ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Participate in workplace safety arrangements

1.1 Occupational health and safety issues are raised with designated personnel in accordance with workplace procedures and occupational health and safety legislation.

1.2 Involvement in workplace safety arrangements is undertaken within organisational procedures and scope of responsibilities and competencies.

2. Follow workplace safety procedures

2.1 Hazards in the work area are recognised and reported to designated personnel according to workplace procedures.

2.2 Workplace procedures and work instructions for ensuring safety are followed.

2.3 Workplace procedures for dealing with accidents and other hazardous events are followed whenever necessary within scope of responsibilities and competencies.

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

Skill requirements

Look for evidence that confirms skills in:

documenting hazards in clear language according to organisational guidelines

accessing workplace safety policies and procedures electronically or in hard copy

reading workplace documentation such as policies and procedures and applying them to work practices

communicating issues to different audiences, such as colleagues, management, safety representatives, inspectors

responding to diversity, including gender and disability

Knowledge requirements

Look for evidence that confirms knowledge and understanding of:

legal rights and responsibilities of the workplace parties

the ways in which occupational health and safety is managed in the workplace, and legal requirements

workplace hazards

occupational health and safety procedures

the meaning of workplace occupational health and safety symbols and signs

designated workplace personnel responsible for occupational health and safety

use of personal protective equipment

The Evidence Guide specifies the evidence required to demonstrate achievement in the unit of competency as a whole. It must be read in conjunction with the Unit descriptor, Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Public Sector Training Package.

Units to be assessed together

Pre-requisite units that must be achieved prior to this unit:Nil

Co-requisite units that must be assessed with this unit:Nil

Co-assessed units that may be assessed with this unit to increase the efficiency and realism of the assessment process include, but are not limited to:

PSPGOV201B Work in a public sector environment

PSPGOV202B Use routine workplace communication techniques

PSPGOV203B Deliver a service to clients

PSPGOV204B Access and use resources

PSPGOV205B Participate in workplace change

PSPGOV206B Handle workplace information

PSPGOV207B Use technology in the workplace

PSPGOV208A Write routine workplace materials

Overview of evidence requirements

In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:

the knowledge requirements of this unit

the skill requirements of this unit

application of Employability Skills as they relate to this unit

workplace safety procedures followed in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)

Resources required to carry out assessment

These resources include:

organisational occupational health and safety policies and procedures

details of the organisation's occupational health and safety system

information on hazards and risks relevant to the workplace

personal protective equipment

relevant work areas for identification of hazards and control measures

Where and how to assess evidence

Valid assessment of this unit requires:

a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when following workplace safety procedures, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine

the applicant to follow workplace safety procedures in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)

the assessor to have recognised expertise in managing occupational health and safety in the industry, or work in an assessment team with such a person.

Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, such as literacy, and the needs of particular groups, such as:

people with disabilities

people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

women

young people

older people

people in rural and remote locations.

Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this competency may include, but are not limited to, a combination of 2 or more of:

case studies

demonstration

observation

questioning

scenarios

simulation or role plays

authenticated evidence from the workplace and/or training courses

For consistency of assessment

Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments

The Range Statement provides information about the context in which the unit of competency is carried out. The variables cater for differences between States and Territories and the Commonwealth, and between organisations and workplaces. They allow for different work requirements, work practices and knowledge. The Range Statement also provides a focus for assessment. It relates to the unit as a whole. Text in bold italics in the Performance Criteria is explained here.

Occupational health and safety issues may include:

hazards relating to the physical environment

workplace stress

conflict

bullying

harassment

Designated personnel may include:

supervisors

managers

team leaders

designated occupational health and safety officers

elected health and safety representatives

other persons authorised or nominated by the enterprise or industry to:

perform specified work

approve specified work

inspect specified work

direct specified work

Occupational health and safety legislation may include:

State/Territory/Commonwealth occupational health and safety acts, regulations and codes of practice including, but not limited to:

regulations and codes of practice relating to hazards present in the workplace or industry

general duty of care under occupational health and safety legislation and common law

provisions relating to roles and responsibilities of health and safety representatives and/or occupational health and safety committees

provisions relating to occupational health and safety issue resolution

Involvement may include:

recognising and reporting hazards

using workplace equipment according to guidelines

listening to the ideas and opinions of others in the workplace

sharing opinions, views, knowledge and skills

Workplace safety arrangements may include:

consultation processes

formal and informal health and safety meetings

health and safety committees

other committees, for example, consultative, planning and purchasing

meetings called by health and safety representatives

suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward to management

application of the hierarchy of control, namely:

elimination

substitution

engineering controls

administrative controls

personal protective equipment

Hazard identification may include:

checking equipment or the work station and work area before work commences and during work

on-the-job housekeeping checks (spills, furniture out of place, loose hand rails, curling mats, frayed cords, etc)

Workplace procedures may relate to:

workplace occupational health and safety symbols and signs

hazard reporting procedures

job procedures and safe work instructions

emergency procedures

incident and near miss reporting and recording procedures

input on occupational health and safety issues

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

risk control procedures

Other hazardous events may include:

fires

bomb threats

chemical spills

occupational violence

natural disasters/events

terrorist attacks