Unit of competency details

Unit descriptor 

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to follow predetermined health, safety and security procedures. It requires the ability to incorporate safe work practices into all workplace activities and to participate in the organisation's OHS management practices.

OHS legislation in all Australian states and territories imposes obligations on employees to participate in the management of their own health and safety and that of their colleagues and anyone else in the workplace. They have a duty to cooperate with their employer's initiatives to ensure safety at work.

No occupational licensing or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

This unit is one of three hierarchical units describing varying levels of participation in OHS management practices:

• SITX0HS001B Follow health, safety and security procedures
• SITXOHS004B Implement and monitor workplace health, safety and security practices
• SITXOHS005A Establish and maintain an OHS system.
• The use of correct hygiene practices is covered in SITXOHS002A Follow workplace hygiene procedures.

The processes necessary to control specific workplace safety risks are covered in SITXOHS003B Identify hazards, and assess and control safety risks.

Application of the unit 

This unit describes a fundamental workplace skill for those working within the service industries and applies to the full range of industry sectors and environments.

Frontline operational personnel who work under close supervision and guidance from others are involved in applying safe work practices during the normal course of their daily activities. They would be required to apply little discretion and judgement because they operate within predefined organisational OHS procedures. Safe working practices and following OHS procedures apply to all personnel operating at any level within the service industries.

Prerequisite units 

Nil

Employability skills 

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

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

ELEMENT 

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA 

1

Follow workplace procedures for health, safety and security.

1.1

Correctly and consistently follow the organisation's health , safety and security procedures  according to relevant legislative requirements.

1.2

Incorporate safe work practices  into all workplace activities.

1.3

Follow the safety directions of supervisors or managers and heed any workplace safety warning signs.

1.4

Use any required protective equipment and wear required personal protective clothing.

1.5

Identify and promptly report unsafe work practices, issues and breaches of health , safety and security procedures .

1.6

Report any suspicious behaviour or unusual occurrences promptly to the designated person.

2

Follow procedures for emergency situations.

2.1

Recognise emergency and potential emergency situations  promptly and determine or take required actions within the scope of individual responsibility.

2.2

Follow the organisation's emergency procedures correctly.

2.3

Seek assistance promptly from colleagues or other authorities where appropriate.

2.4

Report details of emergency situations accurately according to organisation procedures.

3

Participate in the organisation's OHS practices.

3.1

Participate in OHS management practices  developed by the organisation to ensure a safe workplace.

3.2

Actively participate in the OHS consultation  processes and identify and report safety and procedural issues requiring attention.

3.3

Ensure immediate work area is free from hazards, participate in scheduled hazard identification activities and report hazards on an ongoing basis.

3.4

Participate in risk assessments and suggest appropriate ways of controlling risk.

3.5

Raise OHS issues and concerns with designated persons according to organisation and legislative requirements.

REQUIRED SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE 

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

The following skills must be assessed as part of this unit:

• literacy skills to read and interpret workplace safety signs, procedures, emergency evacuation plans, and hazard identification and risk assessment tools and template documents
• communication skills to participate in consultation processes, to clearly report and explain hazards, to contribute to risk assessments and to assertively suggest control methods.

The following knowledge must be assessed as part of this unit:

• individual employee responsibilities in relation to ensuring safety of self, other workers and other people in the workplace
• broad understanding of employer's responsibilities under relevant state or territory OHS legislation
• broad understanding of employee's responsibility to participate in OHS practices under relevant state or territory OHS legislation
• ramifications of failure to observe OHS policies and procedures and legislative requirements
• working knowledge and understanding of the contents of health, safety and security procedures that relate to the individual workplace
• major workplace hazards and associated health, safety and security risks associated with the hazards as relevant to the individual workplace
• safe work practices relevant to individual job roles and responsibilities
• broad understanding of the particular consultation, hazard identification and risk assessment methods used in the particular workplace
• familiarity with hazard identification and risk assessment tools and template documents.

EVIDENCE GUIDE 

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, the range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit 

Evidence of the following is essential:

• project or work activities that show the candidate's ability to follow predetermined health, safety and security procedures, incorporate safe work practices into all workplace activities and participate in consultation, hazard identification and risk assessment activities for a given service industry operation in line with regulatory requirements
• knowledge and understanding of the implications of disregarding those procedures
• knowledge and understanding of the legal requirement to work according to health, safety and security procedures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment 

Assessment must ensure:

• project or work activities that show candidate's ability to apply safe working practices within the context of the particular industry sector and job role in which they are working or seeking work; for those undertaking generic pre-employment training, assessment must cover a range of industry contexts to allow for a broad range of vocational outcomes
• use of the current plain English regulatory documents distributed by the local OHS regulatory authority, any codes of practice and standards issued by regulatory authorities or industry groups, and OHS information and business management manuals issued by industry associations or commercial publishers
• use of current commercial policies and procedures and template documents used for the management of OHS practices.

Methods of assessment 

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess the practical skills and knowledge required to follow health, safety and security procedures. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

• direct observation of the candidate explaining workplace safety or emergency procedures to a colleague or customer
• direct observation during an integrated assessment of the candidate demonstrating safe work practices for particular job roles
• case studies and problem-solving exercises, role-plays and simulations for emergency situations
• role-plays to assess participation in consultation meetings
• activities, case studies and problem-solving exercises to assess participation in hazard identification and risk assessment
• written and oral questions or interview to test knowledge of legislation and individual requirements relating to workplace safety and security
• written and oral questioning or interview to test knowledge of appropriate protective equipment and clothing for particular jobs and situations
• review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example, SITXOHS002A Follow workplace hygiene procedures and any operative skills that would allow integration of safe work practices.

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 in the performance criteria is detailed below.

Health , safety and security procedures  may involve:

• emergency, fire and accident
• incident and accident reporting
• consultation
• hazard identification
• risk assessment
• risk control
• security, including:

• documents
• cash
• equipment
• people
• key control systems.

Safe work practices  may include:

• use of personal protective clothing and equipment
• safe posture and movements, including sitting, standing and bending
• using safe manual handling techniques for such things as lifting and transferring
• taking designated breaks
• rotating tasks
• using knives and equipment and handling hot surfaces
• taking account of the dangers associated with inert gases used in beverage dispensing systems
• using computers and electronic equipment
• safe handling of chemicals, poisons and dangerous materials
• using ergonomically sound furniture and workstations
• clearing any hazards from immediate work area
• paying attention to safety signage.

Issues and breaches of health , safety and security procedures  may include:

• loss of keys
• strange or suspicious persons
• broken or malfunctioning equipment
• loss of property, goods or materials
• damaged property or fittings
• lack of suitable signage when required
• lack of training on health and safety issues.

Emergency situations  may include:

• bomb threats
• irrational customers
• accidents
• robberies or armed hold-ups
• fires
• floods
• earthquakes
• power failure.

Participation in OHS management practices  may involve:

• active participation in OHS induction training and safe work practice training
• involvement in hazard identifications
• involvement in risk assessments
• involvement in suggesting methods for and making joint decisions on how to eliminate or control risks
• involvement in writing parts of OHS policies and procedures.

Consultation  processes may involve:

• OHS discussions with all employees during the course of each business day
• a diary, whiteboard or suggestion box used by staff to report issues of concern
• regular staff meetings that involve OHS discussions
• special staff meetings or workshops to specifically address OHS issues
• surveys or questionnaires that invite feedback on OHS issues
• informal meetings with notes
• formal meetings with agendas, minutes and action plans
• discussions with and reports to formal OHS representatives and committee members.

Sector 

Cross Sector - Occupational Health and Safety

Competency field 

Occupational Health and Safety