Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.


A hazard is:
A source or situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, the environment, or a combination of these


Common workplace hazards (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety Risks - Code of Practice) include:

Manual tasks - Overexertion or repetitive movement can cause muscular strain
Gravity - Falling objects, falls, slips and trips of people can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or death
Electricity - Potential ignition source. Exposure to live electrical wires can cause shock, burns or death from electrocution
Machinery and equipment - Being hit by moving vehicles, or being caught by moving parts of machinery can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, permanent injuries or death
Hazardous chemicals - Chemicals (such as acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitis
Extreme temperatures - Heat can cause burns, heat stroke or fatigue. Cold can cause hypothermia or frost bite
Noise - Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damage
Radiation - Ultra violet, welding arc flashes, micro waves and lasers can cause burns, cancer or blindness
Biological - Micro-organisms can cause hepatitis, legionnaires’ disease, Q fever, HIV/AIDS or allergies
Psychosocial hazards - Effects of work-related stress, bullying, violence and work-related fatigue


Risk:
In relation to any hazard, means the probability and consequences of injury, illness or damage resulting from exposure to a hazard


Hierarchy of risk control (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety - Risks Code of Practice) includes:
The ranking of ways control risks ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest, including:
Level 1 controls
Eliminate hazards
Level 2 controls
Substitute the hazard with something safer
Isolate the hazard from people
Use engineering controls
Level 3 controls
Use administrative controls
Use personal protective equipment (PPE)


Examples of risks requiring management in a direct client care work environment may include:
Worker fatigue or burnout requiring appropriate supervision and stress management
Injury or damage resulting from violent or aggressive behaviour, requiring strategies to defuse or avoid behaviours of concern
Risks relating to working in client’s homes, requiring appropriate worker education and associated strategies
Fire in client’s homes requiring workers to provide basic information on home fire safety


Residual risk is:
The risk which remains after controls have been implemented


Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes:
Equipment worn by a person to provide protection from hazards, by providing a physical barrier between the person and the hazard and may include:
head protection
face and eye protection
respiratory protection
hearing protection
hand protection
clothing and footwear


Incidents include:
Any event that has caused, or has the potential for, injury, ill-health or damage


Designated personnel may include:
Team leaders/supervisors
Officers
HSRs
HSC members
PCBUs
Organisation WHS personnel
Other persons designated by the organisation


WHS housekeeping includes:
Workplace and personal routines designed to improve health and safety; for example, cleaning up spills, keeping walkways, exits and traffic areas clear


Emergency situations may include
Any abnormal or sudden event that requires immediate action such as:
Serious injury events
Events requiring evacuation
Fires and explosions
Hazardous substance and chemical spills
Explosion and bomb alerts
Security emergencies, such as armed robberies, intruders and disturbed persons
Internal emergencies, such as loss of power or water supply and structural collapse
External emergencies and natural disasters, such as flood, storm and traffic accident impacting on the organisation

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
Evidence gathered by an assessor to determine competence will include practical demonstration of competence, including:
workplace demonstration, simulation exercise, scenario or role play
indirect evidence from workplace supervisor reports and workplace documentation


Products that could be used as evidence include:
Verbal and written responses to verbal, pictorial, or physical scenarios
Demonstrated action to scenarios, simulations, role plays
Completed hazard or incident reports, completed workplace inspection checklists
Reports from work group members, supervisor


Processes that could be used as evidence include:
How contributions were made to consultative processes
How hazard inspections were carried out


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities