This unit focuses on evaluation of the effectiveness of an organisation's management of OHS. Aspects of the integration with other organisational management systems, the appropriateness of participative arrangements and OHS improvements are some components of the evaluation. The scope may cover OHS performance measures and outcomes, strategies, policies, programs, procedures and the organisation's resources.

This unit applies to the auditing of systematic approaches to managing OHS, which may or may not be formalised as part of an OHS management system, and can apply to internal or external benchmarks. The scope and benchmark criteria for the OHS audit will be agreed before the commencement of information and data gathering, and may address all areas of the organisation or an identified function, business or geographical area.

Achievement of this competency requires a demonstrated knowledge of the requirements to evaluate the OHS management system (OHSMS) that is in place. An OHSMS is that part of the organisation's overall management system that, for example, covers developing, implementing, reviewing and maintaining the activities for managing OHS risks. Thus, an OHSMS is one systematic approach to managing OHS.

This unit is a companion unit to BSBOHS608B Conduct an OHS audit; together the units address the knowledge and skills required to conduct an OHS audit and to evaluate an organisation's OHS performance. People aspiring to skills for overall responsibility of an OHS audit will require competence in both units.

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Evaluate effectiveness of systematic approaches to identifying OHS hazards

1.1. Identify workplace hazard identification activities being undertaken and compare them with organisational policies and procedures

1.2. Examine products, processes and systems to determine whether hazards of long latency and low frequency/high consequence are included and minimised

1.3. Examine products, processes and systems to determine whether risks to persons other than employees are identified and minimised

1.4. Identify organisational factors that impact on OHS

1.5. Review outcomes of the evidence gathering with specialist personnel, if required

2. Evaluate the effectiveness of systematic approaches to OHS risk management

2.1. Evaluate appropriateness of the organisation's risk assessment tool/s and processes

2.2. Assess outcomes of the risk assessment process for validity, reliability and inclusion of all major OHS risks, in particular demonstrated use of risk assessment methods in the organisation

2.3. Evaluate risk controls for suitability and effectiveness in relation to the organisation's systematic management of OHS

3. Evaluate the effectiveness of systematic OHS monitoring processes

3.1. Evaluate the scope of organisational processes to monitor the implementation and status of systematic approaches to managing OHS

3.2. Evaluate the quality of information and data obtained from the monitoring processes

3.3. Evaluate the managerial level of response to the issues raised in the monitoring process in relation to the level of risk

4. Assess whether the OHS management approaches have produced improved performance

4.1. Evaluate performance indicators, including positive performance indicators (PPIs) to determine whether they provide a true, reliable and timely measure of the effectiveness of the OHS management approaches to reducing OHS risk

4.2. Compare reported performance with evidence gathered and document differences

4.3. Evaluate outcomes of performance and document them in a clear and objective manner

5. Assess and advise on organisational OHS compliance against agreed benchmarks

5.1. Undertake systematic analysis to identify areas of OHS compliance and non-compliance with benchmarks

5.2. Provide advice on the impact of legislation and standards on the selection, suitability and implementation of a range of OHS performance interventions

5.3. Document outcomes of evaluation of compliance and report to key personnel and stakeholders

Required skills

analytical skills to:

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

interpret information and data, to identify areas for improvement

research skills to:

access relevant OHS information and data

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

communication skills to:

relate effectively with personnel at all levels of the organisation, OHS specialists and, as required, emergency services personnel

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

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

conduct effective formal and informal meetings

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

project management skills to achieve continuous improvement and change, and to contribute to strategic OHS performance of the organisation

numeracy skills to carry out simple statistical analysis e.g. mean, standard deviation, regression

organisational skills to manage own tasks within a timeframe

information technology skills to:

access internal and external information and data on OHS

prepare reports and to analyse and evaluate a range of information and data formats including graphs, maps, matrices, technical reports

use electronic information and data systems to enter workplace information and data and to produce effective graphical representation

use a range of communication media

attention to detail when making observations and recording outcomes.

Required knowledge

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

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

legislative requirements for OHS information and data, and consultation

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

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

difference between common law and statutory law

concept of common law duty of care

requirements for record keeping that address OHS, privacy and other relevant legislation

standards related to OHS information and data, statistics and records management including requirements for information and data under elements of systematically managing OHS

nature and use of information and data that provides valid and reliable results on performance of OHS management processes (including PPIs) and limitations of other types of measures

development of tools such as PPIs in assessment of OHS performance

methods of collecting reliable information and data, commonly encountered problems in collection, and strategies for overcoming such problems

requirements for reporting under OHS and other relevant legislation including notification and reporting of incidents

difference between hazard and risk

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

requirements under hazard-specific OHS legislation and codes of practice

principles of incident causation and injury processes

characteristics, mode of action and units of measurement of major hazard types

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

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

standard industry controls for a range of hazards

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

limitations of generic hazard and risk checklists, and risk ranking processes

sampling methodologies, application and related statistical measures

principles and practices of a systematic approach to managing OHS

range of risk analysis/assessment techniques and tools, and the application and limitations of those techniques and tools

requirements of OHS and standards related to systematically managing OHS

other functional areas that impact on the management of OHS

internal and external sources of OHS information and data

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

auditing methods and techniques

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

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

ethics related to professional practice

methods of providing evidence of compliance with OHS legislation

professional liability in relation to providing advice

principles of effective meetings including agendas, action planning, chair and secretarial duties, minutes and action items

organisational OHS policies and procedures

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

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

language, literacy and cultural profile of the workgroup

organisational culture as it impacts on the workgroup.

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 control within a collaborative environment

products developed for effective application of knowledge and skill in applying OHS risk controls

how these products were developed

use of these products

knowledge of nature and use of information and data that provides valid and reliable results on performance of OHS management processes (including PPIs) and limitations of other types of measures.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to organisation documentation, information and data

access to workplace, including personnel involved in areas be evaluated.

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 in reviewing the organisation's OHS performance

observation of performance in role plays

observation of presentations

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of roles and responsibilities under OHS legislation of employees including supervisors, contractors, OHS inspectors

evaluation of the organisation's risk assessment tool/s and processes

evaluation and documentation of performance outcomes

review of report developed to document outcomes of evaluation of compliance.

Guidance information for assessment

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

BSBOHS608B Conduct an OHS audit.

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

damage to the environment

or a combination of these

Hazards of long latency may include:

conditions, illnesses and other health risks that result from longer term exposure to specific triggers such as:

chemicals

noise

radiation

psychosocial factors

Hazards of low frequency/high consequence may include:

high impact events that may result in very serious injury, death or multiple death situations that occur rarely such as:

explosions

fires

building collapses

Persons other than employees may include:

contractors

customers/clients

neighbourhood or local community members

visitors to premises

Organisational factors may include:

authority

geographical spread of sites

nature of hazards and level of risk

other management systems requiring interface or integration with management of OHS

participatory arrangements

reporting structure

roster and shift arrangements

supervision structure

workplace culture including industrial relations and safety culture

workforce structure such as:

labour hire

contractors

part-time and casual workers

cultural diversity

Specialist personnel may include:

external consultants specialising in specific areas of OHS such as:

safety engineering

ergonomics

hygiene

toxicology

psychology

occupational health

specialist staff within government agencies offering assistance in specialist or problem areas within OHS

Benchmarks may include:

industry specific standards

OHS management system standards

organisation's business plan

specific legislation

Key personnel and stakeholders may include:

boards of management and shareholders

customers/clients

employees and other parties across a range of levels and roles including health and safety representatives and OHS committee members

management, persons in control of the workplace, supervisors

Unit sector

Regulation, Licensing and Risk - Occupational Health and Safety

This unit contains employability skills.