SIRXWHS002
Contribute to workplace health and safety


Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to follow organisational policies and procedures for safe work practice.

This unit applies to individuals working at all levels in a diverse range of industry sectors and business contexts.

The unit incorporates the requirement for all employees under state and territory Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation, to participate in the management of their own health and safety, that of their colleagues and anyone else in the workplace.

No occupational licensing, certification or other legislative 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. Act safely in the workplace.

1.1.Follow workplace procedures for safe work practice.

1.2.Follow safety instructions from supervisors, managers and workplace safety signage, and observe other risk control measures.

1.3.Use personal protective equipment and safe manual handling techniques to protect self as required.

1.4.Work safely around dangerous goods and substances.

1.5.Identify and remove safety hazards, and report all workplace hazards as they arise.

1.6.Promptly report unsafe work practices, incidents and accidents.

2. Follow emergency procedures.

2.1.Recognise emergency and potential emergency situations, and follow procedures.

2.2.Follow procedures for reporting of emergency incidents.

3. Participate in workplace health and safety practices.

3.1.Participate in workplace health and safety consultation processes according to organisation procedures.

3.2.Report work health and safety issues and concerns as they arise.

3.3.Contribute suggestions to improve workplace health and safety.

Evidence of Performance

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:

follow organisational work health and safety procedures in day-to-day work activities on three different occasions

demonstrate appropriate response to three of the following situations:

emergency

evacuation

workplace incident

bullying or harassment

follow procedures for reporting of one work health and safety incident

apply correct manual handling techniques during two workplace activities requiring manual handling

participate in two work health and safety consultation activities.


Evidence of Knowledge

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:

basic aspects of the relevant state or territory Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) or Work Health and Safety (WHS) legislation as it impacts individual workers:

responsibilities of persons conducting a business or undertaking or employer

worker responsibilities to participate in work health and safety practices

worker responsibility to ensure safety of self, other workers and other people in the workplace

ramifications of failure to observe OHS or WHS legislation and organisational policies and procedures

industry and organisational:

workplace hazards and associated health and safety risks

work health and safety policies and procedures for:

communication and consultation

responding to emergencies

hazard identification, reporting and risk assessment

risk and hazard control measures

dangerous incident and injury reporting

working safely with equipment and hazardous substances

safe manual handling

use of personal protective equipment

bullying and harassment

evacuations

reporting incidents and emergencies

safe work practices for individual job roles

impact of poor safety compliance including:

injury, illness and death

pain and suffering

psychological impact

low workplace morale

absenteeism

poor productivity

poor industry and organisational reputation

compensation costs.


Assessment Conditions

Skills must be demonstrated in:

an industry workplace

a simulated industry environment.

Assessment must ensure access to:

organisational work health and safety policies and procedures

current plain English regulatory documents distributed by government regulators outlining key aspects of consumer protection laws relevant state or territory occupational health and safety (OHS) or work health and safety (WHS) legislation as it impacts individual workers as listed in Knowledge Evidence

reporting documentation for:

accidents

incidents

emergencies

hazard identification and reporting

individuals with whom to interact during consultation processes; these can be:

individuals in an industry workplace, or

individuals who participate in role plays or simulated activities, set up for the purpose of assessment, in a simulated industry environment

assessment activities that allow the individual to work with commercial speed and timing productivity.

Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations’ requirements for assessors.


Foundation Skills

Foundation skills essential to performance in this unit, but not explicit in the performance criteria are listed here, along with a brief context statement.

SKILLS

DESCRIPTION

Reading skills to:

interpret workplace safety signs, and emergency evacuation plans.

Oral communication skills to:

ask open and closed questions and actively listen to clarify health and safety information and instructions.


Sectors

Cross-Sector


Competency Field

Work Health and Safety