The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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. |
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WHS legislation varies in different states and will include: | National Work Health and Safety Model Current relevant State/territory WHS legislation Relevant state/territory Manual Handling Code of Conduct |
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Standards include: | Documents produced by national bodies, WHS regulators or industry bodies, that prescribe preventative action to avert occupational deaths, injuries and diseases Standards are of an advisory nature only, except where a law adopts the standard and thus makes it mandatory They may be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action |
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Codes of practice/compliance codes are: | Documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standards Codes of practice/compliance codes may: be incorporated into regulations not relate to a standard be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action |
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Guidance material: | Is an advisory technical document, providing detailed information for use by unions, officers, PCBUs, health and safety committee members and representatives, safety officers and others requiring guidance Advises on ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’ Has no legal standing |
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Other sources of WHS information include | Persons, organisations and references where knowledge about WHS may be obtained These sources may be: Internal, including: hazard, incident and investigation reports workplace inspections incident investigations minutes of meetings Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments organisation data such as insurance records, enforcement notices and actions, workers compensation data, WHS performance data reports and audits Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registers employees handbooks workers including questionnaire results Health and Safety Representatives manufacturers’ manuals and specifications |
| External, including: Employee Assistance Program providers and workplace counselling services relevant state WHS Acts, regulations, codes and guidance material other relevant legislation Safe Work Australia State/territory regulatory bodies databases such as national and state injury data WHS specialists and consultants newspapers and journals, trade/industry publications internet sites industry networks and associations including unions and employer groups WHS professional bodies specialist advisors research information |
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WHS information includes: | Requirements under WHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice/compliance codes and guidelines Rights and responsibilities Information on hazards including SDSs Collated information on hazard incidents and injuries Investigation and audit reports Outcomes of hazard identifications and workplace inspections Risk assessments Risk controls Workplace WHS policies and procedures Work procedures Training records |
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Risk controls include: | The devices and methods to, where practicable, eliminate the hazard or, where this is not practicable, minimise the risk associated with the hazard |
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Legal requirements for record keeping include: | That specified under WHS legislation and regulations for: Serious incident and injury reporting Registered plant Hazardous substances and dangerous goods Environmental monitoring Health surveillance Privacy legislation. |
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WHS records may include: | Hazard, incident and investigation reports Workplace inspection reports Incident investigation reports First aid records Minutes of meetings Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registers Plant and equipment operation records including those relevant to registered plant Maintenance and testing reports Training records Environmental monitoring records Health surveillance records |
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Participative processes include: | Processes that: inform workers and other stakeholders of WHS matters seek their input offer opportunity for stakeholders to participate in decisions that may impact on their health and safety Participative processes may also be referred to as ‘consultative processes’, however ‘participation’ implies a higher level of involvement |
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Organisation policies and procedures include: | Policies and procedures underpinning the management of WHS including: hazard, incident and injury reporting hazard identification, risk assessment and control human resources policies and procedures such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs, team meetings, alcohol and drug policies consultation and participation incident investigation quality system documentation |
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Consultation includes processes for: | Seeking information or the opinions from one or more people prior to decision-making Consultation should particularly include those who may affect the outcomes or be affected by the decisions made but may also include specialist sources |
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A hazard is: | A source or situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, the environment, or a combination of these |
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Common workplace hazards (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety Risks - Code of Practice) include: | Manual tasks - Overexertion or repetitive movement can cause muscular strain Gravity - Falling objects, falls, slips and trips of people can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or death Electricity - Potential ignition source. Exposure to live electrical wires can cause shock, burns or death from electrocution Machinery and equipment - Being hit by moving vehicles, or being caught by moving parts of machinery can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, permanent injuries or death Hazardous chemicals - Chemicals (such as acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitis Extreme temperatures - Heat can cause burns, heat stroke or fatigue. Cold can cause hypothermia or frost bite Noise - Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damage Radiation - Ultra violet, welding arc flashes, micro waves and lasers can cause burns, cancer or blindness Biological - Micro-organisms can cause hepatitis, legionnaires’ disease, Q fever, HIV/AIDS or allergies Psychosocial hazards - Effects of work-related stress, bullying, violence and work-related fatigue |
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Incident includes: | Any event that has caused or has the potential for injury, ill health or damage |
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Hazard identification is: | The process of identifying sources of harm and may be required: at design or pre purchase of equipment and materials at commissioning or pre-implementation of new processes or practices before new forms of work and organisation of work are implemented before changes are made to workplace, equipment, work processes or work arrangements as part of planning major tasks or activities, such as equipment shutdowns following an incident report when new knowledge becomes available at regular intervals during normal operations prior to disposal of equipment, buildings or materials |
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Risk: | In relation to any hazard, means the probability and consequences of injury, illness or damage resulting from exposure to a hazard |
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Risk assessments involve: | Analysing a hazard to: identify factors influencing the risk and the range of potential consequences effectiveness of existing controls likelihood of each consequence considering exposure and hazard level and combining these in some way to obtain a level of risk |
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Hierarchy of risk control (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety - Risks Code of Practice) includes: | The ranking of ways control risks ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest, including: Level 1 controls Eliminate hazards Level 2 controls Substitute the hazard with something safer Isolate the hazard from people Use engineering controls Level 3 controls Use administrative controls Use personal protective equipment (PPE) |
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Expert advisors include: | Persons either internal or external to the organisation including: safety professionals ergonomists employee assistance and workplace counselling services occupational hygienists audiologists safety engineers toxicologists occupational health professionals Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) Health and Safety committees (HSCs) Other persons providing specific technical knowledge or expertise in areas related to WHS including: risk managers health professionals injury management advisors legal practitioners with experience in WHS engineers (e.g. design, acoustic, mechanical, civil) security and emergency response personnel workplace trainers and assessors maintenance and trade persons |
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WHS induction includes: | The processes by which new workers are introduced to, and acquainted with their job and the new workplace, including familiarisation with: hazards and risks associated with the work, risk control measures, welfare facilities and emergency response procedures |
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Stakeholders are: | Those people or organisations who may be affected by, or perceive themselves to be affected by an activity or decision including: officers PCBUs Health and Safety representatives (HSRs) Health and Safety committees (HSCs) workers and contractors the community |
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WHS action plans include: | Documented plans developed within the workplace to implement a systematic approach to WHS management and contain: actions that support an integrated strategy to address deficiencies, meet obligations or provide for improved outcomes allocated responsibilities timeframes |