Elements and Performance Criteria

RANGE STATEMENT
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.
Framework for the OHS may include:
a system for communicating OHS information to employees, supervisors and managers within the enterprise
determining the ways in which OHS will be managed. This may include distinct OHS management activities, or inclusion of OHS functions within a range of management functions and operations, such as:
designing operations, work flow and materials handling
maintenance of plant and equipment
planning or implementing alterations to site, plant, operations or work systems
purchasing of materials and equipment
mechanisms for keeping up-to-date with relevant information and updating the management arrangements for OHS, for example, information on health effects of hazards, technical developments in risk control and environmental monitoring and changes to legislation
mechanisms for review and allocation of human, technical and financial resources needed to manage OHS, including defining and allocating OHS responsibilities for all relevant positions
mechanisms to assess and update OHS management arrangements relevant to legislative requirements
policy development and updating.
Participative arrangements for the management of OHS may cover:
employee and supervisor involvement in OHS management activities, such as OHS inspections, audits, environmental monitoring, risk assessment and risk control
OHS representatives
inclusion of OHS in consultative or other meetings and processes
OHS committees (e.g. consultative, planning and purchasing)
procedures for reporting hazards, risks and OHS safety issues by managers and employees.
Procedures for identifying hazards may include:
audits
employee reporting of OHS issues
maintaining and analysing OHS records, including environmental monitoring and health surveillance reports
maintenance of plant and equipment
reviews of materials and equipment purchases, including manufacturer and supplier information
workplace inspections, including plant and equipment.
Procedures for assessing risks may include:
analysis of relevant records and reports (e.g. injuries and incidents, hazardous substances inventories/registers, audit and environmental monitoring reports and OHS committee records)
determining the likelihood and severity of adverse consequences from hazards
maintenance of plant and equipment
OHS audits
planning or implementing alterations to site, operations or work systems
purchasing of materials and equipment
workplace inspections.
Procedures for controlling risks may include:
appropriate application of measures according to the hierarchy of control, namely:
administrative controls
elimination of the risk
engineering controls
PPE
assessing the OHS consequences of materials, plant or equipment prior to purchase
checking enterprise compliance with regulatory requirements
designing safe operations and systems of work
inclusion of new OHS information into procedures
obtaining expert advice.
Organisational procedures for hazardous events may include:
inspecting systems and operations associated with potentially hazardous events (e.g. emergency communications, links to emergency services, fire fighting, chemical spill containment, bomb alerts and first aid services)
making inventories of, and inspecting, high risk operations.
OHS training program may include:
allocation of resources for OHS training, including acquisition of training resources, development of staff training skills and purchase of training services
arrangements for ongoing assessment of training needs, for example, relating to:
emergencies and evacuations
specific hazards
specific tasks or equipment
supervisors and managers
training required under OHS legislation
induction training
training for new operations, materials or equipment.
OHS records may cover:
first aid/medical post records
identifying records required under OHS legislation, for example:
worker's compensation and rehabilitation records
hazardous substances registers
material safety data sheets (MSDS)
major accident/injury notifications
investigation reports
certificates and licences
maintenance and testing reports
manufacturer and supplier OHS information
minutes of meetings
OHS audits and inspection reports
records of instruction and training
workplace environmental monitoring and health surveillance records.
Evaluate the organisation's OHS system may include:
audits against OHS legislative requirements
regular analysis of OHS records
regular review of operating procedures
reviewing the effectiveness of the OHS management system.

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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.
Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit
Competence may be demonstrated working individually, under the guidance of, or as a member of, a team with specialist OHS staff, managers or consultants.

Assessment must confirm ability to:
establish and/or maintain the organisation's OHS management system
identify when expert advice is needed, obtain that advice and act on it appropriately.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:
how the characteristics of the workforce impact on the design and maintenance of OHS management systems, and an ability to apply that understanding
relevant OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice and how they will be implemented within the area of managerial responsibility
the principles and practice of effective OHS, including the significance of organisational management systems and procedures for OHS, and an ability to establish and maintain appropriate arrangements for OHS within those systems and procedures.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit should be assessed by a combination of workplace (or a realistic simulation) and off-the-job assessment. The context of assessment should ensure that evidence relating to the contingency management component (ability to deal with irregularities and breakdowns) of competency can be collected. Evidence must include observation in the workplace as well as off-the-job techniques, such as interviews and simulations. Conditions for simulations should:
accurately simulate the range of operations and circumstances that managers or owners could be expected to manage in the workplace
allow for discussion
ensure the relevant information and documents are available.

Resources may include:
relevant OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice
information relevant to the management of the enterprise (e.g. planning, operations, maintenance, purchasing and budgeting)
enterprise OHS management information, including policies and procedures
work areas in the area of managerial responsibility.
Method of assessment
The following assessment methods are suggested:
case studies
demonstration of skills in workplace or simulated work environment
interviews
portfolio of workplace OHS documents, such as policy, procedures, minutes of meetings, checklists, risk control plans, incident reports and OHS records
projects (work or scenario based)
written tests.
Guidance information for assessment
This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.