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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Implement requirements for WHS management system
  2. Implement and maintain participative arrangements for WHS management
  3. Implement and maintain WHS risk management processes
  4. Implement and maintain WHS training programs
  5. Implement and maintain WHS record keeping system
  6. Initiate and maintain WHS management system improvements
  7. Keep management informed about WHS performance

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Legislation, regulations, standards, codes, workplace procedures and requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

legislation, standards and codes of practice for WHS

Australian and international standards covering:

environmental management (e.g. AS/NZS ISO 14000 Basic Set:2007 Environmental Management Basic Set)

occupational personal protection (e.g. AS/NZS 1337 Personal eye protection series, AS/NZS 2161 Occupational protective gloves set, AS/NZS 2210 Safety, protective and occupational footwear series, AS/NZS 4501 Occupational protective clothing series, and HB 9-1994 Occupational personal protection)

occupational noise management (AS/NZS 1269 Occupational noise management Set), and safe working in a confined space (AS 2865-2009 Confined spaces)

flammable and combustible liquids (AS 1940-2004 The storage and handling of flammable and combustible liquids); corrosive substances (AS 3780-2008 The storage and handling of corrosive substances), and toxic substances (AS/NZS 4452:1997 The storage and handling of toxic substances)

transport emergency procedure guide (AS 1678 Emergency procedure guide – Transport series)

industry codes and guidelines, such as:

Australian Dangerous Goods Code

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Codes of Practice

National Code of Practice for the labelling of workplace substances (NOHSC:2012)

National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines

WHS policies and procedures covering hazards, risks, controls, emergency and environmental incidents, recording and reporting; job hazard analyses; safe work procedures and work method statements; hazardous goods manifest and substance register; and safety data sheets (SDS)

workplace documents, such as standard operating procedures (SOPs); equipment manuals and warranties; supplier catalogue and handbooks; waste minimisation, containment, processing and safe disposal procedures.

Site personnel include one or more of:

managers and supervisors

health and safety and other employee representatives

contractors, consultants and visitors

WHS committee members

operations personnel

external WHS agency representatives.

Participative processes with site personnel and their representatives include one or more of:

committees, such as:

WHS

consultative

planning

employee and supervisor/manager involvement in WHS activities such as inspections, audits and risk assessments

procedures for reporting hazards and raising and addressing WHS issues

identification of hazards and assessment of level of risk

implementation of risk control measures and review of effectiveness

injury and incident investigations

development of policies and procedures

review of WHS records and statistics

review of registers of hazardous substances and dangerous goods

audits and workplace inspections

job safety analysis

consultation with site personnel.

Workforce characteristics and composition that impact on WHS and environmental management include one or more of:

language and literacy

communication skills

cultural background

gender

workers with special needs

part time, casual or contract workers.

Hazard identification processes include one or more of:

review of hazard and incident reports

workplace inspections

pre-purchase risk assessments

review of relevant internal documentation, including SDS, manufacturer manuals and minutes of meetings

review of legislation, codes of practice, standards and guidelines

review of publications, such as:

WHS regulators

industry bodies

journals

newsletters.

Risk assessment includes:

analysing the effectiveness of existing controls

determining the likelihood of each consequence considering exposure and hazard level

combining these in some way to obtain a level of risk

comparison of the determined risk with pre-established tolerance criteria and ranking of risks requiring control.

Information for evaluation of the WHS management system includes one or more of:

hazard, incident and injury reports

site inspections

audit reports

formal and informal input of employees and contractors.

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

compliance with relevant federal/state/territory WHS legislation at all times

assuming that samples are potentially hazardous and applying standard precautions

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and state/territory Departments of Health, where relevant.

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

implementing and maintaining the health and safety management system for at least one (1) site or work group

accessing and interpreting relevant sections of WHS legislation, regulations, codes of practice and updates

analysing the work environment and assessing the need for WHS interventions

consulting employees and other stakeholders about safety issues, hazard identification, risk assessment, selection and implementation of control measures and their review

raising issues related to concerns with safety of work systems and work environment through consultation with management, employees and contractors

promptly addressing WHS management issues within their area of control/scope of responsibility

developing and implementing improvements in work practices and procedures to reduce the risk of illness and injury and meet WHS legislative requirements

developing and implementing training program(s) to meet the identified WHS training needs of site personnel

providing appropriate supervision, support and information in accordance with workplace procedures

keeping WHS records complete, current and secure

communicating effectively with personnel at all levels of the organisation and WHS specialists

preparing reports for a range of target groups, including WHS committee, WHS representatives, managers and supervisors

working safely and monitoring the safety of others.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

terminology, principles and practices of effective WHS management (e.g. hazard identification, risk assessment, risk control and hierarchy of control)

standards and regulator’s guidelines relating to WHS management systems

key personnel identified in workplace management structure and WHS management systems

sources of WHS management information, including specialist advisors

workplace WHS and management policies and procedures, plans, housekeeping, inspections and audits

roles and responsibilities of employers and employees under WHS legislation, including managers/supervisors and contractors

how the characteristics and composition of the workforce impact on WHS management

nature of site safety hazards and risks and existing control measures

legislative requirements for WHS information and consultation

participative consultation processes relating to WHS management systems

workplace purchasing policy and procedures for safety related supplies and equipment

workplace record keeping/reporting requirements that address WHS, privacy and other relevant legislation.