Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to lead the management of work health and safety (WHS) risks in an organisation. The unit includes facilitating the identification of hazards and potential hazards, leading the assessment of associated risks, selecting and implementing suitable risk controls, and evaluating the overall effectiveness of the organisational WHS risk management process. It involves communicating with stakeholders throughout the process.
The unit applies to those in an organisation who provide specialised knowledge and guidance to a range of personnel when leading the management of WHS risks.
NOTES
1. The terms ‘occupational health and safety’ (OHS) and ‘work health and safety’ (WHS) are equivalent, and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where model WHS laws have not been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements.
2. The model WHS laws include the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations and model WHS Codes of Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Facilitate identification of WHS risk management requirements | 1.1 Identify and review internal and external sources of WHS information and data that apply to risk management processes 1.2 Identify legislative requirements for WHS risk management 1.3 Identify duty holders, individuals and/or parties to consult about and participate in risk management processes, according to organisational and legislative requirements 1.4 Identify and communicate roles and responsibilities of individuals and/or parties that impact on risk management 1.5 Identify organisation-specific factors that will impact on hazard identification, risk assessment and risk controls 1.6 Confirm that risk management scope is clearly defined according to organisational policies and procedures |
2. Lead risk assessment | 2.1 Lead hazard identification process according to organisational policies and procedures 2.2 Identify and document risk factors as they apply to identified hazards according to organisational policies and procedures 2.3 Apply knowledge of WHS laws, workplace WHS information and data, and identified hazards and risk factors to analyse and assess risk 2.4 Document risk assessment according to organisational policies and procedures, and legislative requirements 2.5 Communicate outcomes of risk assessment to required personnel according to organisational and legislative requirements |
3. Lead risk control | 3.1 Identify organisational risk control policies and procedures appropriate to identified hazards 3.2 Select suitable risk controls according to assessed level of risk, organisational WHS hazard and risk control policies and procedures, and WHS laws 3.3 Plan to implement selected risk controls according to organisation’s WHS management system (WHSMS) and WHS information system (WHSIS) 3.4 Implement selected risk controls according to organisational policies and procedures 3.5 Document and communicate selected risk controls to required personnel, according to organisational and legislative requirements |
4. Evaluate effectiveness of WHS risk management process | 4.1 Establish nature and scope of evaluation process and key performance indicators 4.2 Review effectiveness of implemented risk management process according to organisation’s WHSMS and legislative requirements 4.3 Modify risk management process as required in response to evaluation 4.4 Document risk management process according to WHSIS requirements 4.5 Communicate evaluation findings according to organisational requirements |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance but not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Organises, analyses and integrates information from a range of sources |
Writing | Documents results of investigations using clear and comprehensible language and layout |
Oral Communication | Uses listening and questioning techniques to clarify understanding of others’ views Presents information with varying level of technical vocabulary to suit audience |
Numeracy | Collates, interprets and compares mathematical and statistical information relevant to requirements |
Navigate the world of work | Considers legal and regulatory responsibilities when implementing, monitoring or reviewing risk-management processes Leads effective consultation and participation during all stages of WHS risk-management process |
Interact with others | Identifies and uses appropriate conventions and protocols when communicating with others Plays a lead role in situations requiring effective collaboration skills, demonstrating the ability to guide discussions and outcomes |
Get the work done | Develops plans or processes to manage WHS risk management tasks, with an awareness of how they contribute to operational and strategic goals Determines whether, and how, others should be involved, using consultative or collaborative processes as an integral part of the decision-making process Applies problem-solving processes to determine solutions to WHS risk management issues Uses analytical and lateral thinking to review practices and suggest improvements Uses a range of digitally-based technology and applications to access, organise and share relevant information in effective ways |
Sectors
Regulation, Licensing and Risk – Work Health and Safety