This unit of competency supports the work of those involved in establishing, maintaining and evaluating an organisation's OHS system and procedures to ensure own safety and that of others in the workplace.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1Establish and maintain OHS framework.

1.1 OHS framework is developed that clearly expresses the organisation's commitment to implement relevant OHS legislation within the organisation.

1.2 OHS roles and responsibilities for all workplace personnel are defined to allow implementation of OHS policies, proceduresand programs.

1.3 Financial and human resources for the effective operation of OHS system are identified, sought and provided in a timely manner.

1.4 Information on OHS system and its operational procedures is provided and explained to employees in an accessible form.

2Establish and maintain participative arrangements.

2.1 Consultative processes are established and maintained with employees and their representatives according to relevant OHS legislation.

2.2 Issues arising from participation and consultation are resolved promptly and effectively according to procedures for issue resolution.

2.3 Workplace safety information collected through participative arrangements is provided to employees in line with organisational procedures.

3Establish and maintain procedures for identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks.

3.1 Procedures for ongoing hazard identification and assessment and control of associated risks are developed.

3.2 Hazard identification is addressed at the planning, design and evaluation stages of change in the workplace to ensure that new hazards are not created by proposed changes.

3.3 Procedures for selecting and implementing risk control measures according to the hierarchy of control are developed and maintained.

3.4 Inadequacies in existing risk control measures are identified according to the hierarchy of control, and resources enabling implementation of new measures are provided promptly.

4Review system effectiveness.

4.1 OHS induction and training program is developed and provided for all employees as part of the organisation's general training program.

4.2 System for OHS record keeping is established and maintained to allow identification of patterns of occupational injury in the organisation.

4.3 Measurement and evaluation of OHS system is undertaken in line with the organisation's quality system framework.

4.4 Improvements to OHS system are developed and implemented to achieve organisational OHS objectives.

4.5 Compliance with OHS legislative framework is assessed to ensure that legal OHS standards are maintained as a minimum.

This section describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level, required for this unit.

Required skills:

analytical skills to identify and assess risks in the work area and assess resources required to apply risk control measures

application skills to follow safe operating practices and procedures when using tools and equipment, and comply with ergonomic and environmental protection requirements

coaching and mentoring skills to provide support to colleagues

communication skills to follow and give written and verbal instructions and clearly explain information on OHS issues

computing skills to access the internet and web pages, prepare and complete online forms, lodge electronic documents and search online databases

evaluation skills to identify potential or existing risks and hazards in the workplace, identify inadequacies in risk control measures and determine OHS training requirements of the work group

interpersonal skills to relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds and varying physical and mental abilities

problem solving skills to analyse entire work environment in area of responsibility in order to identify hazards, assess risks and judge when intervention to control risks is necessary.

Required knowledge and understanding:

detailed knowledge of workforce characteristics and how they impact on the design and maintenance of OHS

hierarchy of control: preferred order of risk control measures from most to least preferred; that is, elimination of risk, substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls and personal protective equipment

identification of intervention points for expert OHS advice

legal responsibilities of employers, manufacturers, suppliers, employees and other parties

literacy levels and communication skills of work group members and consequent suitable communication techniques

principles and practice of effective OHS management in a small, medium or large business

principles and techniques associated with modelling safe work practices, hazard identification and risk management

regulatory compliance arrangements

relevant federal and state or territory legislation and local government regulations related to:

anti-discrimination

consumer protection

environmental issues

equal employment opportunity (EEO)

financial probity

franchise and business structures

industrial relations

OHS

privacy

property sales, leasing and management.

Overview of assessment

This unit of competency could be assessed through practical demonstration of establishing, maintaining and evaluating an organisation's OHS system and procedures to ensure own safety and that of others in the workplace. Targeted written (including alternative formats where necessary) or verbal questioning to assess the candidate's underpinning knowledge would provide additional supporting evidence of competence. The demonstration and questioning would include collecting evidence of the candidate's knowledge and application of ethical standards and relevant federal, and state or territory legislation and regulations. This assessment may be carried out in a simulated or workplace environment.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of:

establishing and maintaining an OHS management system

identifying when expert advice is needed, obtaining advice and acting on it promptly

implementing relevant OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice within area of responsibility

knowledge of organisation's practices, ethical standards and legislative requirements associated with establishing, maintaining and evaluating an organisation's OHS system and procedures to ensure own safety and that of others in the workplace

understanding the principles and practices of effective OHS management.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Resource implications for assessment include:

access to suitable simulated or real opportunities and resources to demonstrate competence

assessment instruments that may include personal planner and assessment record book

access to a registered provider of assessment services.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

Validity and sufficiency of evidence require that:

competency will need to be demonstrated over a period of time reflecting the scope of the role and the practical requirements of the workplace

where the assessment is part of a structured learning experience the evidence collected must relate to a number of performances assessed at different points in time and separated by further learning and practice with a decision of competence only taken at the point when the assessor has complete confidence in the person's competence

all assessment that is part of a structured learning experience must include a combination of direct, indirect and supplementary evidence

where assessment is for the purpose of recognition (RCC/RPL), the evidence provided will need to be current and show that it represents competency demonstrated over a period of time

assessment can be through simulated project-based activity and must include evidence relating to each of the elements in this unit.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess the underpinning knowledge. Questioning will be undertaken in such a manner as is appropriate to the language and literacy levels of the candidate and any cultural issues that may affect responses to the questions, and will reflect the requirements of the competency and the work being performed.

OHS framework may include:

counselling and disciplinary processes

designing safe operations and systems of work

determining ways OHS will be managed, for example:

designed operations, workflow and materials handling

maintaining plant and equipment

planning or implementing alterations to site, operations, plan or work systems

purchasing materials and equipment

mechanisms for obtaining updated information on such things as health effects of hazards, technical developments in risk control and changes to legislation

obtaining expert OHS advice as required

OHS issue resolution

policy development and updating

provision of training

system for communicating information to employees, supervisors and managers within the enterprise.

OHS legislation may include:

Australian standards, and quality assurance and certification requirements

issue resolution

maintenance and confidentiality of records of occupational injury and disease

provisions relating to roles and responsibilities of OHS representatives and committees

relevant federal, and state or territory legislation

relevant industry codes of practice

requirements of provision of OHS information and training.

Roles and responsibilities may include:

advisory

decision making

duty of care

OHS officer.

OHS policies, procedures and programs may relate to:

consultative arrangements for employees

emergency and evacuation procedures

equipment maintenance and use

first aid

hazard and risk identification and reporting

hazard, incident and accident investigation

OHS audits and safety inspections

on-site contractors, visitors and members of public

risk assessment and control measures

safe operating procedures and instructions

transport, use and storage of dangerous goods and hazardous substances

use and maintenance of personal protective equipment.

Consultative processes may include:

formal and informal meetings, including OHS

health and safety representatives

OHS committees

other committees, for example, consultative, planning and purchasing

suggestions, requests and concerns put forward by employees to management.

Information may be distributed by:

email communication

internet, intranet and extranet

meetings

memos

newsletters

regular reports.

Hazard identification may occur through activities such as:

audits and review of audit reports

checking work area and equipment before and during work

consulting with work team members

housekeeping

job and work system assessment

review of OHS records, including registers of hazardous substances and dangerous goods

workplace inspections in area of responsibility.

Procedures for selecting and implementing risk control measures may include:

compliance with environmental requirements

compliance with ergonomic requirements, including safe lifting and manual handling procedures

correct selection, use, storage and maintenance procedures for personal protective clothing and equipment

emergency, fire and accident procedures

following safe operating procedures

hazard, accident and incident reporting procedures

regular OHS consultations.

Risk control measures may include:

measures to remove cause of a risk at its source

application of the hierarchy of control:

elimination of the risk

substitution

engineering controls

administrative controls

personal protective equipment

consultation with workers and their representatives.

Training program may include:

allocation of resources for training, including purchase of training services, and development of staff training skills

group discussions and other consciousness-raising techniques

handouts, including information sheets

induction training

ongoing assessment of training needs, relating to such things as:

emergencies and evacuations

new operations and materials

specific equipment use

specific hazards

specific tasks

specific courses.

OHS record keeping system may relate to:

audit and inspection reports

hazardous substances registers

manufacturer and supplier information

meeting agendas, including items and actions relating to OHS

plant and equipment maintenance and testing reports

records of induction, instruction and training

workers compensation and rehabilitation records

workplace environmental monitoring records.

Unit sector

Property development, sales and management

Property operations and development

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of employability skills. The Employability Skills Summary of the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged, will assist in identifying employability skills requirements.