Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 1:06 AM AWST
23/07/2026 1:06 AM 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.
Perform vertical rescues
Perform vertical rescues
Unit of competency
National Code
SISOVTR301A
SISOVTR301A
State Code
D6516
D6516
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Transition (Replaced)
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
15/10/2014
Field of Education
092101 - Sport And Recreation Activities
Original Release Date
15/10/2014
Nominal Hours
20
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to use single rope techniques and mechanical advantage systems to perform self-rescues and the rescues of others in uncomplicated single pitch vertical contexts. It does not include the selection or assessment of the anchor.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Prepare for vertical rescue.
- 1.1. Select equipment and resources to ascend and descend a rope pitch.
- 1.2. Rig a rope to minimise the effects of rope stretch and significant rub points and to allow for efficient ascent and descent.
- 1.3. Establish personal safety systems and use equipment in a safe manner according to the nature of the rescue, manufacturer's specifications, relevant legislation and organisational policies and procedures.
- 1.4. Identify immediate hazards and assess risks to self and others.
2. Ascend and descend rope pitch.
- 2.1. Ascend a fixed rope in a time efficient manner, demonstrating the ability to tune the single rope technique rig according to rescue requirements and organisational policies and procedures.
- 2.2. Descend a fixed rope, using appropriate technique according to the situation requirements.
- 2.3. Maintain personal safety while performing changeovers from ascending to descending and descending to ascending.
3. Perform self rescues.
- 3.1. Assess the situation and identify suitable obstacle avoidance or extrication procedures according to organisational policies and procedures.
- 3.2. Carry out self rescue and negotiate simple obstacles while maintaining personal safety according to organisational policies and procedures.
4. Use mechanical advantage systems.
- 4.1. Identify contexts requiring the use of mechanical advantage systems.
- 4.2. Determine the type of system required according to contextual issues.
- 4.3. Establish operational systems to raise and lower a person or equipment, ensuring the safety of operators, rescuee and others.
- 4.4. Use system equipment according to manufacturer's recommendations and organisational policies and procedures, to ensure that design limits are not exceeded.
5. Undertake vertical rescues.
- 5.1. Identify an appropriate rescue method with relevant techniques to assist abseiler according to rescue circumstances.
- 5.2. Demonstrate an escape from a belay.
- 5.3. Establish rescue system efficiently and inform other group members of their roles.
- 5.4. Construct and use an improvised harness in a rescue situation.
- 5.5. Operate a rescue system, demonstrating lowering and raising procedures to recover a conscious person in a single pitch situation, with assistance.
6. Conclude rescue operations.
- 6.1. Check and store equipment according to organisational policies and procedures and manufacturer's guidelines.
- 6.2. Evaluate rescue activity and identify improvements for future vertical rescues.
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.
Equipment may include:
Prusik cords
foot loops
tape
mechanical ascenders
descending devices
karabiners
maillon rapids
belay devices
rope
helmet
harness
rescue pulleys
knife
slings
first aid equipment
personal protective equipment.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
permits or permission for access
environmental regulations
marine regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
use, maintenance and storage of equipment
communication protocols
access to medical personnel
removal of casualties
minimal impact codes
code of ethics.
Rig may include:
natural anchors
fixed anchors.
Effects of rope stretch may include:
abrasions
rope bounce
undue stress on the anchor system.
Significant rub points may include:
at the pitch head
large protrusions
change in slope of the pitch
change in the direction of the pitch.
Personal safety systems may include:
belays
self belays.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
slippery or unstable terrain
dangerous animals and insects
stinging trees and nettles
dense vegetation
group management hazards.
Risks may include:
hypothermia
heat exhaustion
injuries
exhaustion
lost part or party member
equipment failure.
Tune may include:
change cord length
change types of ascenders and descenders
change type of prusiking action used.
Single rope technique rig may include:
cows tails
harnesses
safety cords
ascenders
descenders
foot loops.
Obstacle avoidance or extrication procedures may include:
by-passing obstacle
raising body weight
changeovers to another system while suspended on a rope.
Simple obstacles may include:
knots
rope pads and protectors
traverses
other pitch users.
Contextual issues may include:
weather conditions, including times
season
transport
trip distance and duration
group activities
group size.
Mechanical advantage systems may include:
simple pulley systems with one moving pulley
compound pulley systems with more than one moving pulley
assisted or unassisted hoist by the participant.
Harness may include:
sit
chest.
Equipment may include:
Prusik cords
foot loops
tape
mechanical ascenders
descending devices
karabiners
maillon rapids
belay devices
rope
helmet
harness
rescue pulleys
knife
slings
first aid equipment
personal protective equipment.
Relevant legislation may include:
occupational health and safety
permits or permission for access
environmental regulations
marine regulations.
Organisational policies and procedures may include:
occupational health and safety
use, maintenance and storage of equipment
communication protocols
access to medical personnel
removal of casualties
minimal impact codes
code of ethics.
Rig may include:
natural anchors
fixed anchors.
Effects of rope stretch may include:
abrasions
rope bounce
undue stress on the anchor system.
Significant rub points may include:
at the pitch head
large protrusions
change in slope of the pitch
change in the direction of the pitch.
Personal safety systems may include:
belays
self belays.
Hazards may include:
temperature extremes
slippery or unstable terrain
dangerous animals and insects
stinging trees and nettles
dense vegetation
group management hazards.
Risks may include:
hypothermia
heat exhaustion
injuries
exhaustion
lost part or party member
equipment failure.
Tune may include:
change cord length
change types of ascenders and descenders
change type of prusiking action used.
Single rope technique rig may include:
cows tails
harnesses
safety cords
ascenders
descenders
foot loops.
Obstacle avoidance or extrication procedures may include:
by-passing obstacle
raising body weight
changeovers to another system while suspended on a rope.
Simple obstacles may include:
knots
rope pads and protectors
traverses
other pitch users.
Contextual issues may include:
weather conditions, including times
season
transport
trip distance and duration
group activities
group size.
Mechanical advantage systems may include:
simple pulley systems with one moving pulley
compound pulley systems with more than one moving pulley
assisted or unassisted hoist by the participant.
Harness may include:
sit
chest.
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.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
selects rescue equipment according to rescue circumstances and rigs ropes to allow for safe ascents and descents
ascends and descends ropes in a safe and efficient manner and identifies and negotiates hazards, obstacles and risks to self and others
performs self-rescue in routine activity-specific situations while maintaining personal safety
uses mechanical advantage systems to raise and lower a conscious person and or equipment in a controlled manner with assistance from others where required, according to contextual issues.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in multiple vertical rescue activities in single pitch contexts to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
a suitable single pitch, above or below ground, in activity specific contexts such as abseiling, canyoning, caving and or climbing
personnel for team based rescues
rescue, safety, roping and activity-specific equipment according to rescue circumstances.
Method 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 selecting equipment and rigging ropes for safe ascents and descents
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of single pitch vertical rescue procedures and potential hazards, obstacles and risks
observation of performing safe and efficient self rescues and rescues of others using mechanical advantage systems
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
Activity-specific units from the Fields of roping such as abseiling, canyoning, caving, climbing.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
selects rescue equipment according to rescue circumstances and rigs ropes to allow for safe ascents and descents
ascends and descends ropes in a safe and efficient manner and identifies and negotiates hazards, obstacles and risks to self and others
performs self-rescue in routine activity-specific situations while maintaining personal safety
uses mechanical advantage systems to raise and lower a conscious person and or equipment in a controlled manner with assistance from others where required, according to contextual issues.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure participation in multiple vertical rescue activities in single pitch contexts to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.
Assessment must also ensure access to:
a suitable single pitch, above or below ground, in activity specific contexts such as abseiling, canyoning, caving and or climbing
personnel for team based rescues
rescue, safety, roping and activity-specific equipment according to rescue circumstances.
Method 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 selecting equipment and rigging ropes for safe ascents and descents
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of single pitch vertical rescue procedures and potential hazards, obstacles and risks
observation of performing safe and efficient self rescues and rescues of others using mechanical advantage systems
third-party reports from a supervisor detailing performance.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
Activity-specific units from the Fields of roping such as abseiling, canyoning, caving, climbing.
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| C6334 | SROVTR001A | Perform vertical rescues | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBE98 | SISORSC002 | Perform vertical rescues | Unit of competency |