• PSPOHS501A - Monitor and maintain workplace safety

PSPOHS501A
Monitor and maintain workplace safety

This unit covers the monitoring and improvement of the organisation's occupational health and safety policies, procedures and programs in the relevant work area to achieve and maintain occupational health and safety standards.In practice, monitoring and maintaining workplace safety may be demonstrated in the context of generalist and specialist work activities such as coordinating a workgroup, developing client services, coordinating and allocating resources, initiating and managing projects.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication

Application

Not applicable.


Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Monitor the provision of workplace safety information

1.1 Explanations to the workgroup of relevant provisions of occupational health and safety legislation and codes of practice are monitored to ensure they meet individual needs and are in accordance with organisational requirements.

1.2 The quality of information on the organisation's occupational health and safety policies, procedures and programs is monitored and improvements implemented to ensure they remain up-to-date and readily accessible to the workgroup.

1.3 Information about identified hazards and the outcomes of risk assessment and risk control procedures is monitored and the workgroup's understanding of the information is regularly assessed through feedback and questioning suited to individual needs.

2. Monitor and maintain participative arrangements for workplace safety

2.1 The importance of effective participative arrangements in managing health and safety risks is promoted and all members of the workgroup are encouraged to contribute in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.

2.2 Consultative procedures are monitored to ensure participation of the workgroup in the management of workplace hazards in accordance with legislative requirements.

2.3 Issues raised through consultation are resolved or referred for resolution in accordance with workplace procedures for issue resolution.

2.4 The outcomes of consultation over occupational health and safety issues are monitored and progressed in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.

3. Review procedures for identifying hazards and assessing risks

3.1 Procedures for identifying existing and potential hazards in the work area are monitored and evaluated for effectiveness.

3.2 Improvements are identified and recommended for hazard identification where necessary.

3.3 Recommendations are made for risk assessment and risk control procedures to be enhanced where necessary.

4. Monitor and continuously improve procedures for controlling risks

4.1 Work procedures to control risks and adherence to them by the workgroup are monitored in accordance with workplace procedures.

4.2 Results of monitoring existing risk control measures are analysed and recommendations for any action are 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 are reported to designated personnel.

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

5. Monitor and maintain procedures for dealing with hazardous events

5.1 Workplace procedures for dealing with hazardous events are monitored whenever necessary to ensure that control action is effective and timely.

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. Monitor and maintain procedures for providing workplace safety training

6.1 Training records and skills audits are regularly monitored to ensure ongoing workplace safety training needs are identified and addressed in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.

6.2 The effectiveness of both on-the-job and off-the-job training programs to address the organisation's occupational health and safety training needs is evaluated in consultation with relevant parties, and continuous improvements are negotiated and implemented as necessary.

7. Monitor procedures for maintaining workplace safety records

7.1 Occupational health and safety records for the work area are monitored to ensure they meet workplace requirements and legal requirements for the maintenance of records of occupational injury and disease.

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

Required Skills

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

Skill requirements

Look for evidence that confirms skills in:

analysing the work environment, recognising hazards and judging occupational health and safety interventions

evaluating the quality and effectiveness of written and oral workplace safety information and training provided to staff

identifying inadequacies in procedures and control measures

reading and explaining complex and formal documents such as legislation and codes of practice

tailoring communication to suit different audiences, such as staff, senior management, safety representatives, inspectors

preparing reports on workplace safety requiring precision of expression

investigating hazardous events

analysing workplace safety data

assessing resources needed for risk control

accessing legislation and codes of practice electronically or in hard copy

responding to diversity, including gender and disability

Knowledge requirements

Look for evidence that confirms knowledge and understanding of:

provisions of relevant occupational health and safety legislation

principles and practice of effective occupational health and safety management

workplace hazards

AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk management - Principles and guidelines

range and selection of effective control measures

organisational occupational health and safety management systems, policies and procedures needed for legislative compliance

impact of characteristics and composition of the workforce on occupational health and safety management

relevance of occupational health and safety management to other organisational management policies, procedures and systems

Evidence Required

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:

PSPGOV502B Develop client services

PSPGOV503B Coordinate resource allocation and usage

PSPGOV504B Undertake research and analysis

PSPGOV511A Provide leadership

PSPGOV512A Use complex workplace communication strategies

PSPGOV517A Coordinate risk management

PSPLEGN501B Promote compliance with legislation in the public sector

PSPPM501B Design complex projects

PSPPM502B Manage complex projects

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

monitoring and maintaining workplace safety in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)

Resources required to carry out assessment

These resources include:

occupational health and safety acts, regulations and codes of practice

organisational occupational health and safety policies and procedures

Australian standards such as AS/NZS:4360 for risk management, or as revised

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 monitoring and maintaining workplace safety procedures and programs, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine

the applicant to monitor and maintain workplace safety 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

portfolios

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


Range Statement

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 legislation may include:

State/Territory/Commonwealth occupational health and safety acts, regulations and codes of practice, including:

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

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

requirements for provision of occupational health and safety information and training

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

provisions relating to occupational health and safety issue resolution

Individual needs may relate to:

literacy

communication skills

gender

cultural background

people with disabilities

part-time, contract or casual workers

level of experience

existing knowledge

Information topics may include:

induction to new work/management systems

the nature of work

tasks and procedures

hazards and risk management procedures; to assist in work tasks

new/inexperienced workers

legislation and codes of practice, for example, relating to hazards in the work area

consultation with health and safety representatives and occupational health and safety committees

Occupational health and safety policies and procedures may include:

job procedures and work instructions

maintenance of plant and equipment

purchasing of supplies and equipment

counselling/disciplinary processes

providing occupational health and safety information

consultation and participation

emergency response

housekeeping

specific hazards

identifying hazards, for example, inspections

incident investigation

assessing risks

controlling risks

personal protective equipment

occupational health and safety training and assessment

occupational health and safety recordkeeping

reporting occupational health and safety issues

occupational health and safety issue resolution

change management

Participative arrangements may include:

formal and informal meetings which include occupational health and safety

occupational health and safety committees

other committees, for example, consultative, planning and purchasing

health and safety representatives

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

external providers

clients/visitors

Identifying hazards and assessing risks may occur 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 occupational health and safety records, including registers of hazardous substances, dangerous goods, etc

maintenance of plant and equipment

purchasing of supplies and equipment, for example, review of Material Safety Data Sheets and manufacturer/supplier information

identifying employee concerns

Controlling risks may include actions such as:

measures to remove the cause of a risk at its source

consultation with workers and their representatives

application of the hierarchy of control, namely:

elimination of the risk

substitution

engineering controls

administrative controls

personal protective equipment.

Procedures for dealing with hazardous events may include:

evacuation

chemical containment

first aid

accident/incident reporting and investigation

Hazardous events may include:

incidents and near misses

fires and explosions

emergencies such as chemical spills

bomb scares

violent incidents, for example, armed robberies

workplace violence, including bullying

natural disasters/events

Workplace safety training may include:

induction training

management systems/policy

specific hazard training

specific task or equipment training

emergency and evacuation training

training as part of broader programs, for example, equipment operation

Occupational health and safety records may include:

complying with privacy and confidentiality requirements

occupational health and safety audits and inspection reports

health surveillance and workplace environmental monitoring records

records of instruction and training

manufacturers' and suppliers' information, including Material Safety Data Sheets and dangerous goods storage lists

hazardous substances registers

maintenance and testing reports

workers compensation and rehabilitation records

first aid/medical post records


Sectors

Not applicable.


Competency Field

Occupational Health & Safety


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.