BSBWHS303A - Participate in WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
Assessor Resource
BSBWHS303A Participate in WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
Assessment tool
Version 1.0 Issue Date: April 2024
This unit applies to individuals who assist with the identification of workplace hazards and the assessment of WHS risks as part of their WHS responsibilities, which are in addition to their main duties.
NOTE: The terms Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Work Health and Safety (WHS) are equivalent and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the National Model WHS Legislation has not been implemented RTOs are advised to contextualise the unit of competency by referring to the existing State/Territory OHS legislative requirements.
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to participate in identifying work health and safety (WHS) hazards, assessing WHS risks, and controlling WHS risks to maintain a healthy and safe workplace.
You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Evidence Required
List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.
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:
collection of information about workplace hazards and participation in the identification of hazards in a workplace
using hazard identification methods appropriately
participating in risk assessments for hazards identified in the workplace
participating in developing, selecting and implementing risk controls in a workplace
knowledge of relevant commonwealth and state or territory Acts, regulations, codes of practice standards and guidance material.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:
relevant information on WHS compliance requirements, such as:
organisational policies, standard operating procedures and plans
relevant Acts, regulations, codes of practice, licensing requirements and standards
relevant internal and external data files
appropriate computer resources needed to manage the identification and rectification of breaches in compliance requirements.
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:
analysis of responses to case studies and scenarios
demonstration of applying hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control techniques in the workplace
direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party reports of onthejob performance by the candidate
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of consequences and likelihood of risks associated with hazards in the workplace
review of research into WHS hazards and their associated risks
review of information provided to individuals and parties about selected risk controls
assessment of documentation completed when identifying hazards, assessing risks and developing risk control options.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:
List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here
Assessment task 1: [title] Due date:
(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)
Assessment Tasks
Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
Required skills
communication skills to:
contribute effectively to hazard identification and risk assessment activities
communicate with people from a range of backgrounds and with a range of abilities
literacy skills to:
participate in hazard identification and risk assessment activities, and to record the results and outcomes of these activities
communicate risk control activities to workers, health and safety committees, health and safety representatives, managers, supervisors, and persons conducting businesses or undertakings (PCBUs) or their officers
organisational and time-management skills to sequence tasks and meet timelines
planning skills to choose appropriate methods for hazard identification and risk assessment
research skills to:
identify sources of, and obtain information about, relevant WHS hazards
help workplace parties to obtain information about hazards.
Required knowledge
basic principles of incident causation and injury processes
concept of hazards, risks and risk factors
hazard identification and risk assessment methods
internal and external sources of WHS information and data, and how to access them
organisational design and structure
organisational WHS policies, procedures, processes and systems
range of WHS hazards that may be present in the workplace, the harm they can cause and how this harm occurs
relevant commonwealth and state or territory WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice, standards and guidance material, and other relevant publications
risk control options for different hazards and work situations
risk control requirements as specified in WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice, standards and guidance material, other relevant publications, workplace conditions and organisational WHS policies, procedures, processes and systems
types of hazard and risk registers
WHS legislative requirements about:
communication, consultation and participation
notification of incidents
recordkeeping
specific hazard identification and risk assessment methods
workplace communication processes.
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.
Persons conducting hazard identification and risk assessments may include:
health and safety representatives
internal or external consultants and WHS specialists
PCBUs or their officers
WHS entry permit holders
WHS inspectors
workers
workplace assessors with experience in language or disability issues.
Risk control options may include:
actions taken to eliminate risks entirely
actions taken to minimise risks by:
eliminating the hazard
substituting the hazard with something safer
isolating the hazard
reducing the risk through engineering controls
reducing the level of harm by improving administrative controls, such as changing policies, procedures and processes or providing training
using personal protective equipment (PPE), such as:
clothing and footwear
face and eye protection
hand protection
head protection
hearing protection
respiratory protection.
Duty holders may include:
as specified in WHS Acts:
PCBUs or their officers
workers
other persons at a workplace.
Appropriate criteria may include:
relevant sections of WHS Acts, regulations, and codes of practice
other sources of information and guidelines
workplace policies and procedures
workplace conditions.
Factors impeding may include:
access to technology or information
cultural differences arising from ethnic diversity
geographic dispersal of workers
lack of a systematic approach to managing WHS in the workplace
lack of support from key management personnel
language, literacy and numeracy levels of the workforce
shift work and rostering arrangements
unrealistic timeframes
unsupportive workplace culture
workplace organisational structures.
Implementation and evaluation plan may include:
how controls will be implemented and how factors impeding successful implementation will be addressed
identifying who has the responsibility for implementing the components of the plan and evaluating risk controls
timetable for implementing and evaluating risk controls.
Individuals and parties may include:
contractors and subcontractors
external people and organisations
health and safety committees
health and safety representatives
managers and supervisors
PCBUs or their officers
self
unions
WHS entry permit holders
WHS inspectors
WHS regulators
workers.
Appropriate ways to participate may include:
briefings
communicating with workplace parties
education and training
obtaining and communicating feedback on controls
trialling new processes and/or equipment.
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist
Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice
Yes
No
Comments/feedback
Participate in selecting hazard identification methods suitable for the workplace, as appropriate
Use selected methods to identify, report and record hazards according to workplace procedures and WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice
Provide information and assistance to persons conducting hazard identification
Participate in selecting suitable risk assessment methods for the workplace, as appropriate
Use selected methods to assess and record risks according to workplace procedures and WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice
Provide information and assistance to persons conducting risk assessments
Advise workers of, and consult them about, hazard identification and risk assessment activities according to workplace WHS consultation and participation policies, procedures and processes
Encourage workers to participate appropriately in these activities according to workplace WHS consultation and participation policies, procedures and processes
Advise workers of, and consult them about, the results and outcomes of these activities according to workplace WHS consultation and participation policies, procedures and processes
Obtain workplace records of the outcomes of hazard identifications and risk assessments, and use them to participate in developing risk control options
Apply knowledge of WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice, other sources of information and guidelines, and workplace policies, procedures and processes to identify duty holders
Participate in selecting risk control options using appropriate criteria
Identify and report factors impeding successful implementation of selected risk controls
Participate in developing a risk control implementation and evaluation plan
Provide information about the implementation and evaluation plan to individuals and parties
Advise workers of, and consult them about, developing risk control options, and selecting and implementing risk controls according to workplace WHS consultation and participation policies, procedures and processes
Encourage workers to participate appropriately in these activities according to workplace WHS consultation and participation policies, procedures and processes
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
BSBWHS303A - Participate in WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
Assessment task 1: [title]
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Assessment Record Sheet
BSBWHS303A - Participate in WHS hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control
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Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent
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