Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement provides details of the scope of the Elements and Performance Criteria to allow for differences within enterprises and workplaces, including practices, knowledge and requirements. It also provides a focus for assessment and relates to the unit as a whole. The Range Statement is provided as a guide only and lists are not exhaustive. The following variables may be present:

Workplace security policies and procedures may include:
fire drill/evacuation
mayday via 2-way radio
duress alarm to police
alarm system
security guard
locking buildings and toilets.

Workplace hazards may include:
personal lifestyle
workplace stress
manual handling
toxic substances
body fluids and human tissue
infections
fire
infectious waste
sharps.

Appropriate personnel may include:
OHS representative
human resources personnel
team leader
supervisor
management.

Workplace policies and procedures may include:
standard operating policies and procedures
standards and certification requirements
quality assurance procedures
OHS procedures
chemical handling procedures
emergency, fire and accident procedures
general security procedures
hold-up procedures.

Emergency equipment may include:
fire fighting equipment
medical and first aid equipment
evacuation equipment.

Lifting techniques may include:
single person
multi-person
assisted with a manual lifting device
assisted with a mechanical lifting device.

Personal hygiene practices may include:
maintenance of work clothes cleanliness
hand washing
food hygiene practices
use of personal protective equipment.

Applicable legislation and regulations may be Federal, State specific or Local Government specific and may include:
Workplace/Occupational Health and Safety Act
Workplace Relations Act
EEO legislation and regulations
Worker's compensation legislation and regulations
Funeral Industry Code of Practice
Relevant cemetery acts/bylaws
General cemetery regulations
Cemeteries Act
Crematorium Act
Local Government Acts
Anatomy Act
Human Tissue Act
Coroner's Act
Federal Transportation Regulations/Airlines Act
Public Health Act
Environment Protection Act
Dangerous Goods Act
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS)
Worksafe Australia Certification and Standards.

Personal protective equipment may include:
disposable gloves
heavy duty gloves
barrier gown/suit
waterproof overshoes
waterproof aprons
splash proof masks
eye goggles
face visor
hair cover
filtered air supply
negative air pressure
powered positive air supply.

Infectious waste may include:
body parts
human tissue
human blood and body fluid
materials and equipment containing human blood and body fluid
contaminated garments
soiled dressings, sharps, swabs, catheters, bandages.

Hazardous chemicals may include:
acetone
alkyl dimethybenzyl
ammonium chloride
amaranth
amitrole
2-butotxyethanol
camphor
chlorine salts
chloroform
cresol
diethanolamine
diethylene glycol
dimethylformamide
ethyl acetate
ethyl alcohol
ethylene dichloride
ethylene glycolmonomethyl ether
formaldehyde
formic acid
glutaraldehyde
hexylene glycol
isobutane
isopropyl alcohol
methyl ethyl ketone
2-2' methylene bis (4) chlorophene
methylene chloride
mineral spirits
molding plaster
nitrocellulose
orthodichlorobenzene
oxalic acid
paradichlorobenzene
paraformaldehyde
phenol
propane
propylene glycol
quartz
quaternary ammonium compounds
sodium hypochlorite
sodium pentachlorophenate
talc
toluene
111 trichloroethane
trichloroethylene.

Safety hazards may include:
fumes
splashing
irritation to human tissues
exposure to air
chemical spills
electrical equipment.

General waste may include:
foodstuffs, drinks
paper, packaging materials
small machine replacement parts such as photocopying, printing, computing equipment.

Housekeeping equipment and supplies may include:
pick up trollies
wheelie bins (mobile garbage bins)
cleaning cloths
cleaning agents
bin liners
brooms
brushes and pans
mops.

OHS documentation may include:
Materials Safety Data Sheets
OHS incident/accident reports.

The following components relate directly to this unit's Performance Criteria and Range Statement and will inform and provide guidance for assessment of the unit in the workplace and/or training program.
Critical Aspects of Evidence

Evidence of the following knowledge and skills is considered essential to demonstrate competency in this unit. This includes demonstration of the Key Competencies at the performance level identified at the end of this unit:

Knowledge of and adherence to workplace security policies and procedures.
Demonstration of the ability to implement workplace policies and procedures for dealing with accidents, fire and emergencies.
Demonstration of safe lifting techniques appropriate for a range of items.
Adherence to personal hygiene practices.
Correct use and maintenance of personal protective equipment.
Demonstration of the ability to correctly handle and dispose of potentially infectious waste.
Demonstration of the ability to correctly identify the properties of a range of hazardous chemicals.
Demonstration of the ability to correctly handle, store and dispose of a range of hazardous chemicals, including incompatible hazardous chemicals.
Demonstration of the ongoing maintenance of workplace cleanliness, safety and tidiness.
Demonstration of the ability to raise OHS issues with appropriate personnel and contribute to workplace OHS discussions.

Underpinning Knowledge and Skills

The following knowledge, understanding and skills are essential to perform this unit to the required standard:

Knowledge of the properties of hazardous chemicals used in the workplace.
Knowledge of manual handling techniques, first aid, OHS and infection control practices.
Knowledge and understanding of relevant Federal, State/Territory and Local Government legislation and regulations.
Ability to identify risk situations.

Verbal and non-verbal communication skills, including:

ability to receive instructions
the ability to communicate honestly and truthfully with professional openness.

Literacy and numeracy skills, including:

ability to access relevant legislation and regulations
ability to interpret and understand written legislation and regulations
computer literacy.
Knowledge of workplace policies and procedures.
Personal integrity and accountability.

Context of Assessment
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, competency should be consistently demonstrated over a period of time and observed by the assessor and/or the technical expert working in partnership with the assessor. The technical expert may include an experienced person at the workplace.
Competency should be demonstrated in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment through a range of situations which may include interruptions and involvement in other related activities normally expected in the work environment.
Assessment should be undertaken in an environment that meets industry codes of practice and relevant industry regulations and legislation.

Interdependent Assessment of Unit
All units which relate to a job function can be considered as co-requisites to assist with an integrated approach to assessment.
For advice on integrated assessment of units within and across qualifications, refer to the Assessment Guidelines.

Assessment Methods

Observation of staff member performing a range of workplace tasks over sufficient time to demonstrate the handling of a range of contingencies. Tasks may include but are not limited to:

identifying and following workplace safety, security and emergency procedures.
identifying and carrying out general housekeeping duties.
demonstrating ability to perform manual handling procedures in a safe manner.
demonstrating ability to handle hazardous chemical safely.
demonstrating empathy, confidentiality and tact in relation to providing quality customer service in the Funeral Services Industry.
dressing in an appropriate manner for following workplace safety, security and emergency procedures.
Written and/or oral questioning to assess knowledge and understanding with regard to implementing strategies to prevent infection in the workplace. Questions will be asked in a manner appropriate to the language and literacy level of the staff member.
Participation in role plays in relation to utilising strategies to prevent work overload.
Completing workplace documentation relevant to workplace requirements.

Assessment Resources
All resources must be provided for the assessment. If workplace based, the resources should relate specifically to policies, procedures and range of tools and equipment. If an off the job or simulated work environment is used then resources should be applicable to the work environment.

Resources may include:

A real or simulated work environment.

Relevant documentation such as:

workplace policies and procedures
documentation as identified in the Range Statement.
Industry codes of practice and relevant legislation and regulations.
Access to a range of clients with a range of requirements (real or simulated).
Access to a range of tools and equipment.
A qualified workplace assessor and/or a technical expert working in partnership with the assessor.

There are a number of processes that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies. Key competencies are generic competencies that focus on the capacity to apply knowledge and skills in an integrated way in work situations, but are not specific to any particular industry. Key competencies foster the development of skills, knowledge and understanding necessary to perform work operations. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 1 = competence needed to undertake tasks effectively, 2 = the ability to manage tasks, and 3 = the ability to use concepts for evaluating and reshaping tasks.
Communicating ideas and information
By sharing with colleagues, ideas and information about health and safety procedures to be carried out in a mortuary. (1)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By collecting information about safe and healthy working practice in a mortuary, collating it in a useable format and applying it to every day work practices. (1)

Planning and organising activities
By organising the work requirements and planning the required tasks associated with carrying out mortuary occupational health and safety procedures, in conjunction with other assigned activities, such that practices integrate with normal day to day activities. (1)

Working with others and in teams
By interacting with colleagues to support and enhance a healthy and safe working environment. (1)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Mathematical ideas and techniques are likely to be involved in handling and using housekeeping supplies. (1)

Solving problems
By identifying issues associated with occupational health and safety that are not within defined guidelines, resolving those that are routine and involving colleagues where they are not. (1)

Using technology
By using technology to expand knowledge of OHS procedures in a mortuary and in communicating with colleagues and suppliers. (1)