Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
21/07/2026 11:21 PM AWST
21/07/2026 11:21 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Identify hazards and assess risks in a cemetery or crematorium
Identify hazards and assess risks in a cemetery or crematorium
Unit of competency
National Code
SIFOHS007A
SIFOHS007A
State Code
S7101
S7101
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
21/06/2010
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
21/06/2010
Nominal Hours
20
Description
This unit addresses the knowledge, skills and techniques necessary to provide an effective contribution to the identification of workplace hazards and assessment of confined space risks in the workplace. The unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply risk control processes at a cemetery or crematorium. It includes identifying hazards; assessing risks; identifying unacceptable risks; identifying, analysing and implementing risk treatment; and completing records and reports. This unit covers the control of risks associated with entry to confined spaces for maintenance and servicing of crematoria or other necessary reasons, such as preparing graves in green and brownfield sites, reopening and exhuming graves. Work in or entry to confined spaces shall conform to relevant legislation and AS2865:2001, or its authorised update or replacement. It is expected that all persons entering the confined space, and the stand-by person, will be competent to enter confined spaces. It is required that all team members will be trained in incident response, including first aid or CPR. It is also expected that contractors entering confined spaces on the cemetery or the crematorium will also follow confined space requirements.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Assess risk and identify unacceptable risk in cemetery and crematorium.
- 1.1 Conduct a risk assessment of potential hazards in the cemetery or crematorium.
- 1.2 Evaluate and determine consequence if a confined space hazard is present.
- 1.3 Consider and determine likelihood of hazard exposure.
- 1.4 Identify and source criteria for acceptability or unacceptability of the risk.
- 1.5 Evaluate risk against criteria to identify if it warrants 'unacceptable risk' status and action or refer to appropriate party as required.
2 Identify confined space hazards in cemetery and crematorium.
- 2.1 Clearly identify actual and potential confined spaces through review of the nature of the space and its characteristics.
- 2.2 Analyse work area conditions to identify or recognise potential confined spacehazards in the workplace.
- 2.3 Access and analyse information on existing risk control practices and use as appropriate.
- 2.4 Recognise type and scope of unresolved confined space hazards and their likely impact.
3 Identify, analyse and implement risk treatments for an identified confined space.
- 3.1 Identify and consider all possible risk treatment options.
- 3.2 Identify feasible options by preliminary analysis and consideration of possible options.
- 3.3 Analyse feasible risk treatment options and identify resource requirements.
- 3.4 Select most appropriate action for dealing with the risk.
- 3.5 Plan and prepare for risk control in detail and acquire or obtain required resources.
4 Complete records and reports.
- 4.1 Communicate information on risk control implementation to relevant people.
- 4.2 Complete records and reports for hazards and risk control actions from personal risk assessment as specified by legislative and site requirements.
- 4.3 Provide feedback and input to OHS practitioners on range of variables associated with confined space work to improve hazard and risk management.
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. 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) may also be included.
location of work
duration of work
soil type
shoring requirements
size of work crew
contractor or employee work crew
funeral director, if relevant
size, depth, dimensions, age and type of grave
size, depth and dimensions of tomb, crypt, vault or furnace
access to the confined space
ground conditions, including adjacent graves, soil make-up and water table
personnel qualifications
terrain
weather
possible coffin weight and materials
expected degree of embalming
machinery
presence of monuments and their stability
atmospheric test requirements
hot work as required
reason for death
time since burial.
source of potential harm
situation with a potential to cause loss.
outcome of an event or situation expressed qualitatively or quantitatively, being a loss, injury, disadvantage or gain.
qualitative description of probability
frequency
measure of likelihood expressed as the number of occurrences of an event in a given time .
determinations made by organisation's internal policy, goals and objectives with reference to relevant legislation.
size and location of grave
availability to access grave, crypt, vault or crematorium
presence of hazardous substances, such as hydrogen sulphide from decomposing matter or carbon monoxide from water bailing pumps
presence of flammable contaminants generated by methane of decomposing matter
presence of unsafe oxygen levels associated with sealed coffins, crypt and graves
presence of materials that may result in engulfment through cave in
mechanical hazards, such as backhoes or conveyors
objects falling into the space, such as monuments or soil and rocks
ignition hazards, such as:
sources of heat
static or friction
plant and equipment that pose risks, such as welding, cutting or electronic equipment
activities, such as grinding, chipping and sandblasting
electrical hazards
poor ventilation
environmental hazards, such as:
water levels
seepage from neighbouring gravesites
high water tables
non-compacted soil
biological hazards, such as:
viruses and bacteria
microbes and pathogens carried in the water or decomposing tissue
insects, snakes and vermin.
enclosed or partially enclosed space that is at atmospheric pressure during occupancy and is not intended or designed primarily as a place of work, and could have restricted means for entry and exit or may at any time:
have an atmosphere containing potentially harmful levels of contaminant
have an oxygen deficiency or excess
cause engulfment
boiler furnace
grave
tank
pit
pipe
container
crypt
vault
duct
well
contains or has contained (or made of or lined or coated with) substances capable of reducing amount of oxygen present to a dangerous level.
eliminating hazard, such as not getting in the grave
substitution, such as using another gravesite
engineering controls, such as extraction fans on vaults
administrative controls or procedures, such as permits and risk assessments for confined space entry
personal protective equipment, including:
breathing apparatus, self-contained breathing apparatus and canister mask
face shield
gloves
overalls and protective clothing
hard hat
face mask
eye protection
hearing protection shovels
boots or gumboots
shoring requirements
atmospheric test requirements
mechanical and isolation requirements
stand-by personnel and rescue arrangements, such as Tripod or other means of effective rescue
authorisation
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
analysis of decomposing matter and water in space
fire extinguisher
spill kit
first aid kit
eye wash kit
communications equipment
signage, such as:
site safety signage
temporary signage for motorists and pedestrians
barricades
fall and edge protection.
hazard reporting forms
supervisor or team leader reports
incident reports
near-miss reports
shift reports.
location of work
duration of work
soil type
shoring requirements
size of work crew
contractor or employee work crew
funeral director, if relevant
size, depth, dimensions, age and type of grave
size, depth and dimensions of tomb, crypt, vault or furnace
access to the confined space
ground conditions, including adjacent graves, soil make-up and water table
personnel qualifications
terrain
weather
possible coffin weight and materials
expected degree of embalming
machinery
presence of monuments and their stability
atmospheric test requirements
hot work as required
reason for death
time since burial.
source of potential harm
situation with a potential to cause loss.
outcome of an event or situation expressed qualitatively or quantitatively, being a loss, injury, disadvantage or gain.
qualitative description of probability
frequency
measure of likelihood expressed as the number of occurrences of an event in a given time .
determinations made by organisation's internal policy, goals and objectives with reference to relevant legislation.
size and location of grave
availability to access grave, crypt, vault or crematorium
presence of hazardous substances, such as hydrogen sulphide from decomposing matter or carbon monoxide from water bailing pumps
presence of flammable contaminants generated by methane of decomposing matter
presence of unsafe oxygen levels associated with sealed coffins, crypt and graves
presence of materials that may result in engulfment through cave in
mechanical hazards, such as backhoes or conveyors
objects falling into the space, such as monuments or soil and rocks
ignition hazards, such as:
sources of heat
static or friction
plant and equipment that pose risks, such as welding, cutting or electronic equipment
activities, such as grinding, chipping and sandblasting
electrical hazards
poor ventilation
environmental hazards, such as:
water levels
seepage from neighbouring gravesites
high water tables
non-compacted soil
biological hazards, such as:
viruses and bacteria
microbes and pathogens carried in the water or decomposing tissue
insects, snakes and vermin.
enclosed or partially enclosed space that is at atmospheric pressure during occupancy and is not intended or designed primarily as a place of work, and could have restricted means for entry and exit or may at any time:
have an atmosphere containing potentially harmful levels of contaminant
have an oxygen deficiency or excess
cause engulfment
boiler furnace
grave
tank
pit
pipe
container
crypt
vault
duct
well
contains or has contained (or made of or lined or coated with) substances capable of reducing amount of oxygen present to a dangerous level.
eliminating hazard, such as not getting in the grave
substitution, such as using another gravesite
engineering controls, such as extraction fans on vaults
administrative controls or procedures, such as permits and risk assessments for confined space entry
personal protective equipment, including:
breathing apparatus, self-contained breathing apparatus and canister mask
face shield
gloves
overalls and protective clothing
hard hat
face mask
eye protection
hearing protection shovels
boots or gumboots
shoring requirements
atmospheric test requirements
mechanical and isolation requirements
stand-by personnel and rescue arrangements, such as Tripod or other means of effective rescue
authorisation
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
analysis of decomposing matter and water in space
fire extinguisher
spill kit
first aid kit
eye wash kit
communications equipment
signage, such as:
site safety signage
temporary signage for motorists and pedestrians
barricades
fall and edge protection.
hazard reporting forms
supervisor or team leader reports
incident reports
near-miss reports
shift reports.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
project or work activities that show the candidate's ability to identify confined space workplace hazards, and assess and control safety risks for a cemetery or crematorium operation and in line with regulatory requirements
knowledge of OHS legislation requirements for hazard identification, and risk assessment and control
identifying hazards and assessing risks in a cemetery or crematorium on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Context of, and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
demonstration of skills in a cemetery or crematorium operation for which hazard identification and risk assessment can be undertaken
access to current organisational policies and procedures, and hazard identification and risk assessment template documents.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of candidate completing risk assessment processes and procedures
written or verbal questioning to assess required knowledge and skills
inspection of the final product or outcome
scenario analysis
review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:
project or work activities that show the candidate's ability to identify confined space workplace hazards, and assess and control safety risks for a cemetery or crematorium operation and in line with regulatory requirements
knowledge of OHS legislation requirements for hazard identification, and risk assessment and control
identifying hazards and assessing risks in a cemetery or crematorium on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Context of, and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure:
demonstration of skills in a cemetery or crematorium operation for which hazard identification and risk assessment can be undertaken
access to current organisational policies and procedures, and hazard identification and risk assessment template documents.
Method of assessment
A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:
observation of candidate completing risk assessment processes and procedures
written or verbal questioning to assess required knowledge and skills
inspection of the final product or outcome
scenario analysis
review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.
Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WG601 | SIFCWHS001 | Identify hazards and assess risks in a cemetery or crematorium | Unit of competency |
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| D338 | SIF30208 | Certificate III in Gravedigging, Grounds and Maintenance | Qualification |