This unit describes a participant’s skills and knowledge required to work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures in the Resources and Infrastructure Industries.

This unit is appropriate for those working in operational roles.

Licensing, legislative, regulatory and certification requirements that apply to this unit can vary between states, territories, and Industry sectors. Relevant information must be sourced prior to application of the unit.

Note: The terms Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) and Work Health and Safety (WHS) are equivalent and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the National Model WHS Legislation has not been implemented RTOs are advised to contextualise the unit of competency by referring to the existing State/Territory OHS legislative requirements.

Evidence is required to be collected that demonstrates a candidate’s competency in this unit. Evidence must be relevant to the roles within this sector’s work operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria of this unit and include evidence that the candidate:

locates and applies relevant documentation, policies and procedures

demonstrates completion of working safely and following WHS policies and procedures that safely, effectively and efficiently meets all of the required outcomes on more than one (1) occasion including:

sourcing, interpreting, clarifying and applying site safety information

listening carefully to health and safety instructions and information

responding to and clarifying information and directions

carrying out work instructions that complies with WHS policies and procedures

selecting, wearing and caring for personal protective equipment for all activities that require personal protective equipment

applying safe lifting and manual handling techniques

identify and report on WHS issues to appropriate personnel

recognising and following procedure to respond to alarms

completing workplace reporting procedures

The candidate must possess knowledge of work safely and follow WHS policies and procedures through:

determining equipment safety requirements

identifying personal protective equipment

follows hazardous substances procedures and handling techniques

location of safety data sheets (SDS) information and their application

adhering to isolation procedures

identifying lifting techniques, including for both manual and automated lifting

locating and complying with WHS procedures

application of site safety requirements and procedures

participating in procedures for workplace management of others (e.g. consultation, safety representatives, committees, dispute resolution)

determining potential of biological effects (e.g. circadian rhythms, sleep, alertness, fatigue, stress, effects of heat stress and hypothermia)

details of site drug and alcohol policy

locating and using emergency equipment

An assessor of this unit must satisfy the requirements of the NVR/AQTF or their successors; and Industry regulations for certification and licensing; and,

this unit is best assessed in the context of this sector’s work environment;

where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of this sector’s workplace performance, including environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills; and,

this unit must be assessed in compliance with relevant legislation/regulation and using policies, procedures, processes and operational manuals directly related to the industry sector for which it is being assessed; and,

assessment may be conducted in conjunction with the assessment of other Units of Competency; and,

assessment must confirm consistent performance can be applied in a range of relevant workplace circumstances; and,

assessors must demonstrate the performance evidence, and knowledge evidence as outlined in this Unit of Competency, and through the minimum years of current* work experience specified below in an Industry sector relevant to the outcomes of the unit; or,

where the assessor does not meet experience requirements a co-assessment or partnership arrangement must exist between the qualified assessor and an Industry subject matter expert. The Industry subject matter expert should hold the unit being assessed (or an equivalent unit) and/or demonstrate equivalence of skills and knowledge at the unit level. An Industry technical expert must also demonstrate skills and knowledge from the minimum years of current work experience specified below in the Industry sector, including time spent in roles related to the unit being assessed; and,

assessor and Industry subject matter expert requirements differ depending on the Australian Qualifications Framework Level (AQF) of the qualification being assessed and/or Industry Sector as follows:

*Assessors can demonstrate current work experience through employment within Industry in a role relevant to the outcomes of the Unit; or, for external assessors this can be demonstrated through exposure to Industry by conducting frequent site assessments across various locations.

**Where a unit is being delivered outside of a Qualification the first numeric character in the Unit code should be considered to indicate the AQF level

Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit. Further information is available in the Resources and Infrastructure Industry Training Package Companion Volume.