Application
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to apply work health and safety/occupational health and safety legislation and codes of practice in a funeral services industry environment. It applies to gravediggers, grounds maintenance workers and funeral, cemetery and crematorium staff who are required to follow work health and safety/occupational health and safety procedures as part of legislative and workplace requirements.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Apply workplace safety, security and emergency procedures. | 1.1 Become familiar with relevant workplace work health and safety/occupational health and safety policies and procedures. 1.2 Recognise and report workplace hazards and unsafe situations to appropriate personnel. 1.3 Determine location and use of emergency equipment. 1.4 Review work strategy, equipment and staffing options. 1.5 Participate and contribute to work health and safety consultations. |
2. Perform safe manual handling. | 2.1 Select handling and lifting technique according to weight and dimensions of the object or deceased person and manual handling procedures. 2.2 Prepare and clear work area of obstacles and hazards. 2.3 Apply correct lifting, carrying and placement techniques to move object or deceased person. 2.4 Coordinate multi-person manual handling tasks as required. |
3. Prevent infection and contamination in the workplace. | 3.1 Apply personal hygiene practices. 3.2 Identify, use and maintain personal protective equipment. 3.3 Handle and dispose of hazardous items and potentially infectious or contaminated waste. |
4. Carry out general housekeeping. | 4.1 Monitor cleanliness, safety and tidiness of workplace and remove general waste as required. 4.2 Use, maintain and store housekeeping equipment and supplies according to manufacturer guidelines. 4.3 Tag damaged items and notify appropriate personnel of maintenance requirements. 4.4 Report housekeeping issues to appropriate personnel. |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of the ability to:
follow predetermined health, safety and security procedures
participate in consultation, hazard identification and risk assessment activities for a given funeral services industry operation and in line with regulatory requirements.
Evidence of performance of incorporating safe work practices into workplace activities on five or more occasions is required to demonstrate consistency of performance and ability to respond to different situations.
Evidence of Knowledge
Demonstrated knowledge of:
legal requirements for work health, safety and security procedures, and the implications for not following those procedures
employer and individual employee responsibilities in relation to ensuring safety of self, other workers and other people in the workplace under work health and safety/occupational health and safety legislation
work health and safety/occupational health and safety workplace policies and procedures
nature of funeral services industry workplace hazards and how these are managed, including:
toxic substances
industrial gases
body fluids and human tissue
infections
fire
infectious waste
sharps
chemical spills
dust and vapours
noise, light and energy sources
electrical equipment
vehicles
personal lifestyle
workplace stress
manual handling procedures
reporting hazards procedures and responsible personnel
use and purpose of emergency equipment
manual handling procedures
personal hygiene practices, including:
maintenance of cleanliness of work clothes
hand washing
food hygiene practices
use of personal protective equipment
use and purpose of personal protective equipment
methods of disposal for infectious and contaminated waste in the funeral services industry, including:
body parts
human tissue
human blood and body fluid
materials and equipment containing human blood and body fluid
contaminated garments
contaminated soil
soiled dressings
sharps
catheters
swabs and bandages
equipment and materials use to carry out housekeeping.
Assessment Conditions
Skills must be demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that is as industry realistic as possible. In a simulated environment, it is essential that assessment is conducted:
using suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:
a funeral services facility
housekeeping equipment and materials and personal protective equipment
commercial policies and procedures and template documents used for the management of work health and safety/occupational health and safety practices
under industry conditions where there is:
integration of tasks with possible interruptions to work typical of the job role
interaction with team members
Assessors must satisfy the NVR/AQTF mandatory competency requirements for assessors.
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.
Sectors
Cross-Sector
Competency Field
Work Health and Safety