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. |
| |
WHS legislation varies in different states and will include: | National Work Health and Safety ModelCurrent relevant State/territory WHS legislationRelevant state/territory Manual Handling Code of Conduct |
| |
Standards include: | Documents produced by national bodies, WHS regulators or industry bodies, that prescribe preventative action to avert occupational deaths, injuries and diseasesStandards are of an advisory nature only, except where a law adopts the standard and thus makes it mandatory They may be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action |
| |
Codes of practice/compliance codes are: | Documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standardsCodes of practice/compliance codes may:be incorporated into regulationsnot relate to a standardbe called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action |
| |
Guidance material: | Is an advisory technical document, providing detailed information for use by unions, officers, PCBUs, health and safety committee members and representatives, safety officers and others requiring guidanceAdvises on ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’Has no legal standing |
| |
Other sources of WHS information include | Persons, organisations and references where knowledge about WHS may be obtainedThese sources may be:Internal, including:hazard, incident and investigation reports workplace inspectionsincident investigationsminutes of meetingsJob Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments organisation data such as insurance records, enforcement notices and actions, workers compensation data, WHS performance datareports and auditsSafety Data Sheet (SDS) and registersemployees handbooks workers including questionnaire resultsHealth and Safety Representativesmanufacturers’ manuals and specifications |
| External, including: Employee Assistance Program providers and workplace counselling servicesrelevant state WHS Acts, regulations, codes and guidance material other relevant legislationSafe Work AustraliaState/territory regulatory bodiesdatabases such as national and state injury data WHS specialists and consultantsnewspapers and journals, trade/industry publicationsinternet sitesindustry networks and associations including unions and employer groups WHS professional bodiesspecialist advisorsresearch information |
| |
WHS information includes: | Requirements under WHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice/compliance codes and guidelinesRights and responsibilitiesInformation on hazards including SDSsCollated information on hazard incidents and injuriesInvestigation and audit reports Outcomes of hazard identifications and workplace inspections Risk assessments Risk controlsWorkplace WHS policies and proceduresWork proceduresTraining records |
| |
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 |
| |
Legal requirements for record keeping include: | That specified under WHS legislation and regulations for:Serious incident and injury reporting Registered plant Hazardous substances and dangerous goods Environmental monitoring Health surveillancePrivacy legislation. |
| |
WHS records may include: | Hazard, incident and investigation reports Workplace inspection reportsIncident investigation reportsFirst aid recordsMinutes of meetingsJob Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registersPlant and equipment operation records including those relevant to registered plant Maintenance and testing reportsTraining recordsEnvironmental monitoring recordsHealth surveillance records |
| |
Participative processes include: | Processes that:inform workers and other stakeholders of WHS mattersseek their inputoffer opportunity for stakeholders to participate in decisions that may impact on their health and safetyParticipative processes may also be referred to as ‘consultative processes’, however ‘participation’ implies a higher level of involvement |
| |
Organisation policies and procedures include: | Policies and procedures underpinning the management of WHS including:hazard, incident and injury reporting hazard identification, risk assessment and controlhuman resources policies and procedures such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs, team meetings, alcohol and drug policiesconsultation and participationincident investigation quality system documentation |
| |
Consultation includes processes for: | Seeking information or the opinions from one or more people prior to decision-makingConsultation should particularly include those who may affect the outcomes or be affected by the decisions made but may also include specialist sources |
| |
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 strainGravity - Falling objects, falls, slips and trips of people can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or deathElectricity - Potential ignition source. Exposure to live electrical wires can cause shock, burns or death from electrocutionMachinery and equipment - Being hit by moving vehicles, or being caught by moving parts of machinery can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, permanent injuries or deathHazardous chemicals - Chemicals (such as acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitisExtreme temperatures - Heat can cause burns, heat stroke or fatigue. Cold can cause hypothermia or frost biteNoise - Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damageRadiation - Ultra violet, welding arc flashes, micro waves and lasers can cause burns, cancer or blindnessBiological - Micro-organisms can cause hepatitis, legionnaires’ disease, Q fever, HIV/AIDS or allergiesPsychosocial hazards - Effects of work-related stress, bullying, violence and work-related fatigue |
| |
Incident includes: | Any event that has caused or has the potential for injury, ill health or damage |
| |
Hazard identification is: | The process of identifying sources of harm and may be required: at design or pre purchase of equipment and materialsat commissioning or pre-implementation of new processes or practices before new forms of work and organisation of work are implementedbefore changes are made to workplace, equipment, work processes or work arrangementsas part of planning major tasks or activities, such as equipment shutdownsfollowing an incident report when new knowledge becomes available at regular intervals during normal operationsprior to disposal of equipment, buildings or materials |
| |
Risk: | In relation to any hazard, means the probability and consequences of injury, illness or damage resulting from exposure to a hazard |
| |
Risk assessments involve: | Analysing a hazard to:identify factors influencing the risk and the range of potential consequenceseffectiveness of existing controlslikelihood of each consequence considering exposure and hazard leveland combining these in some way to obtain a level of risk |
| |
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 controlsEliminate hazardsLevel 2 controlsSubstitute the hazard with something saferIsolate the hazard from peopleUse engineering controlsLevel 3 controlsUse administrative controlsUse personal protective equipment (PPE) |
| |
Expert advisors include: | Persons either internal or external to the organisation including:safety professionals ergonomistsemployee assistance and workplace counselling servicesoccupational hygienistsaudiologistssafety engineers toxicologists occupational health professionalsHealth and Safety Representatives (HSRs)Health and Safety committees (HSCs)Other persons providing specific technical knowledge or expertise in areas related to WHS including: risk managers health professionals injury management advisorslegal practitioners with experience in WHSengineers (e.g. design, acoustic, mechanical, civil)security and emergency response personnelworkplace trainers and assessorsmaintenance and trade persons |
| |
WHS induction includes: | The processes by which new workers are introduced to, and acquainted with their job and the new workplace, including familiarisation with:hazards and risks associated with the work, risk control measures, welfare facilities and emergency response procedures |
| |
Stakeholders are: | Those people or organisations who may be affected by, or perceive themselves to be affected by an activity or decision including: officersPCBUs Health and Safety representatives (HSRs)Health and Safety committees (HSCs)workers and contractorsthe community |
| |
WHS action plans include: | Documented plans developed within the workplace to implement a systematic approach to WHS management and contain:actions that support an integrated strategy to address deficiencies, meet obligations or provide for improved outcomesallocated responsibilitiestimeframes |