Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit of competency involves following defined occupational health and safety (OHS) policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken in order to ensure own safety and that of others in the workplace.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements may apply to this unit. Therefore it will be necessary to check with the relevant state or territory regulators for current licensing, legislative or regulatory requirements before undertaking this unit.

Application of the unit 

This competency is a required core unit for all seafood industry sector qualifications, with the exception of fisheries compliance stream at Certificate III or higher.

Prerequisite units 

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

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.

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1. Follow workplace procedures for hazard identification , risk assessment  and risk control 

1.1. OHS hazards  in the workplace are identified, assessed, reported and controlled using the hierarchy of control model .

1.2. Workplace procedures  and work instructions for controlling risks are accurately followed at all times.

1.3. Safety checks are undertaken before operation of all machinery and vehicles.

1.4. Prior to performing manual handling  jobs, hazards are identified, assessed and controlled using workplace procedures and carried out using safe manual handling techniques according to instructions and ongoing training .

1.5. Risks to workplace bystanders  are identified and action taken to reduce risk associated with jobs in the workplace.

2. Follow appropriate emergency procedures

2.1. Knowledge of and ability to follow procedures for dealing with accidents, fires, and other emergencies  are maintained, including communicating location and directions to emergency personnel.

2.2. Emergency procedures are followed.

2.3. Emergency equipment is used, serviced and maintained according to manufacturer specifications.

2.4. Appropriate authorities are notified according to workplace policy .

3. Participate in arrangements for maintaining health and safety of all people in the workplace

3.1. OHS issues are raised with designated personnel  according to workplace procedures and relevant OHS requirements .

3.2. Contributions are made to enterprise OHS participative arrangements  and ongoing monitoring and reporting of all aspects of OHS.

3.3. Hierarchy of control model is followed to level of responsibility.

3.4. Assistance is provided in developing effective solutions to control the level of risk associated with tasks.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

Required skills 

• applying the hierarchy of control model
• communicating and contributing to OHS participative arrangements and reporting hazards and risks
• following workplace procedures for acting in an emergency
• following workplace procedures for hazard identification and risk control.

Literacy skills used for :

• interpreting OHS symbols
• reading labels, notices and relevant enterprise documentation and manufacturer specifications.

Numeracy skills used for :

• estimating weight of items to be lifted or moved.

Required knowledge 

• designated personnel responsible for OHS within the enterprise
• local emergency services
• preferred order of ways to control risks (i.e. hierarchy of control)
• reasons for and purpose of workplace health and safety requirements
• significant hazards in the workplace
• the rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties under OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice
• ways in which OHS is managed in the workplace, and activities required under OHS legislation
• workplace OHS procedures relevant to the work being undertaken.

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 

Assessment must confirm the ability to:

• act in an emergency
• follow workplace procedure for hazard identification and risk control when completing a range of workplace operations and circumstances that the individual would be expected to deal with.

Assessment must confirm knowledge of:

• local emergency services
• occupational health and safety risk management
• relevant parts of OHS legislation, relevant regulations and codes of practice which apply in that state or territory for work being undertaken
• significant physical, environmental and chemical hazards in the workplace.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment is to be conducted at the workplace or in a simulated work environment.

Resources may include:

• enterprise OHS policies and procedures
• relevant OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice.

Method of assessment 

The following assessment methods are suggested:

• observation of work activities
• practical exercises
• project work
• written or oral short-answer testing.

Guidance information for assessment 

This unit may be assessed holistically with other units within a qualification.

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.

Hazard identification  may include:

• housekeeping
• the process of recognising that a hazard exists, for example:

• workplace inspections
• checking equipment or the work area before work commences and during work.

Risk  may include:

• the likelihood that something will cause harm in the circumstances of its use.

Risk assessment  may include:

• activities undertaken (consistent with level of responsibility) to estimate how likely it is that harm will occur as a result of the existence of a particular risk.

Risk control  may include:

• devices, systems, including work methods, or approaches that reduce exposure to workplace hazards.

Hazards  may include:

• contact with electricity
• contact with plant or marine life
• contaminants
• dangerous organisms
• exposure to heat, cold and ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• falls, trips and slips
• hitting or being hit by stationary or moving objects
• immersion in water without a personal flotation device (PFD)
• inadequate training
• ladders
• manual handling
• noise
• plant and machinery operation and maintenance (e.g. unguarded machinery, motor vehicles and unstable vessels)
• poor housekeeping and lack of deck space
• recreational swimming
• repetitive movements and awkward postures
• short or long term contact with chemicals and hazardous substances (e.g. dust and fumes)
• smoking and alcohol
• unventilated holds
• weather and water conditions
• working with inappropriate clothing
• working with knives.

Hierarchy of control model  refers to:

• a system for developing risk controls with the priority being, in order:

• eliminate the hazard
• substitute the hazard with a lesser hazard or risk
• isolate the hazard
• use engineering controls
• use administrative controls
• use personal protective equipment (PPE).

This is a recognised ranking of control measures according to effectiveness form the most effective measures (that eliminate hazards) to the least effective (that achieve only temporary protection and require ongoing checking and change). PPE is regarded as the least satisfactory control measure.

Workplace procedures  may include:

• instructions on how a workplace activity should be carried out, by whom and when, for example:

• accident and incident reporting
• confined space entry
• electrical safety
• emergency procedures
• health and hygiene (e.g. alcohol, smoking, shift work and fatigue)
• isolation (also known as lock-out and tag-out)
• job procedures and work instructions
• machine guarding
• manual handling
• noise and vibration
• permit to work
• plant and equipment (e.g. operating, licensing, maintenance and servicing)
• recreational swimming
• rescue procedures
• use and storage of hazardous substances
• use of PPE
• use of safety and flotation devices
• vessel housekeeping
• work on an unstable work platform
• work in rough weather
• working at heights
• working with the elements (e.g. isolations, hypothermia, inclement weather and UV exposure).

Manual handling  may include:

• any activity requiring the use of force exerted by a person to lift, lower, push, pull and carry bags, drums, cartons and crates.

Training  may include:

• the development of skills, knowledge and attitudes, through instruction or practice, for example:

• confined space work
• identification of hazardous work practices
• manual handling
• marine safety practices
• safe use and handling of hazardous substances
• survival skills
• training on commencement of employment.

Risks to workplace bystanders  may include:

• persons who are not working but are present at or near a workplace and may be affected by the activities of the workplace, for example:

• being exposed to noise, chemicals, pesticides and slips/falls/spills
• being run over and injured by vehicles or vessels
• drowning.

Emergencies  may include:

• chemical spills
• collisions
• electrocution
• entanglement in nets or craypot ropes
• falling or being dragged overboard
• fire
• flood
• immersion in water
• injuries associated with dangerous organisms (e.g. bites, stings and poisoning)
• injuries associated with machines, vehicles, vessels and diving
• rescue activities
• rough weather and heavy seas
• vessel capsize.

Workplace policy  may include:

• written statement of employer's intentions and how they will action those intentions in the workplace, for example, OHS, access and equity, and discrimination.

Designated personnel  may include:

• enterprise OHS personnel
• other persons authorised or nominated by the enterprise or industry to perform, approve, inspect or direct specified work
• supervisors, managers and team leaders.

OHS requirements  may include:

• appropriate workplace provision of first aid kits and fire extinguishers
• clean, uncluttered, hygienic workplace
• codes of practice, regulations and/or guidance notes which may apply in a jurisdiction or industry sector
• enterprise-specific OHS procedures, policies or standards
• hazard and risk assessment of workplace, maintenance activities and control measures
• induction or training of staff, contractors and visitors in relevant OHS procedures and/or requirements to allow them to carry out their duties in a safe manner
• OHS training register
• safe lifting, carrying and handling techniques, including manual handling, and the handling and storage of hazardous substances
• safe systems and procedures for outdoor work, including protection from solar radiation, fall protection, confined space entry and the protection of people in the workplace
• systems and procedures for the safe maintenance of property, machinery and equipment, including hydraulics and exposed moving parts
• the appropriate use, maintenance and storage of PPE.

Participative arrangements  may include:

• formal and informal meetings, including OHS
• OHS representatives
• hierarchy of control model to level of responsibility
• OHS committees
• other committees
• suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward by employees to supervisors.

Unit sector 

Core

Co-requisite units 

Competency field