Fire Safety Officer
This course is an accredited program primary focused on staff who work in the role of Fire Safety Officer in Healthcare Facilities, such as hospitals, day surgeries and aged care facilities. Staff from other industries may also find this course beneficial if they occupy a fire safety role in sectors such as corrections, educational institutions or heavy industry.
This course will train participants in the requirements of Australian Standards AS 4083-2010 Planning for Emergencies – Health Care Facilities, AS 3745-2010 Planning for Emergencies in Facilities and meets the requirements of the NSW Health Policy Directive (PD2010_024) – Fire Safety in Health Care Facilities.
The training provides participants with the appropriate knowledge and skills to perform the duties and responsibilities of a Fire Safety Officer (or equivalent) with confidence. It provides the competency required to undertake emergency planning, implement, and coordinate emergency response procedures, and be familiar with the operation of installed systems and building fire safety. Participants will be trained in their obligations under the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and Regulations 2017.
This course is the prerequisite for those wanting to complete the Fire Safety Managers course.
Who is this course for?
Students undertaking this course are working in the role of an FSO (or equivalent) and want to formalise their qualifications, or a person who is new to an FSO role but has previous experience working in an Emergency Control Organisation. Other students coming into this course may also be safety professionals from high-risk industries such as:
Mining
Construction
Universities/Educational Facilities
Heavy Industry
Entry Requirements
Prospective students must complete an LLN assessment prior to enrolment in the course. Students must hold the required skills to read and interpret emergency response procedures, Australian Standards, codes of practice and work permits, and to complete workplace documentation such as safety inspection checklists, emergency response reports, post-incident action reports and risk assessments. Students must possess the language and communication skills to effectively communicate with peers, co-workers, supervisors and emergency services personnel in the simulated workplace environment while undertaking the course.
Students must wear long pants and enclosed shoes to safely undertake practical assessment.
Students must bring their own device to complete the online assessment activities. Students will need a device (laptop or tablet; laptop recommended) running an operating system that is current and supported with the ability to access the internet (provided onsite). ComSafe recommends that the Google Chrome browser is used to access the Student Portal.
Students must be able to undertake the physical demands of this course, such as using first attack firefighting equipment and performing building evacuations.
Pre-Course Material
Once enrolled in this course students must complete a mandatory pre-course study module online in our Student Portal. This module covers the requirements for Emergency Control organisations in workplaces and is designed to refresh your knowledge in emergency planning, emergency procedures and employee/employer obligations under the Australian Standards and Work Health and Safety legislation and regulations. It will also cover the various first response emergency equipment and their use and limitations. This module will ensure that students have current knowledge of these areas and will help prepare students for the course. The pre-course module contains reading, short videos, case studies and knowledge check quizzes. No formal assessment is conducted in this module; however it must be completed prior to attendance on the first day of the course.
Overview
- Understanding the role and responsibilities of an FSO
- Understanding legislation
- Ensure workplace emergency prevention processes are implemented
- Ensure appropriate hazard analysis is undertaken and workplace procedures are implemented
- Developing risk management strategies
- Emergency Planning Processes
- Identify and operate fire safety installed systems and emergency control equipment
- Respond to emergency reports, signals and warnings
- Initiate, lead and control emergency response, anticipate for further developments
- Coordinate post response activities, including debrief
- Maintain records, reports and maintenance record for equipment
- Provide advice and assistance to management to ensure that all employees participate in fire safety education and that records of education are maintained
- Monitor day-to-day fire prevention, protection, and fire safety functions within the facility, together with regular utilisation of the Workplace Fire Safety Inspections
- Conducting and Evaluating evacuation exercises and fire drills
- Demonstrate knowledge and practical application of first attack firefighting equipment in small workplace emergencies
National Units of Competency
- PUAFER001 – Identify, prevent and report potential facility emergency situations
- PUAFER002 – Ensure facility emergency prevention procedures, systems and processes are implemented
- PUAFER004 – Respond to facility emergencies
- PUAFER005 – Operate as part of an emergency control organisation
- PUAFER006 – Lead an emergency control organisation
- PUAFER008 – Confine small emergencies in a facility
Assessment
This course will be assessed through mixed mediums such as theory assessments to demonstrate knowledge requirements and practical exercises using workplace-based scenarios and simulated work examples.
The knowledge requirements will be assessed through online assessments, incorporating multiple choice questions, diagram and signage identification and short answer responses.
Practical assessments will see students complete workplace documentation, undertake evacuation exercises, perform equipment inspections, and participate in briefings and meetings. Skills will be demonstrated during observations by Trainers and will also involve verbal questioning.
A Statement of Attainment certifying achievement of National competencies will be issued to participants deemed competent at the conclusion of the program.