Unit of competency details

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TP Version 

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3

PSP12V1

Unit descriptor edited.

2

PSP04V4.2

Layout adjusted. No changes to content.

1

PSP04V4.1

Primary release.

Elements are the essential outcomes of the unit of competency.

Together, performance criteria specify the requirements for competent performance. Text in bold italics  is explained in the Range Statement following.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1 . Participate in workplace safety arrangements 

1.1 Occupational health and safety issues  are raised with designated personnel  in accordance with workplace procedures and occupational health and safety legislation .

1.2 Involvement  in workplace safety arrangements  is undertaken within organisational procedures and scope of responsibilities and competencies.

2 . Follow workplace safety procedures 

2.1 Hazards  in the work area are recognised and reported to designated personnel according to workplace procedures.

2.2 Workplace procedures  and work instructions for ensuring safety are followed.

2.3 Workplace procedures for dealing with accidents and other hazardous events  are followed whenever necessary within scope of responsibilities and competencies.

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

Skill requirements 

Look for evidence that confirms skills in:

• documenting hazards in clear language according to organisational guidelines
• accessing workplace safety policies and procedures electronically or in hard copy
• reading workplace documentation such as policies and procedures and applying them to work practices
• communicating issues to different audiences, such as colleagues, management, safety representatives, inspectors
• responding to diversity, including gender and disability

Knowledge requirements 

Look for evidence that confirms knowledge and understanding of:

• legal rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties
• the ways in which occupational health and safety is managed in the workplace, and legal requirements
• workplace hazards
• occupational health and safety procedures
• the meaning of workplace occupational health and safety symbols and signs
• designated workplace personnel responsible for occupational health and safety
• use of personal protective equipment

The Evidence Guide specifies the evidence required to demonstrate achievement in the unit of competency as a whole. It must be read in conjunction with the Unit descriptor, Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Public Sector Training Package.

Units to be assessed together 

• Pre-requisite units that must  be achieved prior  to this unit:Nil
• Co-requisite units that must  be assessed with  this unit:Nil
• Co-assessed units that may  be assessed with this unit to increase the efficiency and realism of the assessment process include, but are not limited to:

• PSPGOV201B Work in a public sector environment
• PSPGOV202B Use routine workplace communication techniques
• PSPGOV203B Deliver a service to clients
• PSPGOV204B Access and use resources
• PSPGOV205B Participate in workplace change
• PSPGOV206B Handle workplace information
• PSPGOV207B Use technology in the workplace
• PSPGOV208A Write routine workplace materials

Overview of evidence requirements 

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:

• the knowledge requirements of this unit
• the skill requirements of this unit
• application of Employability Skills as they relate to this unit
• workplace safety procedures followed in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)

Resources required to carry out assessment 

These resources include:

• organisational occupational health and safety policies and procedures
• details of the organisation's occupational health and safety system
• information on hazards and risks relevant to the workplace
• personal protective equipment
• relevant work areas for identification of hazards and control measures

Where and how to assess evidence 

Valid assessment of this unit requires:

• a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when following workplace safety procedures, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine
• the applicant to follow workplace safety procedures in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)
• the assessor to have recognised expertise in managing occupational health and safety in the industry, or work in an assessment team with such a person.

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, such as literacy, and the needs of particular groups, such as:

• people with disabilities
• people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
• women
• young people
• older people
• people in rural and remote locations.

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this competency may include, but are not limited to, a combination of 2 or more of:

• case studies
• demonstration
• observation
• questioning
• scenarios
• simulation or role plays
• authenticated evidence from the workplace and/or training courses

For consistency of assessment 

Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments

The Range Statement provides information about the context in which the unit of competency is carried out. The variables cater for differences between States and Territories and the Commonwealth, and between organisations and workplaces. They allow for different work requirements, work practices and knowledge. The Range Statement also provides a focus for assessment. It relates to the unit as a whole. Text in bold italics  in the Performance Criteria is explained here.

Occupational health and safety issues  may include:

• hazards relating to the physical environment
• workplace stress
• conflict
• bullying
• harassment

Designated personnel  may include:

• supervisors
• managers
• team leaders
• designated occupational health and safety officers
• elected health and safety representatives
• other persons authorised or nominated by the enterprise or industry to:

• perform specified work
• approve specified work
• inspect specified work
• direct specified work

Occupational health and safety legislation  may include:

• State/Territory/Commonwealth occupational health and safety acts, regulations and codes of practice including, but not limited to:

• regulations and codes of practice relating to hazards present in the workplace or industry
• general duty of care under occupational health and safety legislation and common law
• provisions relating to roles and responsibilities of health and safety representatives and/or occupational health and safety committees
• provisions relating to occupational health and safety issue resolution

Involvement  may include:

• recognising and reporting hazards
• using workplace equipment according to guidelines
• listening to the ideas and opinions of others in the workplace
• sharing opinions, views, knowledge and skills

Workplace safety arrangements  may include:

• consultation processes
• formal and informal health and safety meetings
• health and safety committees
• other committees, for example, consultative, planning and purchasing
• meetings called by health and safety representatives
• suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward to management
• application of the hierarchy of control, namely:

• elimination
• substitution
• engineering controls
• administrative controls
• personal protective equipment

Hazard  identification may include:

• checking equipment or the work station and work area before work commences and during work
• on-the-job housekeeping checks (spills, furniture out of place, loose hand rails, curling mats, frayed cords, etc)

Workplace procedures  may relate to:

• workplace occupational health and safety symbols and signs
• hazard reporting procedures
• job procedures and safe work instructions
• emergency procedures
• incident and near miss reporting and recording procedures
• input on occupational health and safety issues
• correct selection, use, storage and maintenance procedures for personal protective equipment
• risk control procedures

Other hazardous events  may include:

• fires
• bomb threats
• chemical spills
• occupational violence
• natural disasters/events
• terrorist attacks