Assessor Resource

SITXOHS003B
Identify hazards, and assess and control safety risks

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: April 2024


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

Under OHS law, staff members at all levels are required to participate in the identification, assessment and control of hazards but the degree of participation may vary. This unit reflects the active participation of frontline operational personnel who work with some level of autonomy or under limited supervision and guidance from others. They are actively involved in contributing to or making decisions on how best to control hazards. However, the unit could apply to personnel working at any level, including unsupervised staff members with significant responsibility in the workplace, owner-operators, supervisors and managers.

Risk assessments are commonly conducted as a team effort and a person achieving competence in this unit could either actively participate in group assessments or take a lead role in coordinating a group approach.

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify hazards, assess the associated safety risks and take measures to eliminate or control and minimise the risk. It focuses on the processes necessary to control specific workplace safety risks. This risk management approach is central to compliance with OHS legislation, which imposes obligations on businesses (whether small, medium or large) in all Australian states and territories to manage the safety of their workers and anyone else in the workplace. In the service industries, the workplace includes any location where the business operates and 'others' includes customers.

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

Other units describe varying levels of participation in OHS risk management practices:

SITXOHS001B Follow health, safety and security procedures

SITXOHS004B Implement and monitor workplace health, safety and security practices

SITXOHS005A Establish and maintain an OHS system.

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

Prerequisites

Nil

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, 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 identify workplace hazards, and assess and control safety risks for a given service industry operation in line with regulatory requirements

ability to access and use appropriate template documents for hazard identification and risk assessment

ability to apply appropriate methods for hazard identification, and risk assessment and control

knowledge and understanding of the consultative approach to hazard identification, assessment of associated safety risks and implementation of controls

knowledge of OHS legislation requirements for hazard identification, and risk assessment and control

ability to implement and monitor OHS management practices within the context of an established system where policies and procedures already exist

knowledge of specific and relevant OHS legislative requirements

demonstration of skills in conducting risk assessments for different hazard scenarios.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to an operation for which hazard identification and risk assessment can be undertaken or access to comprehensive and sufficient information about that operation to allow the candidate to conduct hazard identification and risk assessment activities

use of the appropriate state or territory legislation, codes of practice and standards issued by regulatory authorities or industry groups

use of OHS information, such as manuals issued by industry associations or commercial publishers

access to current organisation policies and procedures, and hazard identification and risk assessment template documents

involvement of a team operating in a specified workplace so that consultative actions can be implemented.

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess the practical skills and knowledge required to identify hazards, and assess and control safety risks. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct observation of the candidate consulting with appropriate colleagues about hazard identification, and risk assessment and control

direct observation of the candidate conducting a hazard identification and risk assessment process

evaluation of hazard identification and risk assessment reports prepared by the candidate detailing how safety issues were addressed for a given project or work activity

evaluation of projects conducted by the candidate to address safety issues in a given workplace

case studies and problem-solving exercises to assess safety responses to different workplace hazards

written and oral questions or interviews to test knowledge of legislation and requirements relating to hazard identification and risk assessment

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:

SITXOHS004B Implement and monitor workplace health, safety and security practices.

Submission Requirements

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.

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:

ability to access appropriate hazard identification and risk assessment templates

high-level communication skills to communicate and consult with colleagues on issues of hazard identification and assessment of risks associated with those hazards

literacy skills to read and interpret:

complex materials describing regulatory requirements that relate to OHS management

organisational policies and procedures and template documents.

literacy skills to write hazard identification and risk assessment documents

critical thinking skills to allow for rational and logical evaluation of hazards and associated risks, and to apply or suggest effective controls while incorporating the views of other people consulted in the workplace.

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

broad and working knowledge of relevant state or territory OHS legislation, specifically requirements for:

when, where and how hazards must be identified

when, where and how risk assessments must be conducted

incorporation of appropriate consultation in the hazard identification and risk assessment process

record keeping.

OHS consultative mechanisms commonly used by organisations

role of OHS committees or OHS representatives as mechanisms for consultation

context of risk assessments within an overall OHS management system

key elements of OHS risk assessments

format and use of appropriate hazard identification and risk assessment templates

range of methods for identifying hazards in the workplace

common methods applied to the assessment of safety risks, such as the four-staged process model recommended and published by state and territory OHS authorities

common methods applied to controlling risks, such as the five-stepped hierarchical process model recommended and published by state and territory OHS authorities

OHS record-keeping procedures

specific organisational policy and procedures for OHS management.

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.

Hazard identification tools and risk assessment tools and template documents may include:

self-designed tools developed for the organisation as part of an OHS management system

tools and templates developed:

by external consultancy services

by industry associations for use by member businesses

for public use and found within business management publications, including those developed by OHS regulatory authorities

self-designed tools.

Appropriate methods to identify actual or foreseeable hazards include:

conduct of site safety audits

completion of a safety checklist

inspections of the workplace

observation of daily activities

investigation of accidents and incidents

review of injury or illness registers

environmental monitoring of the workplace

investigation of staff complaints or reports of safety concerns

review of staff feedback via consultative processes, such as meetings, surveys or suggestion box submissions.

Anyone else in the workplace may include:

customers

visiting supplier representatives

contractors.

The workplace may include:

operational offices of the business

retail outlet of any sort

warehouse

sport or recreation facility

performance venue

field location of the business where services are delivered to customers

any place where the organisation normally conducts its business activities, for example:

in a tourism business this could be any destination to which customers are taken on tour

for an event it could be any location where the event happens.

Hazard may include:

beverage dispensing systems using inert gases

physical environment, for example:

working space of workers

lighting

hot and cold environments

climate, weather or exposure, such as insufficient shade and protection from rain, sun or wind

exposure to flood, fire and storm

prevailing noise levels

electrical items

flooring

equipment designed to assist with or replace manual handling

pests

crowds

wild animals and local wildlife

customers' abilities to fully engage in all activities, e.g. health issues

hazards associated with activities to be undertaken

plant, for example:

machinery

tools

appliances

equipment

working practices, for example:

opening and closing procedures

security procedures

any standard operating procedures for work-related tasks

inappropriate rostering and shift allocation

length of time spent at certain task and allocation of breaks

security issues, for example:

theft and robbery

irrational or angry, drunk or drug-affected customers

bomb scares.

Other personnel who jointly participate in consultation, hazard identification, and risk assessment and control may include:

staff under supervision

peers and colleagues

supervisors

managers

contractors

OHS representatives

OHS committee members.

Four-staged hierarchical process model must include:

identifying the injury or illness consequences that could result from the hazard

determining the exposure to the hazard

estimating the probability that an incident or injury will occur

determining an overall risk level for the identified hazard.

Five-step hierarchical approach must include:

substituting a system of work or equipment with something safer

isolating the hazard

introducing engineering controls

using personal protective equipment

implementing combined control methods to minimise risk.

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
Access and use hazard identification tools and template documents according to organisation procedures. 
Use appropriate methods to identify actual or foreseeable hazards that have the potential to harm the health and safety of workers or anyone else in the workplace. 
Involve other personnel where appropriate in hazard identification process. 
Keep records of hazards identified according to organisation procedures. 
Access and use risk assessment tools and template documents according to organisation procedures. 
Consult with a range of personnel within the organisation to achieve broad input into risk assessment process. 
Participate with or involve other personnel where appropriate in the risk assessment process according to consultation requirements of OHS legislation. 
Collect sufficient evidence of the type and level of risk that the identified hazard poses. 
Use a systematic and four-staged hierarchical process model to conduct a risk assessment. 
Document the outcome of the risk assessment and proposed actions. 
Keep records of risk assessments according to organisation procedures. 
Consult with a range of personnel within the organisation to achieve broad input into risk control process. 
Implement control measures according to individual level of responsibility or refer to appropriate personnel for permission or further action. 
Where possible eliminate the risk and if not practical take actions to control the risk using a five-step hierarchical approach. 
Identify inadequacies in hazard identification and risk assessment processes and resolve or report them to the appropriate person. 
Document any changes to the process and implement new processes for future risk management activities. 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

SITXOHS003B - Identify hazards, and assess and control safety risks
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Assessment Record Sheet

SITXOHS003B - Identify hazards, and assess and control safety risks

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

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