DEFOH001B
Conduct an occupational health and safety audit

This unit covers the competency required to conduct an audit of occupational health and safety requirements in the Australian Defence organisation.The unit requires the individual to research applicable legislation and codes of practice select audit tools, conduct the audit and follow up on the audit to monitor the implementation of recommendations.

Application

The application of this unit in the workplace - the environments, complexities and situations involved - will be written during Phase II of the Review of the PUA00 Public Safety Training Package.

This text will be useful for the purposes of job descriptions, recruitment advice or job analysis; where possible, it will not be too job specific to allow other industries to import it into other Training Packages, where feasible.


Prerequisites

Prerequisite Unit/s

Nil


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan and prepare for an occupational health and safety audit

1.1 Areas to be audited are identified and recorded in accordance with standard procedures

1.2 Appropriate audit tools are identified and prepared in accordance with standard procedures

1.3 Applicable occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice and standards are identified and researched in accordance with standard procedures

1.4 Appropriate auditing methods and techniques are selected in accordance with standard procedures

1.5 All personnel involved in the audit are briefed in accordance with standard procedures

2. Conduct an occupational health and safety audit

2.1 Relevant audit and occupational health and safety records are inspected in accordance with standard procedures

2.2 Application of occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice and standards are assessed in accordance with standard procedures

2.3 Occupational health and safety practices, control strategies and management systems are assessed in accordance with standard procedures

2.4 Auditing methods and techniques appropriate to the area are employed in accordance with standard procedures

2.5 Audit is conducted and concluded within time and budget constraints

3. Finalise an occupational health and safety audit

3.1 Relevant industry practices, processes and technologies are factored into the safety audit in accordance with standard procedures

3.2 Audit report is prepared and formatted in accordance with standard procedures

3.3 Audit report is presented in accordance with standard procedures

3.4 Audit records are updated in accordance with standard procedures

4. Confirm report recommendations and monitor implementation

4.1 Recommendations are followed through in accordance with standard procedures

4.2 Occupational health and safety system documentation is amended in accordance with standard procedures

4.3 Implementation of recommendations is monitored in accordance with standard procedures

Required Skills

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

Required Skills

interpret occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice and standards and management systems

identify hazards, assess risks and control risks

analyse workplace data

evaluate occupational health and safety system

solve problems

work effectively with teams/groups

encourage other team members

use a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques including body, language style, active listening

read to a level required to interpret and analyse job instructions, workplace documentation and inspection reports

read and interpret occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice and standards

Required Knowledge

relevant occupational health and safety legislation

occupational health and safety codes of practice and standards

occupational health and safety management systems

hierarchy of risk control

incident investigation and process improvement

written communication to a level required to complete workplace documentation and OH&S audit reports

interpersonal communication

communication techniques including, language style, active listening

techniques for giving and receiving feedback

negotiation techniques

research techniques

analysis techniques

team dynamics

techniques for supporting others

composition of teams and roles and responsibilities of team members

Evidence Required

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

Assessment must confirm the ability to plan and prepare for the audit, to examine the materials being audited and to draw conclusions and recommendations from the material.

Assessment must also confirm the ability to:

demonstrate knowledge of relevant occupational health and safety legislative frameworks

demonstrate the application of the principles and practices of auditing

identify intervention points for expert audit advice to assist in work and to guide problem solving.

Consistency in performance

Competency should be demonstrated over time and should be observed in a range of actual or simulated work contexts.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Context of assessment

Competency should be assessed by observing an individual within the workplace or simulated environment in a role where occupational health and safety auditing is required.

Evidence should be gathered while observing the individual conducting an actual or simulated safety audit. Documented evidence of all relevant research and a transcript of the audit and follow up should also be submitted as evidence for assessment.

Specific resources for assessment

Access to facilities and resources used to conduct an occupational health and safety audit of a site/unit or component of the organisation.


Range Statement

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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.

Standard procedures include

Written and verbal orders

Standing orders

Standing operating procedures

Routine orders

Defence instructions

Procedure manuals

Doctrine pamphlets

Job guides

Audit tools may include

Assessment and inspection schedule(s)

Examination/tests schedules

Audit plans

National/state/territory or other relevant assessment instruments

Outcomes from internal and/or external monitoring

Workplace procedural documentation/guidelines

Electronic databases

Training/learning programs

Checklists

Occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice and standards may include

Defence Occupational Health and Safety guidelines

Legislation from all levels of government, including:

occupational health and safety

environmental issues

equal opportunity

industrial relations

anti-discrimination

Relevant industry codes of practice

Certification criteria for auditors

Auditing methods and techniques may include

Assessment

Examination/tests

Structured inspections of workplaces

National/state/territory or other relevant assessment instruments

Outcomes from internal and/or external monitoring

Personnel involved may include

Auditors (manager, team leader, team members)

Key members/representatives of the organisation being audited

COMCARE personnel

Organisation's occupational health and safety advisers

Members of occupational health and safety committee(s)

Audit and occupational health and safety records may include

Audit and inspection reports

Workplace environmental monitoring records

Consultation, including:

Meetings of health and safety committees

Work group meeting agendas including occupational health and safety items and actions

Induction, instruction and training

Manufacturer's and supplier's information, including:

Dangerous goods storage lists

Hazardous substances registers

Plant and equipment maintenance and testing reports

Employee's compensation and rehabilitation records

First aid/medical post records

Occupational health and safety practices, control strategies and management systems may include

Relevant organisation's policy and procedural statements

Relevant occupational health and safety legislation

Operational manuals and/or standard operating procedures

Technical reports

Codes of practice

Relevant standards

Benchmark material/guidelines

Evaluation/review mechanisms


Sectors

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.