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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan and conduct work safely
  2. Identified hazards are addressed prior to starting work using judgement within defined scope of responsibilities.
  3. Support others in working safely
  4. Contribute to workplace health and safety participative processes
  5. Workplace health and safety issues are raised in accordance with organisation procedures within appropriate timeframes.
  6. Contribute to hazard identification, workplace health and safety risk assessment and risk control activities
  7. Participate in the control of emergency situations

Required Skills

Required skills

Required skills include

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to contribute to the workplace health and safety processes in the work context by

addressing their own health and safety

addressing health and safety of others who may be affected by their actions

supporting members of the workgroup who may be less experienced in the workplace in regard to workplace health and safety matters

taking initiative to address hazards and manage risks at a systemic level

In addition the candidate must be able to

check the workplace for hazards and risks using an itemised checklist

provide advice and feedback in a constructive and supportive manner

take into account and use opportunities to address waste minimisation environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

Required knowledge

Required knowledge includes

basic hazard identification procedures such as workplace inspections and review of workplace data

hierarchy of risk control and its application

nature of common workplace hazards for example chemicals bodily fluids noise manual handling work postures underfoot hazards and moving parts of machinery

personal protective equipment requirements including use storage and maintenance

principles of basic risk assessment

relationship between workplace health and safety and sustainability in the workplace including the contribution of maintaining health and safety to environmental economic workforce and social sustainability

regulations standards codes of practice and industry standardsguidance notes relevant to own work role and responsibilities

roles and responsibilities of health and safety representatives and workplace health and safety committees

roles and responsibilities of workers officers and Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking PCBUs

safety signs and their meanings including signs for

dangerous goods class signs

emergency equipment

personal protective equipment

specific hazards such as sharps and radiation

sources of workplace health and safety information within in the workplace with knowledge of external sources of workplace health and safety information

standard emergency signals alarms and required responses

the difference between hazard and risk

the legal rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties

the role of Safe Work Australia and updated StateTerritory workplace health and safety legislative obligations

workplace specific information including

designated persons for raising workplace health and safety issues

hazards of the particular work environment

hazard identification procedures relevant to the hazards in their workplace

organisation and work procedures particularly those related to performance of own work specific hazards and risk control reporting of hazards incidents and injuries and workplace health and safety issue resolution consultation use of personal protective equipment and emergency response

potential emergency situations alarms and signals and required response

Evidence Required

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

To demonstrate competence in this Unit a candidate must be able to provide evidence of contribution to workplace health and safety processes in the workplace This includes

addressing their own health and safety

addressing that of others who may be affected by their actions

supporting members of the workgroup who may be less experienced in the workplace in regard to workplace health and safety matters

taking some initiative to address hazards and manage risks at a systemic level

Evidence gathered by an assessor to determine competence will include practical demonstration of competence including

workplace demonstration simulation exercise scenario or role play

indirect evidence from workplace supervisor reports workplace documentation and written responses to problems scenarios and case studies

Evidence of workplace performance over time must be obtained to inform a judgement of competence

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Products that could be used as evidence include

verbal and written responses to verbal pictorial or physical scenarios

demonstrated response to scenarios simulations role plays

completed hazard or incident reports completed workplace inspection checklists

reports from work group members supervisor

Processes that could be used as evidence include

how workplace checksinspections are carried out

how hazards are addressed

how mentoring of fellow workgroup members is undertaken

how incident investigations reports were completed

Method of assessment

This Unit should be assessed together with other Units of Competence relevant to the function or work role

Guidance information for assessment

Access and equity considerations

all assessment should be applied with respect to relevant workrelated access and equity issues

competence should reflect an ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal andor Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Range Statement

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.

Hazard identification

Hazards identification is the process of identifying sources of harm, and may be required:

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, or materials.

Hazard

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.

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.

Examples of hazards in an animal care environment may include:

animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches or crush injuries

biological hazardous waste

bodily fluids

chemicals and medicines

sharps

zoonotic and exotic disease possibilities.

Risk

Risk in relation to any hazard means:

the probability and consequences of injury, illness or damage resulting from exposure to a hazard

Residual risk is:

the risk which remains after controls have been implemented.

Organisation procedures

Organisation procedures includes policies and procedures underpinning the management of workplace health and safety, including:

hazard, incident and injury reporting

hazard identification, risk assessment and control

consultation and participation

quality system documentation.

Workplace health and safety housekeeping

Workplace health and safety housekeeping includes workplace and personal routines designed to improve health and safety:

cleaning up spills

keeping walkways, exits and traffic areas clear.

Information

Information includes:

employees handbooks

hazard, incident and investigation reports

incident investigation reports

information from external sources on hazards and risk relevant to the work group

information from health and safety representatives

job safety analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments

material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and registers

manufacturers' manuals and specifications

minutes of meetings

reports from workplace health and safety committee

workplace inspection reports.

Work procedures

Work procedures include:

batch specifications

operator or manufacturer manuals

procedures for selecting, fitting, using and maintaining personal protective equipment

standard operating procedures.

Coaching

Mentoring and coaching may include:

assisting with problem solving

providing encouragement

providing feedback

providing guidance and explanation on implementation of work and organisation procedures.

Incidents

Incidents include any event that has caused or has the potential for injury, ill-health or damage.

Workplace documentation

Other workplace documentation may include:

job checklists and schedules

workplace inspection checklists.

Risk controls

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.

Hierarchy of risk control

Hierarchy of risk control (from Safe Work Australia Work Health and Safety Risks - Code of Practice) includes:

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).

Emergency signals and alarms

Emergency signals and alarms may include:

evacuation alarms or announcements

fire alarms

machinery malfunction alarms

reversing beepers on mobile plant.

Emergency

Emergency may include any abnormal or sudden event that requires immediate action, such as:

serious injury events

events requiring evacuation

fires and explosions

hazardous substance and chemical spills

explosion and bomb alerts

security emergencies, such as armed robberies, intruders and disturbed persons

internal emergencies, such as loss of power or water supply and structural collapse

external emergencies and natural disasters, such as flood, storm and traffic accident impacting on the organisation.