Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
23/07/2026 1:40 AM AWST

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Apply safe design principles to control WHS risks

Apply safe design principles to control WHS risks

Unit of competency
National Code
BSBWHS616
State Code
OBA83
TGA Status
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
30/08/2019
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
13/12/2019
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
13/12/2019
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply safe design principles to control work health and safety (WHS) risks in a product’s life cycle. It involves engaging at different points of the supply chain to provide advice based on safe design principles. The central feature of safe design is the application of relevant information and data about human experience, capabilities and behaviour to the design of objects, facilities, procedures and environments that people use.The unit applies to those who apply the principles of safe design in their organisation, which may be at one or more stages of the product’s life cycle, including procurement, installation, operation and disposal. Products may refer to plant, tools and equipment. The application of safe design principles aims to eliminate or minimise hazards and their associated risks before an existing product, or a product being developed or modified, is introduced into the workplace.NOTES1. The terms ‘occupational health and safety’ (OHS) and ‘work health and safety’ (WHS) are equivalent, and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where model WHS laws have not been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements.2. For the purposes of this unit of competency ‘safe design’ refers to a process defined as the integration of hazard identification and risk assessment methods to eliminate or minimise the risk of injury throughout the life cycle of plant, tool or equipment being designed.3. For the purposes of this unit of competency a ‘product’ refers to any plant, tool or equipment.4. The model WHS laws include the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations and model WHS Codes of Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Advise on WHS principles that support safe design
  • 1.1 Advise decision-makers of their duties under WHS laws to manage WHS risks throughout a product’s life cycle
  • 1.2 Source and make available to decision-makers the most current information and data on WHS principles, materials, technology and systems that apply to product design
  • 1.3 Advise on methods and tools that can support WHS hazard identification and WHS risk assessment throughout a product’s life cycle
  • 1.4 Identify and address learning and development needs of decision-makers to manage WHS risks that may arise during a product’s life cycle, including during its design phase
  • 1.5 Advise on consultation with known and/or potential users of the product during the design phase, according to organisational policies and procedures
  • 1.6 Identify situations where specialist and other advisers may be required to support safe design activities
2 Advise on systematic approach to WHS risk management for safe design
  • 2.1 Advise on selection and implementation of required WHS risk controls in design, based on the hierarchy of control measures
  • 2.2 Advise on documentation requirements relating to decision-making during risk assessment process
  • 2.3 Advise on establishment of a residual WHS risk register and distribution of this information to those involved in downstream or subsequent product life-cycle stages
  • 2.4 Advise on monitoring the design as it evolves, to identify and manage potential WHS hazards that may arise during product life cycle and their associated risks
  • 2.5 Identify and address learning and development needs of decision-makers in relation to managing design-related WHS risks in a product’s life cycle
3 Advise on consultation processes in product’s life cycle
  • 3.1 Support decision-makers in considering the needs of those using or interacting with product throughout its life cycle
  • 3.2 Facilitate involvement of technical experts as required according to organisational processes and procedures
  • 3.3 Advise on consultation arrangements with required personnel during all phases of design process to identify WHS hazards and control WHS risks that may occur throughout a product’s life cycle
  • 3.4 Advise on communicating residual WHS risks in product to those who will use or interact with the product throughout its life cycle
4 Advise on procurement systems to minimise ‘purchased’ WHS hazards and their associated risks
  • 4.1 Advise decision-makers involved in purchasing and contractual arrangements to include requirements to identify WHS hazards and control WHS risks, and to provide information and data on residual WHS risks as part of procurement process
  • 4.2 Advise on including a requirement to carry out a safe design approach in the design brief or draft specifications
No information
No information
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
AUH30 BSBWHS609 Advise on the application of safe design principles to control WHS risks Unit of competency