Unit of competency details

Unit Descriptor 

This unit covers the competency required to establish the root cause/s of injuries occurring in physical activity, to develop countermeasures, to report the analysis, and to make recommendations to supervisors.

Application of the Unit 

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.

Prerequisite Unit /s 

Nil

Employability Skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a Unit of Competency.

Performance Criteria describe the required performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the Required Skills and Knowledge and/or the Range Statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the Evidence Guide.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Prepare for a causal analysis 

1.1 Appropriate background documentation  is identified, obtained and assembled to collate all relevant facts and information that may guide and contribute to the causal analysis

1.2 Relevant personnel  are identified and requested to provide input  to the causal analysis

1.3 Other relevant sources  of information regarding injury causation are identified and assembled

1.4 Methods and tools to be used in the analysis  are identified, specified and prepared in accordance with organisational procedures and guidelines 

2. Identify the contributing factors involved in causing injury 

2.1 Relevant information sources are reviewed to determine contributing factors typically involved in causing injury 

2.2 Activities are observed and/or reviewed

2.3 Interviews  are conducted with relevant personnel 

2.4 Contexts in which the activities are commonly conducted are reviewed

2.5 Components and aspects of activities which appear to be associated with greater risk of injury are analysed in detail

2.6 Data is recorded using organisational analytical tools  in order to compile inputs to the analysis

2.7 Final list of contributing factors involved in injury causation is determined, validated  and recorded by cross-referencing results from all causal analysis activities

3. Undertake a root cause analysis 

3.1 Root causes of injury in the activity are determined through further analysis of the final list of contributing factors in the light of contextual information

3.2 List of root causes of injury is determined, validated and recorded

4. Recommend countermeasures 

4.1 Effective countermeasures are identified where possible, for each root cause of injury, from available information and subject matter experts

4.2 Where no proven countermeasure can be identified, countermeasures are developed from first principles , in consultation with subject matter experts

4.3 Written and oral causal analysis report , including details of recommended countermeasures, is prepared  in accordance with organisational policy and procedures and is delivered to decision-makers for consideration

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required Skills 

• analytical reasoning
• basic literacy skills
• communicate with stakeholders and convey information including skills such as:
• listening
• questioning
• paraphrasing
• clarifying
• summarising
• critically evaluate information
• information seeking skills
• work as a team

Required Knowledge 

• causation models and definitions
• cause and effect diagrams
• data collection and management procedures
• format of a brief
• format of an oral presentation
• hierarchy of controls
• organisational polices and procedures
• organisational structure and function
• safety risk and Haddon's Matrices
• workplace health and safety guidelines

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

• recognise limit of own authority
• refer problems to supervisors
• comply with organisational policies and procedures
• critically analyse relevant sources of information using own underpinning knowledge and organisational analytical tools to determine the root causal factors
• identify and develop options for preventative countermeasures which reduce risk, but are economically and practically viable and do not result in excessive reduction of activity benefits to the organisation
• compile and report root cause analysis findings clearly and concisely in both a verbal and written form.

Consistency in performance 

Competency should be demonstrated over a range of scenarios to confirm consistency in performance.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Context of assessment 

Competency should be assessed in the workplace or in a simulated workplace environment.

Specific resources for assessment 

Access to:

• real or scenario based injury producing activities
• workplace in which causal analysis can be applied
• background documentation/templates/tools
• workplace health and safety guidelines
• organisational policies and procedures
• duty statements and/or job descriptions
• personnel for interview and questioning.

Guidance information for assessment 

Information that will assist or guide assessment will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Background documentation may include 

Administrative instructions relating to equipment/activity

Credible articles and reports on causes of injury in the activity

Injury incident reports/injury surveillance reports

Previous post-activity reports relating to the equipment/activity

Risk and safety management plans for the activity

Risk registers and hazard logs relating to equipment and activity

Safety inspection reports relating to equipment/facilities

Standing orders/routine orders/lesson or activity plans relating to equipment/activity

Relevant personnel may include 

Equipment designers/builders

Fitness leaders

Injured participants and their peers

Physical training instructors

Preventive health staff

Safety staff

Training personnel/instructors/coaches

Other key stakeholders and subject matter experts

Relevant personnel may provide input to the causal analysis by 

Providing direct assistance in the analysis

Providing relevant information prior to, or at the time of, the analysis

Other relevant sources may include 

Faulty/failed equipment

Incident reports

Photographic material

Video footage

Methods and tools to be used in the analysis will be required for 

Analysing components and aspects of activities which appear to be associated with greater risk of injury

Interviewing relevant personnel

Observing and/or reviewing activities

Reviewing relevant information sources

Reviewing the contexts in which the activities are commonly conducted

Organisational procedures and guidelines may include 

ADFP102 (Defence Writing Standards)

Defence Injury Prevention Program manuals and procedures

Standard Operating Procedures

Contributing factors typically involved in causing injury may include 

Equipment failure

Errors made by the injured person

Errors made by another person

Hazards such as potential sources of damage to the body

Lack of conditioning/skill

Lack of personal protective equipment

Operating at greater speed

Peer pressure/social influences

Poor visibility

Stress or fatigue

System errors

Relevant personnel to be interviewed may include 

Participants

Persons conducting the activity

Persons experienced in the activity

Regular observers of the activity

Organisational analytical tools may include 

Cause and effect diagrams

Haddon's matrix

Other safety risk management/injury prevention matrices

Safety risk management/injury prevention checklists

Validation may include the use of organisational tools such as 

Cross validation

Triangulation methods

Developing countermeasures from first principles may include using tools and procedures such as 

Defence Injury Prevention Program Procedures

Haddon's List of Preventive Strategies

Hierarchy of Controls

Preparing a causal analysis report may include 

ADFP102 (Defence Writing Standards)

Co-requisite Unit /s 

Nil