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.


Life cycle covers:
All phases in the life of a product or system of work and may include:
design and development
manufacture, construction, assembly
import, supply, distribution
sale, hire or lease
storage
transport
installation, erection and commissioning
use, operation, consumption
maintenance, servicing, cleaning, adjustment, inspection, repair, modification, refurbishment, renovation
recycling, resale
decommissioning, dismantling, demolition, discontinuance, disposal


Product is:
The output of the work, which may include:
development
production
modification of physical objects, such as:
plant
equipment
tool
fitting
fixture
consumables
Products may be for use inside organisation or for sale


System of work is:
Work process
Work practice or procedure
The way work is organised such as:
team and supervision structure
reporting lines
roster
geographical location


Map includes:
People who may use or interface with the product or system of work
The range of uses of the product or system of work, both intended and unintended


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


Analysis involves analysing a hazard to:
Identify:
factors influencing the risk and the range of potential consequences
effectiveness of existing controls
likelihood of each consequence considering exposure and hazard level
Combine these in some way to obtain a level of risk


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


WHS legislation varies in different states and will include:
National Work Health and Safety Model
Current relevant State/territory WHS legislation
Relevant state/territory Manual Handling Code of Conduct


Standards include:
Documents produced by national bodies, WHS regulators or industry bodies, that prescribe preventative action to avert occupational deaths, injuries and diseases
Standards are of an advisory nature only, except where a law adopts the standard and thus makes it mandatory
Standards may be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action


Codes of practice/compliance codes are:
Documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standards
Codes of practice/compliance codes may:
be incorporated into regulations
not relate to a standard
be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action


Guidance material:
Is an advisory technical document, providing detailed information for use by unions, workers, health and safety committee members and representatives, officers and others requiring guidance
Advises on ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’
Has no legal standing


Risk controls include:
The devices and methods to:
where practicable, eliminate the hazard
where this is not practicable, minimise the risk associated with the 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)


High consequence WHS risk includes:
High impact events that usually occur rarely such as explosions, fires and building collapses but may result in very serious injury, death or multiple death situations


Fail-to-safe includes:
Design features of equipment that ensure a failure or defect, or another factor such as loss of power, results in the equipment being left in a safe condition


Risk register is a document detailing:
A list of hazards, their location and people exposed
A range of possible scenarios or circumstances under which these hazards may cause injury or damage
Nature of injury or damage caused
The results of the risk assessment
And may also include:
Possible control measures and dates for implementation


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


Expert advice may be sought from:
Persons either internal or external to the organisation including:
safety professionals
ergonomists
employee assistance and workplace counselling services
occupational hygienists
audiologists
safety engineers
toxicologists
occupational health professionals
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
Health and Safety Committees (HSCs)

Other persons providing specific technical knowledge or expertise in areas related to WHS including:
risk managers
health professionals
injury management advisors
legal practitioners with experience in WHS
engineers (e.g. design, acoustic, mechanical, civil)
security and emergency response personnel
workplace trainers and assessors
maintenance and trade persons


Sources of WHS information include
Persons, organisations and references where knowledge about WHS may be obtained
These sources may be:
Internal, including:
hazard, incident and investigation reports
workplace inspections
incident investigations
minutes of meetings
Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments
organisation data such as insurance records, enforcement notices and actions, workers compensation data, WHS performance data
reports and audits
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registers
employees handbooks
employees including questionnaire results
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
manufacturers’ manuals and specifications

External, including:
Employee Assistance Program providers and workplace counselling services
relevant state WHS Acts, regulations, codes and guidance material
other relevant legislation
Safe Work Australia
State/territory regulatory bodies
databases such as national and state injury data
WHS specialists and consultants
newspapers and journals, trade/industry publications
internet sites
industry networks and associations including unions and employer groups
WHS professional bodies
specialist advisors
research information


Organisation policies and procedures include:
Policies and procedures underpinning the management of WHS including:
hazard, incident and injury reporting
hazard identification, risk assessment and control
human resources policies and procedures such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs, team meetings, alcohol and drug policies
consultation and participation
incident investigation
quality system documentation


Work procedures include:
Standard operating procedures
Batch specifications, recipes
Operator or manufacturer manuals
Procedures for selecting, fitting, using and maintaining personal protective equipment


WHS records may include:
Hazard, incident and investigation reports
Workplace inspection reports
Incident investigation reports
First aid records
Minutes of meetings
Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registers
Employees handbooks
Plant and equipment operation records including those relevant to registered plant
Maintenance and testing reports
Training records
Environmental monitoring records
Health surveillance records

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:
written or verbal responses to scenarios and case studies
provision of workplace examples
evidence from workplace supervisor reports
portfolio of workplace documentation
Evidence of workplace performance over time must be obtained to inform a judgement of competence


Products that could be used as evidence include:
Responses to case studies, scenarios
Completed reports, plans, risk registers, products
Written directions, emails, memos and other information
Reports from team leaders, senior managers, users, specialist advisors


Processes that could be used as evidence include:
How risk was assessed
How risk was controlled


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


Related unit:
Assessment of this unit should address and build on the content of related unit:
HLTWHS300A Contribute to WHS processes