Control measure

Situational awareness: Work at height

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TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Situational awareness: Work at height	Understand: The various sources of information, which may be available to assist with working at height situational awareness When it may be necessary to adopt defensive tactics The impact of medical conditions or medication that could affect personnel working at height The need to monitor personnel working at height for physical impacts

Control measure element

Learning outcome

Situational awareness: Work at height

Understand:

The various sources of information, which may be available to assist with working at height situational awareness
When it may be necessary to adopt defensive tactics
The impact of medical conditions or medication that could affect personnel working at height
The need to monitor personnel working at height for physical impacts

NOS knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:
You need to know and understand: 2920
K Hazards and risks of the workplace affecting people and the environment in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K How to make and apply decisions based on the assessment of risk in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K How to apply practices that maximise the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others during fire and rescue operational incidents K Sources and availability of information K Lines and methods of communication and reporting in the workplace K Roles, responsibilities and limits of authority of self, others and other agencies in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents
Health & Safety
K 1 Hazards and risks of the workplace affecting people and the environment in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K 2 How to make and apply decisions based on the assessment of risk in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents K 3 How to apply practices that maximise the health, safety and welfare of yourself and others during fire and rescue operational incidents
Organisational
K 6 Sources and availability of information
Personal and Interpersonal
K 10 Lines and methods of communication and reporting in the workplace K 11 Roles, responsibilities and limits of authority of self, others and other agencies in relation to fire and rescue operational incidents
You need to know and understand: 2201
K The precautions appropriate to minimising risks associated with working at heights K The organisation's policies and procedures for preparing for, and working at height
Working at height in fire and rescue
K 4 The precautions appropriate to minimising risks associated with working at heights K 6 The organisation's policies and procedures for preparing for, and working at height

Practical application

Control measure element	Learning outcome
Assign and brief personnel to carry out reconnaissance if support is needed to inform situational awareness	Demonstrate the ability to: Gather information from personnel at the scene of operations Gather information from personnel remote from the scene of operations
Consider adopting defensive tactics until specialist advice or assistance is obtained for work at height	Demonstrate the ability to: Make a risk-assessed decision to withdraw temporarily pending specialist advice or assistance
Be aware of any personnel who should not be deployed to work at height, due to medical conditions or medication	Demonstrate the ability to: Determine which personnel should not be deployed to work at height on medical grounds
Monitor personnel for signs of stress, anxiety, vertigo or dizziness while working at height	Demonstrate the ability to: Recognise any personnel suffering from adverse physical impacts when working at height

NOS performance criteria

You must be able to:
Respond to fire and rescue incidents
P 1 Confirm with relevant others your tasks and duties in relation to fire and rescue incidents in line with your role and responsibilities P 2 Establish key factors about fire and rescue incidents and inform others in line with your organisation’s procedures, including: 2.1 Extent 2.2 Nature 2.3 Location P 3 Establish risks affecting fire and rescue incidents in line with your organisation’s risk assessment procedures
Respond to fire and rescue incidents 2889
P Report anything which may adversely affect people's safety to others in line with your organisation's procedures
Support people involved in an operational incident
P 9 Report anything which may adversely affect people's safety to others in line with your organisation's procedures
You must be able to: 2192
P Assess the risks associated when working at height, taking into account the potential dangers of falling, the stability of working platform and the nature of the incident P Maintain frequent communication on progress and status with the incident commander, in line with the nature of the incident
Working at height in fire and rescue
P 2 Assess the risks associated when working at height, taking into account the potential dangers of falling, the stability of working platform and the nature of the incident P 7 Maintain frequent communication on progress and status with the incident commander, in line with the nature of the incident

Control measure knowledge

At incidents that involve working at height there may be instances where the incident commander cannot observe all areas of the incident and may not initially have enough information to maintain situational awareness. It is essential for the incident commander to gather this information, so they can understand and interpret the situation and anticipate what is likely to happen next.

Specifically, for incidents involving work at height, additional sources for information gathering should be considered, including:

Information gathered by personnel at the scene of operations
Information gathered by personnel remote from the scene of operations, such as in adjacent buildings or structures

In some circumstances, the outcome of a risk assessment may be to adopt defensive tactics until advice or assistance can be obtained from an appropriate tactical adviser or specialist rescue team. Refer to Specialist resources: Work at height.

Personnel should not be deployed if they have medical conditions or are taking medication that could adversely affect them working at height. Personnel working at height should be monitored for any physical impacts that are a result of this activity.

Strategic actions

Fire and rescue services should:

Be aware of any medical conditions or medication of personnel, that makes it unsafe for them to work at height

Tactical actions

Incident commanders should:

Assign and brief personnel to carry out reconnaissance if support is needed to inform situational awareness
Consider adopting defensive tactics until specialist advice or assistance is obtained for work at height
Be aware of any personnel who should not be deployed to work at height, due to medical conditions or medication
Monitor personnel for signs of stress, anxiety, vertigo or dizziness while working at height

Control measure
Hierarchy of control: Work at height

Height, structures and confined spaces

Control measure

Situational awareness: Work at height

Control measure

Situational awareness: Work at height

TRAINING SPECIFICATION

Knowledge and understanding

NOS knowledge and understanding

Practical application

NOS performance criteria

Control measure knowledge

Strategic actions

Tactical actions