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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Plan and prepare to work safely
  2. Conduct work safely
  3. Participate in WHS consultative activities
  4. Follow emergency response procedures

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

A basic understanding of the hierarchy of risk control

Awareness of the relationship between WHS and sustainability in the workplace including the contribution of safe work practices to environmental economic workforce and social sustainability

Common WHS issues and the impact on workplace systems equipment and processes

Legal rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties

Nature of common workplace hazards such as chemicals bodily fluids sharps noise manual handling work postures underfoot hazards and moving parts of machinery

Roles and responsibilities of Health and Safety Representatives HSRs and Health and Safety committees HSCs

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

Safety measures related to common workplace hazards

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 WHS information in the workplace with some limited knowledge of external sources of WHS information

Standard emergency signals alarms and required responses

The difference between hazard and risk

Workplace specific information including

designated persons for raising WHS issues

hazards of the particular work environment

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

potential emergencies relevant to the workplace

potential emergency situations alarms and signals and required response

Essential skills

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to

Apply WHS knowledge when participating in processes to address own health and safety within their work area

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

Clarify meaning with peers and supervisors

Demonstrate preparedness to be involved in WHS activities including inspections and meetings

Follow clear logical verbal or clear logical Plain English written instructions

Give accurate verbal or written descriptions of incidents or hazards

Interpret selected pictorialgraphical and written signsinstructions

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 and workplace documentation

Products that could be used as evidence include

Verbal and written responses to verbal pictorial or physical scenarios

Demonstrated action 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 contributions were made to consultative processes

How hazard inspections were carried out

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.

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

Risk:

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

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)

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

Residual risk is:

The risk which remains after controls have been implemented

Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes:

Equipment worn by a person to provide protection from hazards, by providing a physical barrier between the person and the hazard and may include:

head protection

face and eye protection

respiratory protection

hearing protection

hand protection

clothing and footwear

Incidents include:

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

Designated personnel may include:

Team leaders/supervisors

Officers

HSRs

HSC members

PCBUs

Organisation WHS personnel

Other persons designated by the organisation

WHS housekeeping includes:

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

Emergency situations 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