The central feature of safe design is the application of relevant information and data about human capabilities and behaviour to the design of objects, facilities, procedures and environments that people use.

BSBOHS504B Apply principles of OHS risk management, and BSBOHS505C Manage hazards in the work environment, provide underpinning knowledge and skills for this unit. Knowledge of systematic approaches to managing OHS also underpins this unit.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Advise on the OHS requirements of the design process

1.1. Inform decision makers about their responsibility for the safety of downstream users and beneficiaries

1.2. Advise decision makers of their obligation under law to design and supply a safe designed product by eliminating OHS hazards and controlling for residual OHS risk

1.3. Promote OHS within the design requirements and include an overall risk evaluation of the designed product's life cycle

1.4. Source and make available to decision makers the most current information of OHS principles, materials, technology and systems for application in the design of the product

1.5. Identify and make available required education and training to enable decision makers to have the necessary skills and knowledge to identify and eliminate OHS hazards, and to control OHS risk in the design phase

1.6. Identify and access relevant sources of information and data, for equipment users in particular

1.7. Consult potential users of the equipment during the design phase

1.8. Identify situations where specialist advisors may be required

2. Develop a systematic hazard identification and OHS risk evaluation system for safe design

2.1. Identify OHS hazards and conduct a risk analysis of associated risks across the life cycle of the designed product

2.2. Guide the selection and implementation of the most appropriate OHS risk controls for the designed product from a systematic analysis of the likelihood and consequences of injury or illness arising from exposure to identified OHS hazards

2.3. Ensure hazard identification and risk analysis includes potential alterations to the designed product during its life

2.4. Document decision making during the OHS risk evaluation process and make accessible to all parties

2.5. Establish a residual risk register, recording OHS hazards not eliminated in the design together with possible control strategies, and distribute this information to those involved in the downstream or subsequent life cycle stages

2.6. Monitor the design as it evolves to identify potential new OHS hazards and to manage risks if they become evident

3. Advise on principles of OHS risk control

3.1. Base design to minimise risk on the hierarchy of control

3.2. Minimise the impact of possible failure or defect, by ensuring the designed product includes fail-to-safe action

4. Advise on consultation processes between people involved in the life cycle of the designed product

4.1. Advise decision makers to consider the needs of the range of people who will use or interact with the designed product

4.2. Arrange consultation between all parties during the concept and detailed design phases to identify and eliminate OHS hazards and minimise risk

4.3. Appropriately communicate residual OHS risk in the designed product to those who will use or interact with the designed product throughout its life cycle

5. Advise on contractual arrangements and procurement systems to minimise 'purchased' OHS risk

5.1. Advise decision makers involved in purchasing and contractual arrangements to include a requirement to eliminate OHS hazards, minimise OHS risks, and provide information and data on residual OHS risk

5.2. Include an agreement to carry out a safe design approach in the design brief or draft specifications

Required skills

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

research skills to:

access relevant OHS information and data

use information and data gathering techniques such as brainstorming, polling, interviewing

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

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

prepare reports for a range of target groups including OHS committee, OHS representatives, managers, supervisors and other stakeholders

project management skills to achieve continuous improvement and change

organisational skills to manage own tasks within a timeframe

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

attention to detail when making observations and recording outcomes

Required knowledge

basic human cognitive and perceptual capabilities relevant to the design of human-machine interfaces

basics of anthropometry and biomechanics

difference between hazard and risk

direct and indirect influences that impact on OHS and the environment in the design of product/s

ethics related to professional practice

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

hierarchy of control and considerations for choosing between different control measures, such as possible inadequacies of particular control measures

human error and implications for design of equipment, work practices and controlling ergonomic hazards

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

labour market changes

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

language, literacy and numeracy

communication skills

cultural background/workplace diversity

gender

workers with specific needs

interdependent relationships between ergonomics and workplace stressors such as psychosocial factors, occupational violence, shift work, repetitive work, awkward postures, lighting, thermal environment and work layout

internal and external sources of OHS information and data

key personnel, including identifying 'change agents', within workplace management structure

legislative requirements for OHS information and data, and consultation

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

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

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:

application of OHS risk controls within a collaborative safe design process

products developed for effective application of knowledge and skill in applying OHS risk controls in a safe design process

use of these products

knowledge of professional liability in relation to providing advice.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to reports from other parties consulted in developing appropriate interactions between people involved in the life cycle of the designed product

access to relevant legislation, standards and guidelines, research or industry data

access to workplace documentation.

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

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

demonstration of techniques used to apply principles to control OHS risk

observation of performance in role plays

observation of presentations

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of direct and indirect influences that impact on OHS and the environment in the design of product/s

review of information made available in relation to OHS principles, materials, technology and systems for application in the design of the product

evaluation of consultation of potential users of the equipment during the design phase

review of residual risk register established

assessment of decision making documented during the OHS risk evaluation process.

Guidance information for assessment

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

BSBOHS504B Apply principles of OHS risk management

BSBOHS505C Manage hazards in the work environment.

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.

Decision makers may include:

any party with influence over the specifications of the designed product including:

designer

client or commissioning agent

financier

manufacturer

supplier

purchaser

installer

user

insurer

importer

erector

maintainer

regulator

employees of these agents.

Hazards may include:

source or situation with a potential for harm in terms of:

human injury or ill health

damage to property

damage to the environment

a combination of the above.

Sources of information and data may include:

Australian and international anthropometric databases

commonwealth, state and territory OHS and other regulatory bodies

employer groups and unions

government and other advisory bodies such as Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Consumers Association, Australian Safety and Compensation Council

industry advisory bodies

international and Australian Standards, codes of practice and guidance material

professional associations such as Ergonomics Society of Australia, Engineers Australia, Safety Institute of Australia

research literature.

Specialist advisors may include:

architects, interior designers and builders

building surveyors and certifiers

design professionals

drafts people, quantity surveyors and surveyors

engineers (such as design, acoustic, safety, mechanical, chemical, civil)

health professionals

insurers

legal practitioners

maintenance and trades personnel

manufacturers

occupational hygienists

specialist ergonomists

suppliers and distributors

technical professionals

workplace trainers and assessors.

Risk analysis may include:

defining the range of consequences

assessing the effectiveness of existing controls

deciding the likelihood of each consequence

combining these is some way to obtain a level of risk.

Life cycle may include:

design

construction/manufacture

supply/installation

use

maintenance/servicing

decommissioning/dismantling

disposal.

Documenting decision making may include:

assumptions

description of consequences and their likelihood

effectiveness of existing controls

factors affecting level of risk

further information and data, and investigation required

groups involved/consulted

information and data used in estimates

methods used

uncertainty in analysis.

OHS risk evaluation involves:

comparison of risk with pre-established criteria for tolerance (or as low as reasonably achievable) and the subsequent ranking of risks requiring control

Risk register may include:

list of the risks including:

an indication of the likelihood of the consequence/s occurring

possible consequence/s or outcome/s in terms of injury or damage

scenarios or circumstances under which damage or injury may occur.

Hierarchy of control may include:

eliminating the hazard

and where this is not practicable, minimising risk by:

substitution

isolating the hazard from personnel

using engineering controls

using administrative controls (e.g. procedures, training)

using personal protective equipment (PPE).

Parties may include:

builder

commissioning agent

contractors

designer

disposer

importer

installer

maintenance agencies

manufacturer

supplier and/or distributor

user.

Purchasing and contractual arrangements may include:

purchase order

specifications

statement of work

supplier pre-qualification

tender documentation.

Design brief or draft specifications may include:

form or outline of document for design brief

instructions

technical requirements or specifications for a designed product, structure, item, system or process.

Unit sector

Regulation, Licensing and Risk - Occupational Health and Safety

This unit contains employability skills.