SISOCAY005 — Establish ropes and belays for abseils in intermediate to advanced canyons

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What an assessment for SISOCAY005 must cover

45 assessable components: 3 elements (22 performance criteria), 5 performance evidence and 14 knowledge evidence requirements, plus 4 foundation skills. An audit-defensible tool maps every question and task back to these — that mapping is the coverage matrix Auditori generates alongside the assessment.

Elements & performance criteria

1 Select route and equipment suitable for the canyon abseil.

1.1Identify safe access to and egress from the pitch.
1.2Determine descent and ascent route appropriate for conditions.
1.3Select an abseiling and belay system suitable for the abseil, environmental conditions and participant.
1.4Choose a belay device suitable for the canyon conditions and belayer.
1.5Select other equipment to suit abseil requirements participants.
1.6Complete safety and serviceability checks on equipment and tag faulty equipment according to organisational procedures.

2 Set up belay system for abseils in intermediate to advanced canyons.

2.1Select anchors and assess condition, including performance under likely load and stability of surroundings.
2.2Rig or establish multiple anchors, ensuring equalisation and minimise potential for shock loading.
2.3Select and tie appropriate knots, and rig ropes suitable for load and function within the belay system.
2.4Establish a belay from which belayer is independent of the system.
2.5Establish a belay that maintains safety of belayer and abseiler.
2.6Position top rope or bottom brake belay away from hazards, or remove as able.
2.7Determine need for, and establish, back up belay systems.
2.8Complete safety checks according to organisational procedures.

3 Rig rope pitches for canyon abseils.

3.1Rig ropes to minimise effects of rope stretch and rub points and to allow efficient descent and ascent.
3.2Rig retrievable abseil systems suitable for the top rope or bottom brake belay requirements.
3.3Set up anchors and ropes to allow for a rescue.
3.4Select and tie knots suitable for system type established.
3.5Minimise the risk of cross loading and mis-alignment of carabiners.
3.6Verify manufacturers’ recommendations, equipment limitations and safety margins, and rig equipment accordingly.
3.7Rig to minimise impact on the natural environment.
3.8Complete safety checks according to organisational procedures.

Performance evidence

select and set up belay systems and ropes for abseils at four different canyon pitches, with at least two in a wet canyon
collectively set up the following types of systems: - doubled rope technique - single rope - releasable abseil line - rope systems suitable for single rope techniques - retrievable rope systems for: - top rope top belay - bottom brake belay - self-belay
collectively select and use these different types of anchors: - fixed artificial - naturally occurring - artificial removable
collectively select and tie at least four different types of knots suitable for the system type established, and appropriate for the intended load and function
identify and tag three different types of faulty equipment.

Knowledge evidence

organisational procedures for safety and serviceability checks
how the following factors affect selection of descent and ascent routes for canyoning environments: - season of operation, weather and environmental conditions - participant characteristics including age, size, weight, fitness and abseiling skill level - group objectives and size - environmental hazards specific to abseiling in canyons and how these affect: - safe access to and egress from the pitch - choice of descent and ascent routes for safety of abseiler - positioning of top or bottom belay systems for safety of belayer
features, functions, advantages and disadvantages of different types of anchors used in canyons: - fixed artificial: - threads - bolts - chains - concrete bollards - naturally occurring: - trees - boulders - artificial removable: - spring loaded camming devices - nuts, wires and hexes - pitons
issues that are assessed when selecting anchors and likely impacts of poor condition on performance under load: - wear and abrasion due to age and use - corrosion - decay - dislodgment - underlying stability of structural features and presence of: - cracks - deformities - fissures
meaning of the following terms, and principles which apply when rigging anchors and ropes: - equalisation of load - single point of failure - anchor redundancy - angle of separation - shock loading - cross loading and cyclical loading of carabiners - mis-alignment of carabiners - closing the system, including advantages, disadvantages and methods used
types of forces (upwards, downwards) generated during abseiling and belaying, and how to calculate load on anchors and ropes for these circumstances: - top rope top belay - bottom brake belay - self-belay - abseiler descending under control - abseiler fall - belayer arresting falls
the effects of rope stretch during operations and implications if not minimised: - abrasions - rope bounce - undue stress on the anchor system - potential for abseiler to impact with hazards, or become entangled
features, functions, advantages and disadvantages of the following abseiling and belay equipment used in canyons: - abseiling and belay systems for: - doubled rope technique - single rope - releasable abseil line - rope systems suitable for single rope techniques - top rope top belay - bottom brake belay - self-belay - descending devices: - assisted locking - inline - plate - figure 8 - tubular - improvised - belay devices: - assisted locking - inline - plate - figure 8 - tubular - improvised - carabiners - harnesses of different types - static and dynamic rope and when each might be used - rope protectors - tape - sewn sling - personal attachment systems, including cow’s tails - Prusik cord
how the following factors affect the selection and rigging of above equipment: - site characteristics including position of rub points - weather and environmental conditions - participant size, weight, and abseiling ability - cumulative load for group size and number of abseils - abseiling techniques to be used - distance, height and angle of anchor relative to top edge of abseil - manufacturers’ specifications for equipment use
techniques used to establish belay systems for safety of belayer: - rigging belays for performance of rescues - attaching to anchor or self belay safety system - situations requiring back up belay systems
when different knots are used, advantages and disadvantages, and how to tie them: - fixed eye - mid line tied in the bight - end to end joining - termination - load control hitches - slide and grip hitches
types of safety checks completed for rigging of equipment
how to care for abseiling equipment when rigging to avoid damage, and promote long lifespan
potential environmental impacts of rigging for abseils in a canyoning environment and techniques used to minimise damage.

Foundation skills

Reading skills to:: interpret detailed familiar organisational procedures for completing safety checks.
Writing skills to:: use fundamental sentence structure to complete safety and serviceability forms and fault tags that require factual information.
Numeracy skills to:: calculate loads for anchors and ropes under normal conditions and in the event of a fall visually estimate distances to calculate lengths for ropes.
Planning and organising skills to:: follow a logical equipment selection, rigging and checking process.

Unit content sourced from training.gov.au — © Commonwealth of Australia, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Auditori is not affiliated with the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

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Questions about assessing SISOCAY005

What does an assessment tool for SISOCAY005 need to cover?

To satisfy the Principles of Assessment and Rules of Evidence, an assessment for SISOCAY005 needs to address all 45 unit components: 3 elements with 22 performance criteria, 5 performance evidence requirements, 14 knowledge evidence requirements, and the foundation skills. A coverage matrix mapping each question and task to these components is what an auditor looks for.

How does Auditori generate an assessment tool for SISOCAY005?

Auditori pulls the current release of SISOCAY005 from training.gov.au and generates a complete package: candidate assessment, assessor guide with model answers and observation criteria, and a coverage matrix mapping every component. A suitably qualified person then reviews and approves the draft in a built-in workflow — consistent with ASQA's guidance on AI use in VET — before export as branded PDF and editable Word.

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Can I check my existing SISOCAY005 assessment instead of generating a new one?

Yes — upload your existing assessment or learner guide and Auditori maps it against every element, performance criterion, PE and KE of SISOCAY005, showing exactly what's covered and what's missing. Mapping costs a quarter of a credit.

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