Modification History
Not applicable.
Unit Descriptor
Unit descriptor |
This unit of competency covers the ability to follow workplace occupational health and safety (OHS) policies and procedures, deal with the identification and control of hazards, work safely at all times, follow emergency response procedures and contribute to the maintenance of workplace safety. |
Application of the Unit
Application of the unit |
This unit of competency is applicable to laboratory assistants and instrument operators working in all industry sectors. OHS responses are restricted to a 'first response' approach, including the notification of appropriate enterprise personnel. Workers will be provided with clear directions, information, training and appropriate supervision. Industry representatives have provided case studies to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and to show its relevance in a workplace setting. These are found at the end of this unit of competency under the section 'This competency in practice'. |
Licensing/Regulatory Information
Not applicable.
Pre-Requisites
Prerequisite units |
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Employability Skills Information
Employability skills |
This unit contains employability skills. |
Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content
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. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT |
PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Identify, control and report OHS and environmental hazards |
1.1. Routinely check immediate work area for hazards prior to commencing and during work 1.2. Address hazards within area of responsibility 1.3. Report hazards and incidents to designated personnel according to enterprise policies and procedures |
2. Conduct work safely |
2.1. Select, fit and use appropriate personal protective clothing and equipment 2.2. Follow enterprise procedures when carrying out work tasks 2.3. Keep all work areas clean and free from obstacles 2.4. Maintain enterprise standards of personal hygiene 2.5. Safely store, transport and dispose of hazardous materials and dangerous goods |
3. Follow incident and emergency response procedures |
3.1. Identify incident and emergency situations 3.2. Report and record incident and emergency situations according to enterprise procedures 3.3. Follow incident and emergency procedures as appropriate to the nature of emergency, using emergency equipment according to enterprise procedures |
4. Contribute to OHS in the workplace |
4.1. Raise OHS and environmental issues with designated personnel in accordance with enterprise procedures and legislated rights and obligations of employees 4.2. Participate in OHS activities within scope of responsibilities |
Required Skills and Knowledge
REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE |
This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit. |
Required skills |
Required skills include:
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Required knowledge |
Required knowledge includes:
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Evidence Guide
EVIDENCE GUIDE |
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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. |
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Overview of assessment |
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Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit |
Assessors should ensure that candidates can:
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Context of and specific resources for assessment |
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or simulated workplace environment. This unit of competency may be assessed with:
Resources may include:
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Method of assessment |
The following assessment methods are suggested:
In all cases, practical assessment should be supported by questions to assess underpinning knowledge and those aspects of competency which are difficult to assess directly. Where applicable, reasonable adjustment must be made to work environments and training situations to accommodate ethnicity, age, gender, demographics and disability. Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required. The language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required to undertake the unit of competency in a work like environment. |
This competency in practice |
Industry representatives have provided the case studies below to illustrate the practical application of this unit of competency and show its relevance in a workplace setting. Manufacturing A laboratory assistant working in a laboratory was asked to produce a particular solvent-borne paint. Because of the hazardous nature of the task, the assistant referred to the MSDS which specified that a particular respirator and gloves be used. The assistant followed the requirements and safely prepared the batch of paint. Food processing One task of a laboratory assistant in a food processing company is the determination of total nitrogen in food samples by the Kjeldahl method. The assay involves digestion of the food with an aliquot of 30% hydrogen peroxide and several other reagents at more than 400°C. The assistant is familiar with the MSDS for hydrogen peroxide and uses this chemical with appropriate caution and personal protective equipment. Small spills of hydrogen peroxide sometimes occur. The assistant knows to clean these up immediately by liberally diluting the spill with water, mopping it up with a cloth and washing the hydrogen peroxide from the cloth into a sink with copious amounts of water. This attention to cleanliness is essential to minimise the risk of injury because 30% hydrogen peroxide has the appearance of water. Unlike water, it is corrosive to skin and presents a serious fire or explosion hazard if it should come into contact with many of the chemicals used in the laboratory. Biomedical After performing and verifying cell counts of plated samples, a technical assistant proceeded to dispose of the waste. The wastes were placed in a biohazard bag. The bag was sealed with a sterilisation indicator sticker that was clearly visible, and placed in the autoclave. The assistant checked the colour of the indicator sticker to ensure that the waste was correctly processed before disposing of the bag in accordance with SOPs. |
Range Statement
RANGE STATEMENT |
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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. |
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Codes of practice |
Where reference is made to industry codes of practice, and/or Australian/international standards, it is expected the latest version will be used |
Standards , codes , procedures and /or enterprise requirements |
Standards, codes, procedures and/or enterprise requirements may include:
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Routine checks |
Routine checks may include:
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Hazards |
Hazards may include:
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Addressing hazards |
Addressing hazards may include:
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Designated personnel |
Designated personnel may include:
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Enterprise policies and procedures |
Enterprise policies and procedures may refer to:
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Incidents |
Incidents may include:
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Emergency equipment |
Emergency equipment may include:
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Participating in OHS activities |
Participating in OHS activities may include:
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OHS and environmental issues which may need to be raised by employees with designated personnel |
OHS and environmental issues which may need to be raised by employees with designated personnel may include:
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OHS and environmental management requirements |
OHS and environmental management requirements:
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Unit Sector(s)
Unit sector |
Occupational health and safety |
Competency field
Competency field |
Co-requisite units
Co-requisite units |
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