This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to apply knowledge of human movement and skills in determining human posture and body strength to the design of the environment in which people work to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities. It covers measuring the components of ergonomic competence of individuals, and applying basic ergonomic data derived from a defined human population to the design of accessible workplaces in order to maximise the sequencing of tasks to ensure efficient and ergonomic body movements.

The unit supports a number of access consulting services associated with the design and fitout of accessible buildings and the accessibility of the built environment. It applies to access consultants who measure components of an individual person’s body size and shape, and apply that data to accessible building design and fitout.

No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy the requirements of the elements, performance criteria, foundation skills and range of conditions of this unit.

The person must also apply ergonomic principles to the design of three different environments in which people work to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.

For each of the above, the person must:

coordinate data collection of defined populations

measure anatomical features and record ergonomic data accurately in preparation for analysis

analyse the ergonomic data, using selected statistical methodologies

conduct comparative analysis between ergonomic data derived from a defined population and published architectural design data.

During the above work, the person must also:

use research skills and analytical processes to analyse, evaluate and apply legislative requirements relating to disability access

analyse work processes to determine economical task sequencing suited to context

identify ergonomic features in the environment that impact on the ability of a person with disabilities to work and function independently

interpret the impacts of the full range of disabilities and the limitations that each disability places on the individual’s ability to access the building

interpret how the full range of environmental barriers impacts on people with a range of disabilities and impairments

apply organisational management policies and procedures, including quality assurance requirements.

A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:

anatomical terminology

building terminology, definitions and hazard identification

principles of design relating to accessible buildings and fitouts

principles of safe and efficient workplace design

key ergonomic principles, including principles of task sequencing for energy conservation

human anatomy and normal population variance

requirements of commonwealth, state and territory legislation, regulations and standards specific to access requirements, including:

anti-discrimination legislation

Australian standards, including AS 1428 Design for access and mobility

Building Code of Australian (BCA)

building legislation

Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

DDA Premises Standards

international standards relating to building access

local government regulations

work health and safety (WHS) legislation

disability awareness to inform application of ergonomic principles to building design and fitout, including:

range of disabilities to be considered

disability-specific physical barriers to accessing buildings and facilities

disability-specific minimum requirements for enhancing accessibility

limitations of own work role, responsibility and professional abilities with regard to application of principles

organisational requirements and procedures relating to applying ergonomic principles to accessible building design and fitout, including:

access and equity policy, principles and practices

client service standards

client privacy and confidentiality requirements

code of conduct and code of ethics

communication channels and reporting procedures

communication of services offered

complaint and dispute resolution procedures

compliance with applicable legislation, codes and standards

defined resource parameters

duty of care

legal policies and guidelines

procedures for researching and analysing legislative and regulatory requirements

format and procedures for preparing and administering documentation and reports

policies and procedures relating to own role, responsibilities and delegation

processes for preparing and administering research findings

quality assurance requirements

records and information management systems and processes

style guides and other guides used to prepare documents

WHS policies, procedures and programs

performance features of building materials

processes for identifying and measuring the following ergonomic features:

body clearances

reach ranges

zones of convenient reach

joint ranges

working posture

vision, including head and neck posture

working height

posture and strength

processes for interpreting reports, working drawings and specifications

statistical parameters of a normally distributed population

terminology and definitions in hazard identification.

The following must be present and available to learners during assessment activities:

equipment:

computer and software to access, retrieve and store documentation

specifications:

legislative and regulatory requirements specified in the knowledge evidence.

Timeframe:

in line with timeframe established in work brief for providing accessible building design and fitout that reflect ergonomic principles.

Assessor requirements

As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.

Access consulting