This unit is intended for application during induction of new entrants to the workplace and where the employee has basic operational knowledge and skills for a limited range of tasks and problems. It includes apprentices, trainees and casual workers.

In addition to legal and ethical responsibilities, all units of competency in the ACM10 Animal Care and Management Training Package have the requirement for animals to be handled gently and calmly. The individual is required to exhibit appropriate care for animals so that stress and discomfort is minimised.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan and prepare to work safely

1.1. Hazards in the work area are identified, and action is taken to control risk for those hazards the employee can correct.

1.2. Hazards the employee cannot correct and inadequacies in control measures are reported, in accordance with organisation procedures.

1.3. Pre-start checks are carried out as required in accordance with work procedures.

2. Conduct work safely

2.1. Personal protective equipment is used correctly and maintained when required.

2.2. Work procedures and workplace instructions for ensuring safety when planning and conducting work are followed.

2.3. Incidents and injuries are reported to designated personnel.

2.4. OHS housekeeping is undertaken in work area.

3. Participate in OHS consultative activities

3.1. Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of OHS representatives and OHS committees are applied.

3.2. Constructive contribution to workplace meetings, workplace inspections or other OHS consultative activities is made.

3.3. OHS issues are raised with designated personnel in accordance with organisation procedures.

3.4. Input to improve workplace OHS systems and processes is provided, in accordance with organisation procedures, to eliminate hazards or reduce risk.

4. Follow emergency response procedures

4.1. OHS emergency situations are identified and reported.

4.2. Organisation procedures for responding to OHS emergencies are followed.

Required skills

clarify meaning with peers and supervisors

follow clear, logical verbal or clear, logical plain English written instructions

give accurate verbal or written descriptions of incidents or hazards

interpret selected pictorial/graphical and written signs/instructions

preparedness to be involved in OHS activities, including inspections, meetings and risk assessments.

Required knowledge

applicable commonwealth, state or territory OHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and industry standards/guidance notes relevant to own work, role and responsibilities

legal rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties

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

potential OHS emergency situations, alarms and signals, and required response

roles and responsibilities of OHS representatives, OHS committees and employers

safety measures related to common workplace hazards

safety signs and their meanings, including signs for:

personal protective equipment

emergency equipment

dangerous goods class signs

specific hazards such as sharps, radiation

sources of OHS information in the workplace

standard emergency signals, alarms and required responses

the difference between hazard and risk

the elements within the hierarchy of control

the roles and responsibilities of employees, supervisors and managers in the workplace

workplace specific information including:

hazards of the particular work environment

potential OHS emergencies relevant to the workplace

designated person 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, consultation, use of personal protective equipment and emergency response.

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 the application of their knowledge of OHS:

in an actual or simulated workplace context involving relevant work processes

to their own health and safety within their work area

to that of others who may be affected by their actions.

A candidate must also be able to provide evidence of participating in workplace OHS processes.

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.

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 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

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 work-related 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 and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.

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.

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:

animal bites, envenomation, kicks, scratches or crush injuries

biological hazardous waste

bodily fluids

chemicals and medicines

gas leakage

manual handling, including carrying, lifting, shifting

moving parts of equipment or machinery

noise

radiation

sharps

underfoot hazards

work posture

zoonoses.

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.

Personal protective equipment includes:

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

clothing and footwear

face and eye protection

hand protection

head protection

hearing protection

respiratory protection.

Incidents include:

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

Designated personnel may include:

team leaders

supervisors

OHS representatives

OHS committee members

managers

organisation OHS personnel

other persons designated by the organisation

employers in office based practice.

OHS housekeeping includes:

workplace and personal routines designed to improve health and safety:

cleaning up spills

keeping walkways, exits and traffic areas clear.

Emergency OHS situations may include:

any abnormal or sudden event that requires immediate action:

events requiring evacuation

explosion and bomb alerts

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

fires and explosions

hazardous substance and chemical spills

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

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

serious injury events.

Unit sector

Occupational health and safety

This unit contains employability skills.