Application
This unit of competency covers identifying and assessing WHS implications of furniture designs, including accessories and materials, to determine potential hazards for a range of customer groups and those involved in their production. It includes identifying and acting upon hazards and risks within the workplace, and participating in WHS related training.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Identify principles of WHS | 1.1 | Duty of care and responsibilities of individuals and organisations are defined |
1.2 | Concepts of hierarchy of control are identified and related to the workplace | ||
1.3 | Codes of practice relating to specific workplace risks are identified | ||
1.4 | Importance of a systematic approach to WHS is understood | ||
1.5 | Applicable WHS, legislative and organisational requirements relevant to furniture designs are identified | ||
1.6 | The furnishing materials to be used and their key characteristics are identified | ||
2 | Assess WHS implications for furniture manufacturing | 2.1 | Hazards associated with materials used in the manufacture of furniture are identified |
2.2 | Hazards associated with production of furniture are identified | ||
2.3 | Safety measures implemented to control hazards to manufacturers are identified and implications for furniture designs evaluated | ||
2.4 | Information resources on safety aspects of materials and technology used in the production of furniture are identified and accessed | ||
3 | Assess WHS implications for customers | 3.1 | Range of customers for furniture products are identified and potential hazards for users determined |
3.2 | Potential hazards associated with components and accessories are identified | ||
3.3 | Safety measures implemented to control hazards to users are identified and implications for furniture designs evaluated | ||
3.4 | Information resources on safety aspects of furniture design are identified and accessed | ||
4 | Assess risk | 4.1 | Likelihood of hazards causing harm is considered and determined |
4.2 | Consequence if the event should occur is evaluated and determined | ||
4.3 | Risk level (likelihood and consequence combined) is considered and determined | ||
5 | Apply risk control measures to furniture design | 5.1 | Designs are evaluated for WHS implications |
5.2 | Range of treatments which may eliminate or minimise risks are identified | ||
5.3 | Feasible options are subject to detailed analysis, including the identification of resource requirements | ||
5.4 | Most appropriate treatment for addressing risk is selected and applied to design | ||
Evidence of Performance
Collect, organise and understand information related to furnishing work instructions and work orders and safety procedures
Apply safe handling requirements for equipment, products and materials, including use of personal protective equipment
Identify materials used in the work process
Follow work instructions, operating procedures and inspection processes to:
minimise the risk of injury to self or others
prevent damage to goods, equipment and products
maintain required production output and product quality
Locate and apply safety information and assess safety aspects of furniture designs for a range of customers to address risks and hazards in furniture designs
Complete a minimum of three (3) risk assessments of furniture designs, including the determination of required treatments
Use mathematical ideas and techniques to correctly complete measurements, calculate area and estimate material requirements
Lead others and work effectively to improve production quality and outcomes
Communicate ideas and information to enable confirmation of work requirements and specifications and the reporting of work outcomes and problems, interpret basic plans and follow safety procedures
Use workplace technology related to the coordination, including communication equipment, time and management aids and other measuring devices
Minimise wastage of resources, including materials, time and money
Work with others and in a team by recognising dependencies and using cooperative approaches to optimise work flow and productivity and encourage participation of employees in the planning of work activities and changes
Evidence of Knowledge
State or territory WHS legislation, regulations, standards and codes of practice relevant to risk management in a furnishing technology work environment
Organisational and site standards, requirements, policies and procedures for furnishing technology
Types of tools and equipment, their operating characteristics and procedures for their safe use, operation and maintenance
Characteristics of materials, products and defects
Common furnishing technology related hazards and the range of commonly applied treatments
Environmental protection requirements
Established communication channels and protocols
Relevant problem identification and resolution
Appropriate mathematical procedures for estimation and measurement
Procedures for the recording, reporting and maintenance of workplace records and information
Assessment Conditions
Assessors must:
hold training and assessment competencies as determined by the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) or its successors
have vocational competency in the furnishing industry at least to the level being assessed with broad industry knowledge and experience, usually combined with a relevant industry qualification
be familiar with the current skills and knowledge used and have relevant, current experience in the furnishing industry.
Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time rather than a single assessment event and in a range of workplace relevant contexts.
Assessment must be by observation of relevant tasks with questioning on underpinning knowledge and, where applicable, multimedia evidence, supervisor’s reports, projects and work samples.
Assessment is to be conducted on single units of competency or in conjunction with other related units of competency. Foundation skills are integral to competent performance in the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessment must occur on the job or in a workplace simulated facility with relevant process, equipment, materials, work instructions and deadlines.
Access is required to materials and equipment relevant to establishing and maintaining a safe furnishing technology work environment, and relevant WHS legislation and regulations.
Foundation Skills
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency. Detail on appropriate performance levels for each furnishing unit of competency in reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy utilising the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) are provided in the Furnishing Training Package Implementation Guide.
Range Statement
Specifies different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. Range is restricted to essential operating conditions and any other variables essential to the work environment. | |
Unit context includes: | work is carried out in accordance with legislative obligations, environmental legislation, relevant health regulations, manual handling procedures and organisation insurance requirements work requires individuals to demonstrate conceptual and analytical ability, discretion, judgement and problem solving customers or suppliers may be internal or external |
Duty of care includes: | everything ‘reasonably practicable’ to be done to protect the health and safety of others at the workplace. This duty is placed on: all employers their employees any others who have an influence on the hazards in a workplace |
Hierarchy of control includes: | the range of feasible options for managing the risk to health and safety. The hierarchy is: elimination of the hazard its substitution with a less harmful version its redesign engineering controls isolation of the hazard from people at the workplace safe work practices redesigning work systems the use of personal protective equipment by people at the workplace |
Systematic approach includes: | hazard identification risk assessment risk control review |
WHS requirements include: | Commonwealth, state or territory legislation and regulations, organisational safety policies and procedures use of personal protective equipment and clothing firefighting equipment first aid equipment hazard and risk control and elimination control of hazardous materials and substances manual handling, including lifting and carrying |
Materials include: | fabrics finishes wood metal plastic paint foam oils animal skin adhesives nails staples |
Hazards associated with materials include: | chemical properties: toxicity fumes combustibility physical properties: strength/weakness splintering breakage weight components: adhesives nails staples |
Hazards associated with production include: | manual handling finishing and production processes use of tools and machinery dust inhalation power sources and leads flying debris fume inhalation trips falls lack of control during pouring machine safety and vibration (direct and indirect consequences) |
Range of customers include: | aged and the elderly people with disabilities children adults |
Potential hazards for users include: | allergies to materials injury from materials or components injury due to design faults lack of stability breakage difficult to handle or install |
Treatments include: | use of production safety strategies, such as dust and fumes extraction systems materials testing power source protection personal protective equipment use of tested materials and accessories use of specialised safety features and components |
Personal protective equipment includes: | that prescribed under legislation, regulations and enterprise policies and practices |
Information and procedures include: | work procedures/instructions manufacturer specifications and instructions standard forms of workplace process and procedures organisation work specifications and requirements legislation, regulations and codes of practice quality and Australian Standards and procedures |
Sectors
Furniture design and technology