SIFOHS007A
Identify hazards and assess risks in a cemetery or crematorium

This unit addresses the knowledge, skills and techniques necessary to provide an effective contribution to the identification of workplace hazards and assessment of confined space risks in the workplace. The unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply risk control processes at a cemetery or crematorium. It includes identifying hazards; assessing risks; identifying unacceptable risks; identifying, analysing and implementing risk treatment; and completing records and reports. This unit covers the control of risks associated with entry to confined spaces for maintenance and servicing of crematoria or other necessary reasons, such as preparing graves in green and brownfield sites, reopening and exhuming graves. Work in or entry to confined spaces shall conform to relevant legislation and AS2865:2001, or its authorised update or replacement. It is expected that all persons entering the confined space, and the stand-by person, will be competent to enter confined spaces. It is required that all team members will be trained in incident response, including first aid or CPR. It is also expected that contractors entering confined spaces on the cemetery or the crematorium will also follow confined space requirements.

Application

The work covered in this unit relates to AS/NZS4360:1999 Risk Management.


Prerequisites

Nil


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1

Assess risk and identify unacceptable risk in cemetery and crematorium.

1.1

Conduct a risk assessment of potential hazards in the cemetery or crematorium.

1.2

Evaluate and determine consequence if a confined space hazard is present.

1.3

Consider and determine likelihood of hazard exposure.

1.4

Identify and source criteria for acceptability or unacceptability of the risk.

1.5

Evaluate risk against criteria to identify if it warrants 'unacceptable risk' status and action or refer to appropriate party as required.

2

Identify confined space hazards in cemetery and crematorium.

2.1

Clearly identify actual and potential confined spaces through review of the nature of the space and its characteristics.

2.2

Analyse work area conditions to identify or recognise potential confined spacehazards in the workplace.

2.3

Access and analyse information on existing risk control practices and use as appropriate.

2.4

Recognise type and scope of unresolved confined space hazards and their likely impact.

3

Identify, analyse and implement risk treatments for an identified confined space.

3.1

Identify and consider all possible risk treatment options.

3.2

Identify feasible options by preliminary analysis and consideration of possible options.

3.3

Analyse feasible risk treatment options and identify resource requirements.

3.4

Select most appropriate action for dealing with the risk.

3.5

Plan and prepare for risk control in detail and acquire or obtain required resources.

4

Complete records and reports.

4.1

Communicate information on risk control implementation to relevant people.

4.2

Complete records and reports for hazards and risk control actions from personal risk assessment as specified by legislative and site requirements.

4.3

Provide feedback and input to OHS practitioners on range of variables associated with confined space work to improve hazard and risk management.

Required Skills

Required skills

problem-solving skills to identify and assess hazards and risks and develop treatment options

communication skills, including clear and direct communication and active listening and questioning techniques, to inform relevant personnel of required actions and contribute to risk management improvements

literacy and numeracy skills to access and analyse required information and complete records and reports.

Required knowledge

cemetery and crematorium risk management procedures, including emergency planning

cemetery and crematorium health and safety system information

cemetery and crematorium communication, reporting and recording procedures

broad and working knowledge of relevant state or territory OHS legislation, specifically requirements for:

when, where and how hazards must be identified

when, where and how risk assessments must be conducted

incorporating appropriate consultation into hazard identification and risk assessment process

record keeping.

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

project or work activities that show the candidate's ability to identify confined space workplace hazards, and assess and control safety risks for a cemetery or crematorium operation and in line with regulatory requirements

knowledge of OHS legislation requirements for hazard identification, and risk assessment and control

identifying hazards and assessing risks in a cemetery or crematorium on multiple occasions to ensure consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

demonstration of skills in a cemetery or crematorium operation for which hazard identification and risk assessment can be undertaken

access to current organisational policies and procedures, and hazard identification and risk assessment template documents.

Methods of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

observation of candidate completing risk assessment processes and procedures

written or verbal questioning to assess required knowledge and skills

inspection of the final product or outcome

scenario analysis

review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

Employability skills embedded in this unit should be assessed holistically with other relevant units that make up the skill set or qualification and in the context of the job role.


Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Risk assessment may include:

location of work

duration of work

soil type

shoring requirements

size of work crew

contractor or employee work crew

funeral director, if relevant

size, depth, dimensions, age and type of grave

size, depth and dimensions of tomb, crypt, vault or furnace

access to the confined space

ground conditions, including adjacent graves, soil make-up and water table

personnel qualifications

terrain

weather

possible coffin weight and materials

expected degree of embalming

machinery

presence of monuments and their stability

atmospheric test requirements

hot work as required

reason for death

time since burial.

Potential hazards must include:

source of potential harm

situation with a potential to cause loss.

Consequence must include:

outcome of an event or situation expressed qualitatively or quantitatively, being a loss, injury, disadvantage or gain.

Likelihood may include:

qualitative description of probability

frequency

measure of likelihood expressed as the number of occurrences of an event in a given time.

Criteria for acceptability or unacceptability of the risk must include:

determinations made by organisation's internal policy, goals and objectives with reference to relevant legislation.

Characteristics may include:

size and location of grave

availability to access grave, crypt, vault or crematorium

presence of hazardous substances, such as hydrogen sulphide from decomposing matter or carbon monoxide from water bailing pumps

presence of flammable contaminants generated by methane of decomposing matter

presence of unsafe oxygen levels associated with sealed coffins, crypt and graves

presence of materials that may result in engulfment through cave in

mechanical hazards, such as backhoes or conveyors

objects falling into the space, such as monuments or soil and rocks

ignition hazards, such as:

sources of heat

static or friction

plant and equipment that pose risks, such as welding, cutting or electronic equipment

activities, such as grinding, chipping and sandblasting

electrical hazards

poor ventilation

environmental hazards, such as:

water levels

seepage from neighbouring gravesites

high water tables

non-compacted soil

biological hazards, such as:

viruses and bacteria

microbes and pathogens carried in the water or decomposing tissue

insects, snakes and vermin.

Confined space hazards in the workplace may include:

enclosed or partially enclosed space that is at atmospheric pressure during occupancy and is not intended or designed primarily as a place of work, and could have restricted means for entry and exit or may at any time:

have an atmosphere containing potentially harmful levels of contaminant

have an oxygen deficiency or excess

cause engulfment

boiler furnace

grave

tank

pit

pipe

container

crypt

vault

duct

well

contains or has contained (or made of or lined or coated with) substances capable of reducing amount of oxygen present to a dangerous level.

Risk treatment options may include:

eliminating hazard, such as not getting in the grave

substitution, such as using another gravesite

engineering controls, such as extraction fans on vaults

administrative controls or procedures, such as permits and risk assessments for confined space entry

personal protective equipment, including:

breathing apparatus, self-contained breathing apparatus and canister mask

face shield

gloves

overalls and protective clothing

hard hat

face mask

eye protection

hearing protection shovels

boots or gumboots

shoring requirements

atmospheric test requirements

mechanical and isolation requirements

stand-by personnel and rescue arrangements, such as Tripod or other means of effective rescue

authorisation

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

analysis of decomposing matter and water in space

fire extinguisher

spill kit

first aid kit

eye wash kit

communications equipment

signage, such as:

site safety signage

temporary signage for motorists and pedestrians

barricades

fall and edge protection.

Records and reports may include:

hazard reporting forms

supervisor or team leader reports

incident reports

near-miss reports

shift reports.


Sectors

Sector

Funeral Services


Competency Field

Occupational Health and Safety


Employability Skills

This unit contains employability skills.


Licensing Information

Not applicable.