Application
This unit of competency covers the skills and knowledge required to apply workplace policies and procedures to maintain a safe work environment for self and others.
The unit of competency covers identifying work health and safety (WHS) hazards, assessing risk and following safety procedures in the workplace with minimal supervision.
Compliance with legislative requirements and duty of care are embedded in this unit through workplace instructions and procedures. Workers will be provided with clear directions, information, instruction, training and appropriate supervision regarding the relevant state/territory WHS legislation, codes of practice, relevant industry standards, workplace procedures and work instructions.
This unit of competency applies to an individual working alone or as part of a team/work group and working in liaison with other shift team members and the control room operator, as appropriate.
No other 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 hazards and assess risk | 1.1 | Identify hazards in the work area before and during work |
1.2 | Access and apply relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) | ||
1.3 | Assess risks for the identified hazards | ||
1.4 | Identify controls for these hazards from procedures | ||
1.5 | Review effectiveness of controls within the scope of authority | ||
1.6 | Identify and report remaining risk | ||
2 | Follow procedures for risk control | 2.1 | Control risks when working under minimal supervision by following workplace procedures |
2.2 | Follow safety signs and other safety indicators/zones | ||
2.3 | Select, use and maintain relevant personal protective equipment (PPE) | ||
2.4 | Handle and store items/materials relevant to job safely |
3 | Follow emergency procedures | 3.1 | Recognise emergency situations |
3.2 | Take appropriate initial emergency action | ||
3.3 | Follow procedures for dealing with a range of site/plant emergencies |
4 | Initiate suggestions to enhance task/ job-specific safety | 4.1 | Raise WHS issues with designated personnel in accordance with workplace procedures and relevant requirements of WHS legislation |
4.2 | Contribute to participative arrangements for WHS management in the workplace within organisation procedures and the scope of responsibilities and competencies | ||
4.3 | Provide input to minimise hazards in work area in line with organisation WHS procedures | ||
4.4 | Provide input to opportunities for development of work group's competencies in relation to WHS | ||
4.5 | Support the implementation of procedures to control risks using the hierarchy of control and in accordance with organisation procedures | ||
4.6 | Report to appropriate people in accordance with workplace procedures when non-routine hazards arise |
5 | Apply knowledge of WHS legislation and the organisation WHS policies and procedures | 5.1 | Follow workplace procedures to achieve a safe working environment in accordance with all relevant WHS legislation/regulation, including codes of practice relating to particular hazards within the workplace or industry |
5.2 | Identify the rights and responsibilities of employees and employers under the relevant WHS legislation | ||
5.3 | Complete (personally or with assistance) hazard, accident or incident reports as required by workplace procedures and relevant sections of WHS legislation/regulation |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence required to demonstrate competence in this unit must be relevant to and satisfy the requirements of the elements and performance criteria and demonstrate the ability to:
identify hazards
follow procedures to:
assess risks associated with the hazards
identify and apply standard controls
check that controls are in place and operational
select and use personal protective equipment (PPE)
identify and interpret signs and symbols, including emergency alarms
correctly handle and store items/materials relevant to job
interpret and apply relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS).
Evidence of Knowledge
Evidence must be provided that demonstrates knowledge of:
organisational work health and safety (WHS) procedures, including procedures for reporting WHS problems and taking action
rights and responsibilities of employees and employers under the relevant WHS legislation
hazards that may arise in the job/work environment, including:
their possible causes
potential consequences
appropriate risk controls
hierarchy of control
types and application of PPE
hazard and emergency signs, labels and alarms
appropriate responses to non-standard situations.
Assessment Conditions
Competency must be achieved before performing this work unsupervised. Therefore this unit will typically be assessed off the job. Where assessment is undertaken on the job, appropriate supervision and safety precautions must be provided.
The unit should be assessed holistically and the judgement of competence based on a holistic assessment of the evidence.
The collection of performance evidence:
should provide evidence of the ability to perform over the range of situations which might be expected to be encountered, including typical disruptions to normal, smooth work conditions
must include the use of appropriate safety gear and systems requiring demonstration of preparation, operation, completion and responding to problems
may use industry-based simulation particularly where safety, lack of opportunity or significant cost is an issue.
Off-the-job assessment must sufficiently reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Assessment in a simulated environment should use evidence collected from one or more of:
walk-throughs
demonstration of skills
industry-based case studies/scenarios
‘what ifs’.
Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence (provided a record is kept) or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept).
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Conditions for assessment must include access to all tools, equipment, materials and documentation required, including relevant workplace procedures, product and manufacturing specifications associated with this unit.
The regulatory framework will be reflected in workplace policies and procedures and is not required to be independently assessed.
Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations 2015 assessor requirements.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for 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. | |
Regulatory framework | The latest version of all legislation, regulations, industry codes of practice and Australian/international standards, or the version specified by the local regulatory authority, must be used, and include one or more of the following: legislative requirements, including work health and safety (WHS) industry codes of practice and guidelines environmental regulations and guidelines Australian and other standards licence and certification requirements |
Procedures | All operations must be performed in accordance with relevant procedures. Procedures are written, verbal, visual, computer-based or in some other form, and include one or more of the following: emergency procedures work instructions standard operating procedures (SOPs) safe work method statements (SWMS) temporary instructions any similar instructions provided for the smooth running of the plant |
Hazards | Hazards include one or more of the following: smoke, darkness and heat heat, smoke, dust or other atmospheric hazards electricity gas gases and liquids under pressure structural hazards structural collapse equipment failures industrial (machinery, equipment and product) equipment or product mass noise, rotational equipment or vibration limited head spaces or overhangs working at heights, in restricted or confined spaces, or in environments subjected to heat, noise, dusts or vapours fire and explosion flammability and explosivity hazardous products and materials unauthorised personnel sharp edges, protrusions or obstructions slippery surfaces, spills or leaks extreme weather other hazards that might arise |
Equipment and PPE | Equipment and PPE include one or more of the following: hard hats goggles/glasses/face shields hearing protection (ear muffs and plugs) dusk masks/canister masks/self-contained breathing apparatus(SCBA)/ long-range breathers gloves/gauntlets safety boots antistatic equipment overalls/aprons/acid jackets/pants handling aids other safety equipment |
Appropriate personnel | Appropriate personnel include one or more of the following: employer supervisor employees elected as WHS representatives other personnel with WHS responsibilities |
Recognising emergency situation | Emergency situations will be recognised from one or more of the following: visual (e.g. flashing lights) auditory (e.g. alarms) communication systems (e.g. radios and announcements) any other obvious mechanisms used in the workplace |
Sectors
Competency Field
Work health and safety