Unit of competency details

Release 

Comments 

1

New unit.

Based on but not equivalent to SISXOHS402A Implement and monitor occupational health and safety policies. Changes to address new national Work Health and Safety (WHS) Bill and updated legislation. 

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

1. Provide information about work health and safety policies.

1.1 Access and analyse relevant legislation  and work health and safety policies and procedures. 

1.2 Explain relevant provisions of work health and safety legislation to the work group.

1.3 Explain information on organisational work health and safety policies, procedures and programs to the work group .

1.4 Provide information about procedures to identify and assess hazards  and measures to control risks. 

2. Implement participative arrangements for the management of work health and safety.

2.1 Implement and monitor organisational consultation procedures  for work health and safety issues to assess opportunities for work group contributions.

2.2 Resolve issues arising from consultation or refer to appropriate personnel for resolution.

2.3 Communicate outcomes of consultation to the work group.

3. Implement procedures for risk assessment and control.

3.1 Identify and report existing and potential hazards in the work area.

3.2 Control risks and assess and monitor work group application.

3.3 Monitor effectiveness of existing risk-control measures and report results to manager or safety officer.

3.4 Identify inadequacies  in existing risk-control measures and make recommendations to address these to manager or safety officer.

4. Implement procedures for dealing with hazardous events.

4.1 Identify and investigate the causes of hazardous events .

4.2 Implement organisational procedures for dealing with hazardous events. 

4.3 Implement control measures to prevent recurrence of hazardous events or refer to manager or safety officer.

4.4 Monitor the handling and storage of hazardous goods and equipment. 

4.5 Implement and monitor organisational emergency policies and procedures.

5. Implement work health and safety training policies.

5.1 Identify staff work health and safety training needs  and identify gaps to be addressed.

5.2 Provide training opportunities to address training needs in consultation with relevant parties.

5.3 Monitor effectiveness of training programs and their impact on work practices.

6. Implement procedures for maintaining work health and safety records.

6.1 Identify and complete work health and safety records  according to relevant legislation.

6.2 Use information from work health and safety records to identify hazards and monitor risk-control procedures.

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

• communication skills to:

• convey relevant information about health and safety to the work group
• liaise with designated personnel to monitor the impact of policies and procedures on safe work practices
• elicit information from staff to assess training needs to facilitate the implementation of organisational work health and safety policies

• problem-solving skills to:

• analyse the work environment to identify hazards and assess risks
• assess the effectiveness of organisational policies
• identify inadequacies and make recommendations to address these, such as resources needed to apply different risk-control measures

• language and literacy skills to:

• read and analyse Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) or Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation and organisational policies and procedures
• complete required work health and safety documentation
• use information to identify hazards, assess risks and evaluate the effectiveness of risk-control measures.

Required knowledge 

• WHS legislation to:

• enable analysis of work practices and appropriate remedies
• store and handle hazardous goods and equipment
• maintain required documentation

• organisational health and safety policies and procedures to facilitate compliance with legal requirements
• principles and practices of effective work health and safety management to enable effective implementation of organisational policies and procedures to create a safe workplace
• role of work health and safety management in other organisational systems, policies and procedures to enable a systemic approach to workplace safety.

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 and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the ability to:

• work effectively within organisation management systems to implement and monitor work health and safety policies and apply and review risk-management procedures
• convey health and safety information to user groups using appropriate communication strategies and create opportunities for group members to contribute to and participate in training
• identify the interrelationship between all aspects of organisation safety systems and implement and monitor all components to achieve a safe working environment according to organisation policies and procedures and legislative requirements
• propose recommendations to address inadequacies in health and safety management systems and apply contingency-management techniques to deal with a range of problems and issues.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• implementation and monitoring of work health and safety policies in an environment that reflects the individual’s current or intended work role to demonstrate competency and consistency of performance.

Assessment must also ensure access to:

• a venue, facility or location with appropriate equipment and activity
• a work group and organisational consultative structures, including key health and safety staff and resources to implement risk-control measures
• documentation detailing organisational work health and safety policies, and procedures, and legislation and records.

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 interacting with work group to provide information about organisational health and safety policies
• observation of consulting with relevant employees to inform strategies to implement and monitor organisational work health and safety procedures and programs
• oral and or written questioning on principles and practices of health and safety management
• third-party reports from a supervisor detailing work performance.

Guidance information for assessment 

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

• SISXRSK502A Manage organisational risks.

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 individual, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant legislation  may include:

• state, territory and commonwealth OHS/WHS Acts
• regulations and codes of practice
• general duty of care under OHS/WHS legislation
• confidentiality of records
• work health and safety training.

Work Health and Safety policies and procedures  may include:

• documentation
• communication protocols
• maintaining plant and equipment
• purchasing supplies and equipment
• counselling or disciplinary processes
• emergency response
• incident investigation
• assessing and controlling hazards and risks
• record-keeping and reporting procedures.

Work group  may include:

• employees
• team leaders
• coordinators
• volunteers
• supervisors.

Procedures to identify and assess hazards  may include:

• audits
• workplace inspections
• housekeeping
• checking and maintaining area and equipment.

Measures to control risks  may include:

• elimination of the risk
• engineering controls
• administrative controls
• personal protective equipment.

Consultation procedures  may include:

• meetings
• work health and safety committees
• health and safety representatives
• suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward by employees.

Inadequacies  may include:

• lack of resources
• insufficient planning
• unscheduled changes in work procedures.

Hazardous events  may include:

• accidents
• fires and explosions
• adverse weather
• emergencies, such as chemical spills, bomb scares and violent incidents.

Procedures for dealing with hazardous events  may include:

• evacuation
• chemical containment
• first aid
• accident or incident reporting and investigation.

Hazardous goods and equipment  may include:

• hazardous chemicals
• products treated with chemicals
• electrical equipment.

Work health and safety training needs  may include:

• on the job or off the job
• induction training
• hazard training
• task or equipment training
• emergency and evacuation training.

Work health and safety records  may include:

• audits and inspection reports
• equipment usage logs
• health surveillance and workplace environmental monitoring records
• records of instruction and training
• manufacturer and supplier information
• hazardous substances’ registers
• maintenance and testing reports
• workers compensation and rehabilitation records
• first-aid and medical records.