Elements and Performance Criteria

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.
OHS legislation includes:
commonwealth, state and territory OHS Acts and regulations
Standards include:
documents produced by national bodies, OHS regulators or industry bodies, that prescribe preventative action to avert occupational deaths, injuries and diseases
standards are of an advisory nature only, except where a law adopts the standard and thus makes it mandatory
standards may be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action
Codes of practice/compliance codes are:
documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standards
may provide information for use by unions, employers, management, health and safety committee members and representatives, safety officers and others requiring guidance
Codes of practice/compliance codes may:
be incorporated into regulations
not relate to a standard
be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action
Guidance material:
is an advisory technical document, providing detailed information for use by unions, employers, management, health and safety committee members and representatives, safety officers and others requiring guidance
advises on 'what to do' and 'how to do it'
has no legal standing
Other sources of OHS information include
persons, organisations and references where knowledge about OHS may be obtained
These sources may be:
internal, including:
hazard, incident and investigation reports
workplace inspections
incident investigations
minutes of meetings
Job Safety Analysis (JSAs) and Risk Assessments (RAs)
organisational data such as insurance records, enforcement notices and actions, workers compensation data, OHS performance data
reports and audits
material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and registers
employees handbooks
employees including questionnaire results
OHS advisors
manufacturers' manuals and specifications
external, including:
regulatory bodies and OHS Acts regulations, codes and guidance material
other relevant legislation
Safe Work Australia documents
databases such as national and state injury data
OHS specialists and consultants
newspapers and journals, trade/industry publications
internet sites
industry networks and associations including unions and employer groups
OHS professional bodies
specialist advisors
research information
OHS information includes:
requirements under OHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice/compliance codes and guidelines
rights and responsibilities
information on hazards including MSDSs
collated information on hazard incidents and injuries
investigation and audit reports
outcomes of hazard identifications and workplace inspections
Risk Assessments (RAs)
risk controls
workplace OHS policies and procedures
work procedures
training records
Risk controls include:
the devices and methods to:
where practicable, eliminate the hazard
where this is not practicable, minimise the risk associated with the hazard
Legal requirements for record keeping include:
that specified under OHS legislation and regulations for:
serious incident and injury reporting
registered plant
hazardous substances and dangerous goods
environmental monitoring
health surveillance
privacy legislation
OHS records may include:
hazard, incident and investigation reports
workplace inspection reports
incident investigation reports
first aid records
minutes of meetings
job safety analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments
material safety data sheets (MSDSs) and registers
plant and equipment operation records including those relevant to registered plant
maintenance and testing reports
training records
environmental monitoring records
health surveillance records
Participative processes include:
processes that:
inform employees and other stakeholders of OHS matters and seek their input
offer opportunity for stakeholders to participate in decisions that may impact on their health and safety
Participative processes may also be referred to as 'consultative processes', however 'participation' implies a higher level of involvement
Organisational policies and procedures include:
policies and procedures underpinning the management of OHS including:
hazard, incident and injury reporting
hazard identification, risk assessment and control and monitoring
consultation and participation
incident investigation
quality system documentation
Consultation includes processes for:
seeking information or the opinions from one or more people prior to decision-making
consultation should particularly include those who may affect the outcomes or be affected by the decisions made but may also include specialist sources
A hazard is:
a source or situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, the environment, or a combination of these
Specific safety related hazards may include but are not limited to:
substances e.g. chemicals, starch pulp, steam
noise
manual handling
ergonomics
underfoot hazards
slips and trips
moving parts of machinery
mobile plant
Other workplace hazards may include, but are not limited to:
fatigue
stress
bullying
occupational violence
Incident includes:
any event that has caused or has the potential for injury, ill health or damage
Hazard identification is
the process of identifying sources of harm an may be required:
at design or pre purchase of equipment of materials
at commissioning or pre-implementation of new processes or practices
before new forms of work and organisation of work are implemented
before changes are made to workplace, equipment, work processes or work arrangements
as part of planning major tasks or activities, such as equipment shutdowns
following an incident report
when new knowledge becomes available
at regular intervals during normal operations
prior to disposal of equipment, buildings or materials
Risk:
in relation to any hazard, means the probability and consequences of injury, illness or damage resulting from exposure to a hazard
Risk assessments
involve analysing a hazard to identify:
factors influencing the risk and the range of potential consequences
effectiveness of existing controls
likelihood of each consequence considering exposure and hazard level
and, combine these in some way to obtain a level of risk
Hierarchy of control is
the preferred order of control measures for OHS risks:
elimination controlling the hazard at the source
substitution e.g. replacing one substance or activity at the source
engineering e.g. installing guards on machinery
administration policies and procedures for safe work practices
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) e.g. respirators, ear plugs
Expert advisers include:
persons either internal or external to the organisation including:
safety professionals
ergonomists
occupational hygienists
audiologists
safety engineers
toxicologists
occupational health professionals
and, other persons providing specific technical knowledge or expertise in areas related to OHS including:
risk managers
health professionals
injury management advisors
legal practitioners with experience in OHS
engineers (such as design, acoustic, mechanical, civil)
security and emergency response personnel
workplace trainers and assessors
maintenance and tradepersons
OHS induction includes:
the processes by which new employees are introduced to, and acquainted with their job and the new workplace, including familiarisation with:
hazards and risks associated with the work
risk control measures
welfare facilities
emergency response procedures
Stakeholders are:
those people or organisations who may be affected by, or perceive themselves to be affected by an activity or decision including:
managers
supervisors
health and safety and other employee representatives
OHS committees
employees and contractors
the community
OHS action plans include:
documented plans developed within the workplace to implement a systematic approach to OHS management and contain:
actions that support an integrated strategy to address deficiencies, meet obligations or provide or improved outcomes
allocated responsibilities
timeframes

EVIDENCE GUIDE
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:
To demonstrate competence in this unit, a candidate must be able to provide evidence of managing OHS processes for a small organisation or a group(s) or persons undertaking a range of work
Evidence gathered by an assessor to determine competence will include:
written or verbal responses to scenarios and case studies
reports from persons who have been involved in the management process
portfolio of workplace documentation
Evidence of workplace performance over time must be obtained to inform a judgement of competence
Products that could be used as evidence include:
Verbal and written responses to verbal, pictorial or physical scenarios
Demonstrated action to scenarios, simulations, role plays
Completed reports to senior managers
Written directions, emails, memos and other information provided to supervisors in area of responsibility
Reports from team leaders, senior managers, other managers, specialist advisers
Processes that could be used as evidence include:
How training needs were identified and addressed
How action plans are developed, monitored and updated
How hazard identification and risk assessment occur
Access and equity considerations:
All workers should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work
All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment
In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities