Elements and Performance Criteria

Appropriate personnel may include
health and safety representatives
managers
OHS personnel
other persons including emergency service personnel, authorised or nominated by the enterprise or industry to:
approve specified work
direct specified work/functions
inspect specified work
perform specified work/functions.

Company requirements may include
contracting of services
counselling/disciplinary processes
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchasing of supplies and equipment
work procedures and work instructions.

Contributions may include
a visible OHS culture that includes-
actively encouraging OHS contributions, suggestions and input
actioning and responding to OHS input and suggestions
assigning responsibility for raised OHS concerns
behaviour that contributes to a safe workplace
listening to ideas and opinions of others in the work group
sharing opinions, views, knowledge and skills.

Control risks may include actions such as
application of the hierarchy of control, namely-
elimination of the risk
substitution controls
engineering controls
administrative controls including training
personal protective equipment
consultation with manufacturers, suppliers, employers and their representatives
consultation with workers and their representatives
development of a reliable systematic approach to risk control
ensuring adequate training of staff
measurement of risk likelihood and consequence
measures to remove the cause of a risk at its source
monitoring and regular review of work systems and procedures
rewarding good health and safety practice.

Hazardous event control procedures may include
following instructions from authorised or appropriate personnel during hazardous events
chemical containment and clean-up
evacuations
provision of First Aid
accident/incident reporting
an emergency management plan
injury and dangerous occurrence reporting.

Hazardous events may include
accidents (including motor vehicle accidents)
bomb threats
chemical spills
electrocution
fires and explosions
inhalation of dangerous substances
manual handling
natural disasters
slips, trips and falls
violent incidents e.g. armed robberies, workplace bullying.

Hazards may include
biological hazards
chemical hazards including unlabelled chemicals and substances
ergonomic/mechanical hazards
associated with electrical or mechanical faults of plant and/or equipment including mobile plants
environmental hazards
noise
radiation
untidy work areas
vibration
physical hazards
electrical
obstructions or blocked exits
slippery or uneven floors
psychological hazards.

Hierarchy of control includes
hazard elimination treatment/controls
hazard substitution treatment/controls
hazard engineering treatment/controls
administrative treatment/controls including OHS and environmental training
personal protective equipment.

Identifying hazards and assessing risks may include activities such as
accessing manufacturer guidance information and manuals
application of job safety analysis procedures
assessing the severity of identified hazards and ranking according to severity
briefing workplace safety inspectors or contracted OHS advisors
checking work area and/or equipment before and during work
consultation with employees, OHS representative, OHS committee
housekeeping
job and work system assessment
performing routine job hazard analysis
pre- and post-operational equipment checks
purchasing of supplies and equipment e.g. review of material safety data sheets (MSDS) and manufacturer/supplier information
referencing government or industry hazard or safety alerts including via industry association contacts and networks
regular maintenance of plant and equipment
reviews of OHS records including registers of hazardous substances, dangerous goods, etc
safety audits
workplace inspections.

Information may be
for the induction of new workers, or refresher training for existing employees
about the nature of work, tasks and procedures
about hazards and risk management procedures
contained in industry association journals or workers' compensation literature
to assist in work tasks
as part of providing direct supervision e.g. to inexperienced workers
to communicate legislation and codes of practice e.g. relating to hazards in the work area
for consultation with health and safety representatives and OHS committees.

OHS legislation may include
Dangerous Goods Acts
general duty of care under OHS legislation and common law
provisions relating to OHS issue resolution
provisions relating to roles and responsibilities of health and safety representatives and/or OHS committees
regulations and codes of practice including regulations and codes of practice relating to hazards present in the workplace or industry
requirements for provision of OHS information and training
requirements for the maintenance and confidentiality of records of occupational injury and disease
state/territory/Commonwealth OHS Acts.

OHS records should include documented
First Aid/medical-post records
hazardous substances registers
health surveillance and workplace environmental monitoring records
maintenance and testing reports
manufacturers' and suppliers' information including MSDS and dangerous goods storage lists
OHS audits and inspection reports
records of instruction and training
safety bulletins or notices
workers' compensation and rehabilitation records.

OHS training needs may include
controlling hazards
emergency and evacuation training
hazard prevention or mitigation procedures
induction training and refresher training
specific hazard training
specific task or equipment training
the nature of hazards and hazard recognition
training as part of broader programs e.g. equipment operation.

Participative arrangements may include
employee performance feedback
formal and informal meetings of-
OHS committees
other special purpose committees e.g. consultative, planning and purchasing
health and safety representatives
organisational information, staff bulletins and notices
suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward by employees to management.

Readily accessible refers to information that
conforms to the principles of plain English
caters for individual language and literacy levels
is openly available.

Risk analysis includes
analysis of the likelihood, chance, frequency or probability of something happening that will have an impact upon work objectives
a process involving:
hazard identification
risk assessment
risk treatment/control
risk monitoring and evaluation
assessment of the real or possible outcome should something happen, measured in terms of the nature and extent of harm or injury to the individual(s) and/or environment.

Risk analysis protocols may be selected on the following criteria
Australian Standards, company standards and client standards
combination of quantitative or qualitative assessment tools as appropriate to the risks being assessed
company policy, procedures, goals, objectives and the interests of stakeholders
operational, technical, financial, legal, social, humanitarian or other criteria
the scope of the risk management project being undertaken.

Risk assessment and risk control procedures should reflect the order of the process
hazard identification
risk assessment
hazard control
evaluation.

Training may include
coaching/mentoring
off-the-job training
on-the-job training
presenting and promoting the benefits of a safe workplace
providing encouragement
providing feedback and clarifying points where necessary
training provided by a registered training organisation.

Work group members may include
contractors authorised by the enterprise to perform specified work/functions
employees under direct supervision
entry-level trainees
full-time, part-time or casual employees
trainee supervisors or trainee team leaders.

Workplace procedures may include specific OHS procedures and organisational policies or procedures relating to
accident/incident investigation
assessing risks
consultation and participation arrangements for employees and third parties
controlling risks
development and communication of organisational OHS policy
emergency planning and response
hazard identification
housekeeping and work environment
OHS issue resolution
OHS record keeping
OHS training and assessment
provision of OHS information, instruction, supervision and training
reporting OHS issues
safe operating procedures or instructions that cover but are not limited to-
awareness of electrical hazards
chemical storage, handling and disposal
confined space procedures
dust
First Aid and injury management
isolated worker
manual handling
noise
safe use of tools and equipment
security
toxic, infectious and sharps waste
vehicles and mobile equipment
working safely around electrical hazards including wiring, cables, and overhead powerlines
specific hazards
storage of dangerous goods
use of MSDS
use of personal protective equipment
workplace safety inspections and audits.

Critical aspects of competency
Demonstrate knowledge of applicable OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice.
Understanding of, ability to apply, and commitment to, organisational management systems and procedures for health and safety.
Ability to apply risk management procedures (that is, undertake hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control in accordance with the hierarchy of control).
Identify OHS compliance requirements for a system of work.
Demonstrate a clear understanding of obligation holder's duty of care
Ensure the integration of OHS into organisational management systems.
Provide clear information and instruction to a work group on workplace procedures pertaining to health and safety in a readily accessible manner.
Application of a consistent leadership role to the identification of hazards within the work group to ensure unresolved issues are referred to designated personnel and followed up appropriately.
Identify and facilitate the OHS training needs and reporting requirements of the work group.
Identify characteristics of the workforce that impact on the management of OHS.

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria
Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below.
Provisions of OHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and standards relevant to the workplace including legal responsibilities of employers, employees and other parties with legal responsibilities.
Principles and practices of effective OHS management systems including risk management.
Procedures for identifying hazards, assessing risks and controlling risks in the work environment.
Organisational OHS management systems, policies and procedures necessary to support organisational compliance with legal requirements.
Characteristics and composition of the workforce and how it impacts on OHS management.
The interrelationship of OHS systems to other organisation systems.
Procedures and policies related to hazard management.
Access and equity principles in order to accept and respect individual differences within the composition of the work group.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These relate to the ability to:


apply literacy and language skills to:

articulate OHS legal obligations to duty of care obligation holders
understand and comply with work procedures
identify and report hazards
interpret site safety plans
read and comprehend product instructions and MSDS
identify and recommend training needs of work group
assist in emergency procedures
analyse hazards, assess risks and evaluate risk control measures
analyse and monitor workplace OHS data
assess and advise on the validity and sufficiency of resources required to control risks
lead, coach and mentor in order to provide support to work group
demonstrate cultural sensitivity
identify and explain levels of responsibility for OHS within the organisation.

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit
Competency in this unit will underpin competency in other aspects of the candidate's role in managing their work tasks.
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

Resources required to assess this unit

The candidate and the assessor should have access to the appropriate documentation and resources normally utilised in the workplace. This includes access to the following:

OHS and Dangerous Goods Acts, regulations and codes of practice relevant to the workplace
manuals and relevant documentation outlining occupational health and safety policies and procedures
current OHS data
a suitable work area, or a simulated workplace environment, that allows for identification of hazards, risk assessment and risk control measures and implementation and monitoring of OHS policies, procedures and programs
assessment documentation forms and record books.

Gaining evidence to assess this unit
For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment). The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations, which may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

When assessing candidates, assessment techniques that allow a collection of evidence from relevant workplace experience should be used. Assessment against this unit may involve the following:

continuous assessment in the workplace (observation), or a setting that simulates the conditions of a workplace (simulation), taking into account the range of variables affecting performance
self-assessment of performance on the same terms as those described above
interviews and/or provision of learning activities to check underpinning knowledge requirements
supplementary evidence that may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence or reports from line managers.
Performance and assessment of this unit must be carried out within the relevant requirements of the legislative and industry framework and as set out in organisational OHS policies and procedures.

Communicating ideas and information
Analyse information against legislative and organisational requirements through observation, discussion and recording information for the work group. (2)

Collecting analysing and organising information
Disseminate information to work group members through discussion and provision of relevant training. (2)

Planning and organising activities
Organise work group tasks according to safe work practices with regard to the legislative and organisational framework. (2)

Working with others and in teams
Apply teamwork principles in collaborative and consultative ways that contribute to a safe work environment. (2)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
Design work scheduling using established formulae for the work group. Use data analysis procedures to monitor effectiveness of procedures and hazard control measures. (2)

Solving problems
Apply problem-solving skills to hazard identification and risk assessment. (2)

Using technology
Enter and access safety information, regulatory information and organisation policies and procedures via electronic equipment. (2)