Unit of competency details

Release

Comments 

3

No changes to competency outcome.

Reduction of repetition.

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 OHS policies.

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

1.2. Explain relevant provisions of OHS legislation to the work group  using appropriate communication strategies.

1.3. Explain information on the organisation’s OHS policies, procedures and programs to the work group using appropriate communication strategies.

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

2. Implement participative arrangements for the management of OHS.

2.1. Implement and monitor organisational consultation procedures  for OHS 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 designated personnel .

3.4. Identify inadequacies  in existing risk-control measures and make recommendations to address these to designated personnel.

4. Implement procedures for dealing with hazardous events.

4.1. Identify and investigate the causes of hazardous event .

4.2. Implement organisational procedures for dealing with hazardous events .

4.3. Implement control measures to prevent recurrence of hazardous events within scope of role and responsibilities and refer to designated personnel for implementation as appropriate.

4.4. Monitor the handling and storage of hazardous goods and equipment  according to relevant legislation.

4.5. Implement and monitor organisational emergency policies and procedures according to relevant legislation.

5. Implement OHS training policies.

5.1. Identify staff OHS 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 OHS records.

6.1. Identify and complete OHS records  according to relevant legislation.

6.2. Use information from OHS 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 OHS 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 legislation and organisational policies and procedures in relation to OHS
• complete required OHS documentation
• use information to identify hazards, assess risks and evaluate the effectiveness of risk-control measures.

Required knowledge

• OHS legislation to:

• enable analysis of work practices and appropriate remedies
• maintain required documentation
• organisational health and safety policies and procedures to facilitate organisational compliance with legal requirements
• principles and practices of effective OHS management to enable effective implementation of organisational policies and procedures to create a safe workplace
• role of OHS 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 following is essential:

• works effectively within organisational management systems to implement and monitor OHS policies and apply and review risk-management procedures
• conveys health and safety information to user groups using appropriate media and creates opportunities for group members to contribute to and participate in training
• identifies the interrelationship between all aspects of organisational safety systems and implements and monitors all components to achieve a safe working environment
• proposes recommendations to address inadequacies in health and safety management systems and applies 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 OHS policies in an environment that reflects the candidate’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 OHS 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 OHS 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 candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant legislation  may include:

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

Organisational 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
• forepersons
• 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
• OHS committees
• health and safety representatives
• suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward by employees.

Designated personnel  may include:

• managers
• safety officers.

Inadequacies  may include:

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

Hazardous events  may include:

• accidents
• fires and explosions
• 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.

OHS training needs  may include:

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

OHS 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.