This unit describes the skills required to identify actual or potential confined spaces prior to entering a confined space for work purposes. The unit includes recognising actual and potential confined spaces in one’s work environment and understanding the broad limitations they impose on work practices. It also covers identifying potential work health and safety (WHS) concerns and seeking further advice and/or applying appropriate procedures when dealing with WHS issues.

In the context of this unit, a confined space is any compartment or area that has the capability of accumulating a toxic, flammable or explosive atmosphere, or of being flooded, in addition to one of the following characteristics:

limited opening for access

no escape route or very restricted means of escape

limited natural ventilation

atmosphere containing more than 23.5% or less than 19.5% oxygen

This unit was developed for Defence personnel involved in the identification of confined spaces as a workplace responsibility, but is applicable to all individuals who work in this field.

The skills and knowledge described in this unit must be applied within the legislative, regulatory and policy environment in which they are carried out. Organisational policies and procedures must be consulted and adhered to.

Those undertaking this unit would work independently or as part of a team under, indirect supervision. They must be able to use discretion and judgement and take responsibility for the quality of their outputs. They would perform routine tasks in a range of familiar contexts.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to unit at the time of publication.

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

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.

ELEMENTS	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements describe the essential outcomes	Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.
1. Recognise a confined space	1.1 Select and don required personal protective equipment (PPE) to identify a confined space. 1.2 Review nature of the possible work space and its characteristics. 1.3 Assess possible work space for its potential to be a confined space. 1.4 Determine precautions to be taken in the presence of a harmful atmosphere. 1.5 Identify and assess other hazards and factors associated with the possible work space to determine the level of risk associated with that space. 1.6 Refer identified hazards to appropriate personnel/authority for further investigation and analysis, where uncertainty exists about confined space potential. 1.7 Confirm safety of possible work space.
2. Carry out appropriate action after identifying a confined space	2.1 Identify and document potential WHS issues. 2.2 Undertake, document and revise risk assessment, whenever there is evidence to indicate that it is no longer valid. 2.3 Document broad limitations the confined space may impose on work practices.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

accessing, reading, interpreting and applying information on confined spaces

identifying and reporting hazards

understanding the possible nature of the environment

identifying intervention points for expert advice to assist work and to guide problem solving

identifying principle risks and associated mitigation

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

appropriate signage, symbols, labels and warning devices

location of applicable organisational procedures and documents

preferred order of ways to control WHS risk – hierarchy of controls

rights and responsibilities of workplace parties under WHS legislation

Competency should be assessed in an actual workplace or in a simulated environment, with access to equipment and infrastructure appropriate to the outcome. Competency should be demonstrated over time to ensure the candidate is assessed across a variety of situations.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

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)

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.

ELEMENTS	PERFORMANCE CRITERIA
Elements describe the essential outcomes	Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions section.
1. Recognise a confined space	1.1 Select and don required personal protective equipment (PPE) to identify a confined space. 1.2 Review nature of the possible work space and its characteristics. 1.3 Assess possible work space for its potential to be a confined space. 1.4 Determine precautions to be taken in the presence of a harmful atmosphere. 1.5 Identify and assess other hazards and factors associated with the possible work space to determine the level of risk associated with that space. 1.6 Refer identified hazards to appropriate personnel/authority for further investigation and analysis, where uncertainty exists about confined space potential. 1.7 Confirm safety of possible work space.
2. Carry out appropriate action after identifying a confined space	2.1 Identify and document potential WHS issues. 2.2 Undertake, document and revise risk assessment, whenever there is evidence to indicate that it is no longer valid. 2.3 Document broad limitations the confined space may impose on work practices.

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the candidate must demonstrate evidence of performance of the following on at least one occasion.

accessing, reading, interpreting and applying information on confined spaces

identifying and reporting hazards

understanding the possible nature of the environment

identifying intervention points for expert advice to assist work and to guide problem solving

identifying principle risks and associated mitigation

Evidence required to demonstrate competence must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria. If not otherwise specified the depth of knowledge demonstrated must be appropriate to the job context of the candidate.

appropriate signage, symbols, labels and warning devices

location of applicable organisational procedures and documents

preferred order of ways to control WHS risk – hierarchy of controls

rights and responsibilities of workplace parties under WHS legislation

Competency should be assessed in an actual workplace or in a simulated environment, with access to equipment and infrastructure appropriate to the outcome. Competency should be demonstrated over time to ensure the candidate is assessed across a variety of situations.

Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.

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
Select and don required personal protective equipment (PPE) to identify a confined space.
Review nature of the possible work space and its characteristics.
Assess possible work space for its potential to be a confined space.
Determine precautions to be taken in the presence of a harmful atmosphere.
Identify and assess other hazards and factors associated with the possible work space to determine the level of risk associated with that space.
Refer identified hazards to appropriate personnel/authority for further investigation and analysis, where uncertainty exists about confined space potential.
Confirm safety of possible work space.
Identify and document potential WHS issues.
Undertake, document and revise risk assessment, whenever there is evidence to indicate that it is no longer valid.
Document broad limitations the confined space may impose on work practices.
Select and don required personal protective equipment (PPE) to identify a confined space.
Review nature of the possible work space and its characteristics.
Assess possible work space for its potential to be a confined space.
Determine precautions to be taken in the presence of a harmful atmosphere.
Identify and assess other hazards and factors associated with the possible work space to determine the level of risk associated with that space.
Refer identified hazards to appropriate personnel/authority for further investigation and analysis, where uncertainty exists about confined space potential.
Confirm safety of possible work space.
Identify and document potential WHS issues.
Undertake, document and revise risk assessment, whenever there is evidence to indicate that it is no longer valid.
Document broad limitations the confined space may impose on work practices.

Assessment Cover Sheet

DEFWHS010 - Identify confined space

Assessment task 1: [title]

Student name:

Student ID:

I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.

Student signature:

Result: Competent Not yet competent

Feedback to student

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Assessment Record Sheet

DEFWHS010 - Identify confined space

Student name:

Student ID:

Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent

(add lines for each task)

Feedback to student:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent

Assessor name:

Signature:

Date:

Student signature:

Date: