BSBOHS603B
Analyse and evaluate OHS risk

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to conduct a formal risk assessment comprising analysis and evaluation of occupational health and safety (OHS) risk. It has been designed to be consistent with the Australian Standard, AS/NZS 4360: 2004 Risk management.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Application

This unit addresses the knowledge, processes and techniques necessary to analyse and evaluate OHS risk as part of the risk management process.

OHS risk analysis involves defining the range of consequences, assessing the effectiveness of existing controls and deciding the likelihood of each consequence, and combining these in some way to obtain a level of risk. Risk evaluation is the comparison of pre established criteria for tolerance and the subsequent ranking of risks requiring control.

The situation to be analysed and evaluated may involve a single task or a process comprising a series of tasks.

Application of this unit must be consistent with the pertinent sections of the Australian Standard, AS/NZS 4360: 2004 Risk management.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Define parameters of the OHS risk study

1.1. Access information and data on the hazard identification process and the context of the OHS risk

1.2. Establish the scope of the OHS risk study

1.3. Divide the activity to be analysed into logical and manageable elements

1.4. Define and document the method of OHS risk analysis

2. Analyse the OHS risk of a task or process

2.1. Clarify the nature of the hazard including the process of injury or damage

2.2. Identify the need for further information using monitoring activities

2.3. Communicate information and data about the OHS risk to stakeholders

2.4. Consult and involve a range of stakeholders in the analysis

2.5. Identify and evaluate existing controls and their effectiveness, taking account of relevant standards

2.6. Determine specific scenarios to be considered

2.7. Determine the range of possible consequence/s from the various scenarios

2.8. Determine the likelihood of the occurrence of the consequence/s

2.9. Undertake steps to ensure comprehensive analysis of information, data and techniques

2.10. Rank OHS risks in order of level of risk

2.11. Consult OHS specialist advisors if required

3. Evaluate OHS risk of a task or process

3.1. Access and reference relevant legislation, codes of practice and standards

3.2. Consult stakeholders in determining criteria for OHS risk evaluation

3.3. Compare outcomes of OHS risk analysis with criteria to identify risks requiring further risk control and risks deemed as low as reasonably achievable

3.4. Document process and outcomes of analysis and evaluation in a manner that is accessible and facilitates understanding by stakeholders

3.5. Document outcomes to include explanation of the legal ramifications of decision making based on risk prioritisation

Required Skills

Required skills

analytical skills to:

identify areas for improvement with OHS incidents

analyse relevant workplace information and data, and to make observations of workplace tasks and interactions between people, their activities, equipment, environment and systems

contribute to the assessment of resources needed to systematically manage OHS and, where appropriate, access resources

contribute to the strategic OHS performance of the organisation

attention to detail when making observations and recording outcomes

numeracy skills to carry out simple arithmetical calculations (e.g. % change) and to produce graphs of workplace information and data, to identify trends and recognise limitations of information and data

research skills to access relevant OHS information and data to interpret information and data, to identify areas for improvement

communication skills to:

conduct effective formal and informal meetings and to communicate effectively with personnel at all levels of the organisation, OHS specialists and, as required, emergency services personnel

write policies, procedures and plans

use language and literacy skills appropriate to the workgroup and the task

data gathering skills such as brainstorming, polling, interviewing

consultation and negotiation skills to develop plans, and to implement and monitor designated actions

project management skills to achieve continuous improvement and action processes in OHS matters

organisational skills to manage own tasks within a timeframe

information technology skills to access and enter internal and external information and data on OHS and to use a range of media.

Required knowledge

benefits, limitations and use of a range of communication strategies and tools appropriate to the workplace

difference between hazard and risk

ethics related to professional practice

formal and informal communication and consultation processes, and key personnel related to communication

how the characteristics and composition of the workforce impact on risk and the systematic approach to managing OHS, for example:

communication skills

cultural background/workplace diversity

gender

labour market changes

language, literacy and numeracy

structure and organisation of workforce e.g. part-time, casual and contract workers, shift rosters, geographical location

workers with specific needs

internal and external sources of OHS information and data

language, literacy and cultural profile of the work group

legislative requirements for OHS information and data, and consultation

limitations of generic hazard and risk checklists and risk ranking processes

nature of workplace processes (including work flow, planning and control) and hazards relevant to the particular workplace

organisational behaviour and culture as it impacts on OHS and on change

organisational culture as it impacts on the workgroup

organisational OHS policies and procedures

other functional areas that impact on the management of OHS

pertinent sections of relevant Australian and other standards such as AS/NZS 4360: 2004 Risk management, National Standard for the Storage and Handling Workplace Dangerous Goods [NOHSC: 1015(2001)] and National Standard for Manual Handling [NOHSC: 1001 (1990)]

principles and practices of a systematic approach to managing OHS

principles of duty of care including concepts of causation, foreseeability, preventability

principles of human behaviour and response to interactions with human, physical and task environment to identify psychosocial hazards

principles of incident causation and injury processes

range of risk analysis/assessment techniques and tools and their application and limitations

requirements for control of work permits/written authorities in workplace monitoring activities

requirements of OHS and standards related to systematically managing OHS

risk as a measure of uncertainty and the factors that affect risk

roles and responsibilities under OHS legislation of employees including supervisors, contractors, OHS inspectors

roles and responsibilities in relation to communication and consultation for OHS committees, OHS representatives, line management, employees and inspectors

sources of occupational disease and their prevention

standard industry controls for a range of hazards

state/territory and commonwealth OHS legislation (acts, regulations, codes of practice, associated standards and guidance material) including prescriptive and performance approaches and links to other relevant legislation such as industrial relations, equal employment opportunity, workers compensation, rehabilitation

structure and forms of legislation including regulations, codes of practice, associated standards and guidance material

toxicology of hazardous materials and potential health effects in the workplace

types of hazard identification tools including job system analysis (JSA).

Evidence Required

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

Evidence of the following is essential:

OHS risk analysis and evaluation of a number of tasks as part of an OHS risk management process, either in an actual workplace, simulation exercise or scenario

products developed for management of these OHS processes

how these products were developed

use of the products

knowledge of pertinent sections of relevant Australian and other standards.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to actual workplace/s and stakeholder groups

access to office equipment and resources

access to relevant legislation, standards and guidelines

access to workplace documentation

access to reports from other parties consulted in conducting risk analysis and evaluation.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

analysis of responses to case studies and scenarios

demonstration of techniques used to identify, analyse, evaluate, control and monitor risks

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate

observation of performance in role plays

observation of presentations

oral or written questioning

review information and data communicated to stakeholders about the OHS risk

evaluation of ranking of OHS risks

assessment of comparison of outcomes of OHS risk analysis with criteria

review of documentation of process and outcomes of analysis and evaluation of OHS risk of a task or process.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

other OHS units


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. 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.

Hazards may include:

source or situation with a potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill health, damage to property or the environment, or a combination of these

Context may include:

activities

controls currently in place

internal and external factors that impact on OHS risk

level of documentation required

stakeholders

workplace

Scope of OHS risk study may include:

activities, job role, area, location to be analysed

who will use the output and for what purpose

why it is being done

Monitoring activities may include:

air monitoring

medical monitoring

noise monitoring

Information and data about the OHS risk may include:

mode/s of action of the hazard causing injury or damage

outcomes of OHS risk analysis

Stakeholders may include:

customers/users of the product or process

employees and their representatives

managers, including boards of management

the community

Controls may include:

actions implementing risk management decisions

monitoring

programs or policies

re-evaluation and compliance with decisions

Relevant standards may include:

Australian and industry standards

codes of practice and guidance material

common law duty of care

current knowledge

current practice

legislation

Comprehensive analysis of information and data may include:

engineering modelling

experience with enterprise, own/other industries

past records

published literature

research within exposed groups

specialist and expert groups

Comprehensive analysis of techniques may include:

broad consultation

multidisciplinary focus groups

processes and techniques used by specialists, such as modelling, fault tree and Hazard and Operability Studies (HazOps)

questionnaires

structured interviews

OHS specialist advisors may include:

engineers

ergonomists

occupational hygienists

safety professionals

occupational health practitioners

psychologists

people skilled in applying advanced risk analysis processes, such as modelling, fault tree, HazOps and Management Oversight and Risk Tree (MORT)

toxicologists

Documentation of risk analysis may include:

description of methods used

groups involved/consulted

description of consequences and their likelihood

information and data used in estimates

assumptions

effectiveness of existing controls

uncertainty in analysis

factors affecting level of risk

further information/data and/or investigation required

Documentation of risk evaluation may include:

criteria determined

descriptions of method used to determine the criteria

groups consulted/involved

list of risks and schedule for action

statement of the legal ramifications of decision making based on risk prioritisation


Sectors

Unit sector


Competency Field

Regulation, Licensing and Risk - Occupational Health and Safety


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.