inflatable rescue boat
motorised inflatable work platforms
rafts
Tethering a craft may include:
high line with a craft on tether system
two and/or four point boat tether system
Extricating a casualty from entrapment may include:
alternate entries
controlled release
immediate release
Techniques for removal may include:
manual carry
stretcher
Packaging and handling a casualty may include:
extrication device
stiff neck collar
spinal board
First aid or medicalpersonnel may include:
doctors
first aider
nurses
paramedics
Operational debriefs may include:
areas where improvements can be made
organisational strengths that can be built on
validation of the participation of teams and individuals
Documentation may include:
accident/injury report
incident report forms
risk assessment forms
Organisational standards may include:
documentation to meet another agency’s operational requirements
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:
undertake risk assessment to determine and implement control measures
develop and implement appropriate primary and secondary plans for rescue being undertaken
use mechanical advantage system to conduct rescue or recovery
apply organisational policies and procedures relating to swiftwater and floodwater rescue
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Competency should be assessed conducting rescues and recoveries in swiftwater and floodwater relevant to the job role and of sufficient breadth to demonstrate competency.
Specific resources for assessment
Access is required to:
swiftwater and floodwater location
personnel for team based rescues
rescue, recovery, safety, first aid and activity-specific equipment and resources
Method of assessment
Assessment should be conducted by direct observation in either the workplace (through recorded subject matter supervision and/or mentoring) or the training environment.
Assessment may occur in an operational environment or in an industry-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
OAX85 PUASAR002 Undertake swiftwater and floodwater rescue and recovery Unit of competency
No information