MEA116B
Apply occupational health and safety procedures at supervisor level in aviation maintenance

This unit of competency is part of all training pathways at Diploma level, and at Certificate IV level where the training pathway leads to the responsibility for maintenance supervision. It covers the competencies required to implement and monitor the organisation's health and safety policies, procedures and programs in aviation maintenance work areas to achieve and maintain occupational health and safety (OHS) standards. The unit is based on the National Guidelines for integrating OHS competencies into national industry competency standards (NOHSC: 7025, 1998) and applies to the supervision of all aviation maintenance activities.

Application

This unit requires application of OHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and enterprise OHS procedures during the supervision of all aviation maintenance activities.

Applications include supervision of aviation maintenance activities performed on aircraft and in workshops.


Prerequisites

Not applicable


Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Provide information to the work group about OHS and the organisation's OHS policies, procedures and programs

1.1. Relevant provisions of OHS legislation and codes of practice are accurately and clearly explained to the work group

1.2. Information on the organisation's OHS policies, procedures and programs is provided in a readily accessible manner and is accurately and clearly explained to the work group

1.3. Information about identified hazards and the outcomes of risk assessment and risk control procedures is regularly provided and is accurately and clearly explained to the work group

2. Implement and monitor participative arrangements for the management of OHS

2.1. Organisational procedures for consultation over OHS issues are implemented and monitored to ensure that all members of the work group have the opportunity to contribute

2.2. Issues raised through consultation are dealt with and resolved promptly or referred to the appropriate personnel for resolution in accordance with workplace procedures for issue resolution

2.3. The outcomes of consultation over OHS issues are promptly made known to the work group

3. Implement and monitor the organisation's procedures for identifying hazards and assessing risks

3.1. Existing and potential hazards in the work areas are identified and reported so that risk assessment and risk control procedures can be applied

4. Implement and monitor the organisation's procedures for dealing with hazardous events

4.1. Work procedures to control risks are implemented and adherence to them by the work group is monitored in accordance with workplace procedures

4.2. Existing risk control measures are monitored and results reported regularly in accordance with workplace procedures

4.3. Inadequacies in existing risk control measures are identified in accordance with the hierarchy of control and reported to designated personnel

4.4. Inadequacies in resource allocation for implementation of risk control measures are identified and reported to designated personnel

5. Implement the organisation's procedures for dealing with hazardous events

5.1. Workplace procedures for dealing with hazardous events are implemented whenever necessary to ensure that prompt control action is taken

5.2. Hazardous events are investigated to identify their cause in accordance with investigation procedures

5.3. Control measures to prevent recurrence and minimise risks of hazardous events are implemented based on the hierarchy of control if within scope of responsibilities and competencies or alternatively referred to designated personnel for implementation

6. Implement and monitor the organisation's procedures for providing OHS training

6.1. OHS training needs are identified accurately, specifying gaps between OHS competencies required and those held by work group members

6.2. Arrangements are made for fulfilling identified OHS training needs in both on and off-the-job training programs in consultation with relevant parties

7. Implement and monitor the organisation's procedures for maintaining OHS records

7.1. OHS health and safety records for work area are accurately and legibly completed in accordance with workplace requirements for OHS records and legal requirements for the maintenance of records of occupational injury and disease

7.2. Aggregate information from the area's OHS records is used to identify hazards and monitor risk control procedures within work area according to organisational procedures and within scope of responsibilities and competencies

Required Skills

Required skills

Look for evidence that confirms skills in:

analysing the entire work environment in the area of responsibility in order to identify hazards, assess risks and judge when intervention to control risks is necessary

analysing relevant workplace data, such as incident or environmental monitoring data, to identify hazards, assess risks and evaluate the effectiveness of risk control measures

assessing the resources needed to apply different risk control measures and make recommendations to management on that basis

Required knowledge

Look for evidence that confirms knowledge of:

the provisions of OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice relevant to the workplace, including legal responsibilities of employers, employees and other parties with legal responsibilities

principles and practices of effective OHS management

hazard identification and control in the workplace

organisational OHS management systems, policies and procedures that support organisational compliance with legal requirements

the impact on OHS management of workforce characteristics and composition

the relevance of OHS management to other organisational systems, policies and procedures

Evidence Required

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

A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to apply OHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and enterprise OHS procedures during the supervision of aviation maintenance activities.

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

The demonstrated ability to apply the elements and performance criteria of this Unit in conjunction with other Units relating to the supervision of aviation maintenance activities is critical.

Assessors must be satisfied that evidence has been provided of:

knowledge, consistent with the elements of competence, of all applicable OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice

understanding of, and ability to apply, risk management procedures by undertaking hazard identification, risk assessment and risk control in accordance with the hierarchy of control

knowledge of how characteristics of the workforce impact on the management of OHS, and an ability to apply that understanding in the supervision of aviation maintenance activities.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit may be assessed through a combination of workplace (or a realistic simulation) and off-the-job assessment. The context of assessment should ensure that evidence relating to the contingency management component of competency can be collected. Evidence must include observation in the workplace as well as off-the job techniques, such as interviews and simulations. Conditions for simulations should accurately simulate the range of circumstances (especially with regard to a realistic range of emergencies and hazardous events) that the individual could be expected to deal with in the workplace and allow for discussion. The individual must be given access to:

relevant OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice

enterprise OHS policies and procedures

personal protective equipment

relevant work areas for identification of hazards and control measures

The assessor should have recognised expertise in managing OHS in an aviation maintenance environment or work in an assessment team with such a person.

Method of assessment

To ensure that the contingency management component (ability to deal with irregularities and breakdowns) of competency is adequately assessed, evidence needs to be gathered across a range of work procedures and in a range of workplace circumstances. This could be either in an actual workplace or in a simulation of realistic workplace conditions. Techniques for assessment could include:

observation

simulation

case studies

interviews

written tests

workplace projects.

Guidance information for assessment


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, 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.

This unit of competency applies to supervisors working within both the CASA and the ADF regulatory systems.

This unit is to be applied in combination with all other units in the Diploma of Aeroskills and the Diploma of Aviation Maintenance Management that relate to the supervision of aviation maintenance activities. It also applies to Certificate IV training pathways that lead to supervisory employment.

OHS legislation and codes of practice

OHS legislation and codes of practice may include:

State/Territory/Commonwealth OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice, including general duty of care under OHS legislation and common law

relevant defence instructions

civil aviation safety regulations

requirements for the maintenance and confidentiality of records of occupational injury and disease

provisions relating to health and safety representatives and/or OHS committees

provisions relating to OHS issue resolution

The organisation's OHS policies, procedures and programs

The organisation's OHS policies, procedures and programs may be included in:

safety manuals

maintenance organisation manual

standing instructions

procedures manuals

work instructions

Information

Information may include information:

for the induction of new maintenance personnel

about the nature of work, tasks and procedures

to assist in work tasks

as part of providing direct supervision

to communicate organisational safety requirements and procedures

for consultation with health and safety representatives and OHS committees

Consultation over OHS issues

Consultation over OHS issues may include participative arrangements for:

formal and informal meetings which include OHS

OHS committees

other committees such as consultative, planning and purchasing

health and safety representatives

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

Existing and potential hazards and risk

Existing and potential hazards may be identified and risk assessed through activities such as:

audits

workplace inspections

housekeeping

checking work area and/or equipment before and during work

job and work system assessment

reviews of OHS records, including registers of hazardous substances, dangerous goods, and so on

maintenance of plant and equipment

provision of supplies and equipment, e.g. review of MSDS and manufacturer/supplier information

identifying employee concerns

Risk control procedures

Risk control procedures may include actions such as:

measures to remove the cause of a risk at its source

application of the hierarchy of control:

elimination of risk

engineering controls

administrative controls

PPE

consultation with maintenance personnel and their representatives

Procedures for dealing with hazardous events

Procedures for dealing with hazardous events may include:

evacuation

chemical containment

first aid

accident/incident reporting and investigation

Hazardous events

Hazardous events may include:

accidents

fires and explosions

emergencies, e.g. fuel or chemical spills

bomb scares

violent incidents

OHS training

OHS training may include:

induction training

specific hazard training

specific task or equipment training

emergency and evacuation training

training as part of broader programs, such as equipment operation

OHS records

OHS records may include:

OHS audit and inspection reports

health surveillance and workplace environmental monitoring reports

records of instruction and training

manufacturers and suppliers information, including MSDS and dangerous goods storage lists

hazardous substances registers

maintenance and testing reports

workers compensation and rehabilitation records

first aid/medical post records


Sectors

Supervision of aviation maintenance


Co-Requisites

Not applicable


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.