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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan and conduct work safely
  2. Support others in working safely
  3. Contribute to OHS participative processes
  4. Contribute to hazard identification, OHS risk assessment and risk control activities
  5. Participate in the control of emergency situations

Required Skills

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit

Essential knowledge

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of

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

Hierarchy of control and its application

Nature of common workplace hazards relevant to work role

Personal protective equipment PPE requirements including use storage and maintenance

Principles of basic risk assessment

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

Roles and responsibilities of employees supervisors and managers in the workplace

Roles and responsibilities of OHS representatives and OHS committees

Safety signs and their meanings including signs for

dangerous goods class signs

emergency equipment

personal protective equipment

specific hazards such as sharps radiation

Sources of OHS information within the workplace and awareness of external sources of OHS information

Standard emergency signals alarms and required responses

The difference between hazard and risk

The legal rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties

Workplace specific information including

hazards of the particular work environment

hazard identification procedures relevant to the hazards in their workplace

designated persons for raising OHS issues

organisation and work procedures particularly those related to performance of own work specific hazards and risk control reporting of hazards incidents and injuries and OHS issue resolution consultation use of PPE and emergency response

potential emergency situations alarms and signals and required response

Essential skills

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to

Contribute to OHS 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 OHS matters

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

In addition the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability 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

Evidence Required

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 of assessment

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

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

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 workgroup members supervisors

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

Access and equity considerations

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities workers should be aware of cultural historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues in particular relating to factors impacting on health of 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. 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.

Hazard 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

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

Specific hazards may include, but are not limited to:

Alarms

Bodily fluids

Burnout (compassion fatigue)

Chemicals

Computer use

Cytotoxic medicines and waste

Defusing violent behaviour

Egress from rooms

Managing violent behaviour on outreach and home visits

Manual handling

Manual handling (boxes)

Moving parts of machinery

Noise

Rostering

Sharps

Trips falls etc

Underfoot hazards

Violence in the workplace

Work posture

Other workplace hazards may include:

Occupational violence

Stress

Fatigue

Bullying

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

Examples of risks requiring management in a direct client care work environment may include:

Worker fatigue or burnout requiring appropriate supervision and stress management

Injury or damage resulting from violent or aggressive behaviour, requiring strategies to defuse or avoid behaviours of concern

Risks relating to working in client's homes, requiring appropriate worker education and associated strategies

Fire in client's homes requiring workers to provide basic information on home fire safety

Organisation procedures include:

Policies and procedures underpinning the management of OHS, including:

Hazard, incident and injury reporting

Hazard identification, risk assessment and control

Consultation and participation

Quality system documentation

OHS housekeeping includes:

Workplace and personal routines designed to improve health and safety; for example, cleaning up spills, keeping walkways, exits and traffic areas clear

Information includes:

Hazard, incident and investigation reports

Workplace inspection reports

Incident investigation reports

Minutes of meetings

Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments

Material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and registers

Employees handbooks

Manufacturers' manuals and specifications

Information from OHS representatives

Reports from OHS committee

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

Work procedures include:

Standard operating procedures

Batch specifications

Operator or manufacturer manuals

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

Mentoring and coaching may include:

Providing guidance and explanation on implementation of work and organisation procedures

Providing feedback

Providing encouragement

Assisting with problem solving

Incidents include:

Any event that has caused or has the potential for injury, ill-health or damage

Other workplace documentation may include:

Job checklists, schedules

Workplace inspection checklists

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

Designated persons may include:

Team leaders

Supervisors

OHS representatives

OHS committee members

Managers

Organisation OHS personnel

Other persons designated by the organisation

Hierarchy of control is:

The preferred order of control measures for OHS risks:

Elimination controlling the hazard at the source

Substitution e.g. Replacing one substance or activity at the source

Engineering e.g. Installing guards on machinery

Administration policies and procedures for safe work practices

Personal protective equipment e.g. respirators, ear plugs

Emergency signals and alarms may include:

Machinery malfunction alarms

Fire alarms

Evacuation alarms or announcements

Reversing beepers on mobile plant

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