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

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for conducting safety and health investigations

implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of safety and health investigations

working with others to undertake and complete safety and health investigations that meets all of the required outcomes

consistent timely completion of safety and health investigations that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.

Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.

Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in the work environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to site circumstances.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Method of assessment

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:

written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes

consistently achieving the required outcomes

first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

working with others to undertake and complete safety and health investigation

Guidance information for assessment

Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.

Required skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit, particularly for the application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be applied. This includes the ability to carry out the following as required to conduct safety and health investigations:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

locate, interpret and apply relevant legislative and operational information

identify and/or confirm the linkages between factors and outcomes, causes and effects and direct/indirect causal relationships

apply technical literacy and communicate sufficiently to interpret and apply common industry terminology, and interpret work procedures and processes

speak in plain English and communicate orally with supervisors and other employees

question and listen actively, e.g. when obtaining information of technical working practices

write effectively to allow report writing

plan and organise sufficiently to prepare and apply investigative processes

apply teamwork skills sufficient to involve and engage the employers/supervisors in the investigation processes

solve problems to assess technical mining issues

apply presentation skills to deliver report to various levels of industry

Required knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly its application in a variety of circumstances in which the unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to conduct safety and health investigations:

legislation and regulations

topic or subject area which is the target for the investigation

theory of safety and health investigative research and analysis

symptoms and possible immediate effects of post traumatic stress in an investigation situation

appropriate industry context

site procedures and conventions related to safety and health investigations

site risk management processes and their applications

conventions and requirements for written communications, including report writing

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 compliance documentation may include:

legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

manufacturer's guidelines and specifications

Australian standards

code of practice

Employment and workplace relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Investigations may involve a range of issues but will generally be related to:

accidents, incidents or near misses

safety and health systems and issues

safety aspects of technical processes and procedures

safety aspects of equipment specifications and performance definition

Analysis of information may be divided into five main areas including:

people

environment

equipment

procedures

organisation

Site security may require:

signage

barricades

actions to treat and/or comfort victims and witnesses

temporary engineering and stability measures

security personnel

other relevant measures

This is in order to:

create a safe environment

ensure the integrity of evidence

Information collection may include:

reconstruction of events

interviews

statements

audio recording

photographs

scale diagrams

accessing other formal information sources

Information sources may include:

applicable commonwealth/state/territory legislation and codes of practice relating to the industry, dangerous and hazardous goods, environmental protection and OHS

emergency procedures

enterprise quality assurance procedures

manufacturer's/documentation and handbooks

materials safety data sheets

worksite communications, management and inventory systems

worksite safety management systems

worksite's rescue service publications and information

operations manuals or equivalent

personal and work area work procedures and practices

quality work specifications and procedures

workplace operating procedures and policies

Interview techniques and processes may need to be:

managed to avoid prejudicing individual legal rights

varied to avoid exacerbating post traumatic stress or similar symptoms for witnesses and involved parties

Recording and reporting requirements are:

in accordance with legislative and worksite policies and procedures

Investigation report formats may be established on a site basis but are likely to include:

objective(s)

general overview

research and information collection methodology

analytical criteria

findings (including essential and contributing factors)

recommendations

follow-up actions

records of all relevant evidence

Investigation recommendations may include:

safety management systems

processes and procedures

behaviours/actions

equipment and materials

working environment