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
they may be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action.
Codes of practice/compliance codes are:
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
documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standards.
Guidance material:
advises on 'what to do' and 'how to do it'
has no legal standing
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.
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 analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments
organisation 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
Office of the Australian Safety and Compensation Council (ASCC) and the former National Occupational Health and Safety Commission (NOHSC) 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:
collated information on hazard incidents and injuries
information on hazards, including MSDS
investigation and audit reports
outcomes of hazard identifications and workplace inspections
requirements under OHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice/compliance codes and guidelines
rights and responsibilities
risk assessments
risk controls
training records
workplace OHS policies and procedures
work procedures.
Risk controls include:
the devices and methods to, where practicable, eliminate the hazard or, 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
JSA and risk assessments
MSDS 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
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.
Organisation policies and procedures include:
policies and procedures underpinning the management of OHS including:
hazard, incident and injury reporting
hazard identification, risk assessment and control
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 hazards may include, but are not limited to:
animal bits, envenomation, kicks, scratches or crush injuries
biological hazardous waste
bodily fluids
chemicals and medicines
gas leakage
manual handling, including carrying, lifting and shifting
moving parts of equipment or machinery
noise
radiation
sharps
underfoot hazards
work posture
zoonoses.
Other workplace hazards may include:
bullying
fatigue
occupational violence
stress.
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 and may be required:
at design or pre-purchase of equipment and 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 combining these in some way to obtain a level of risk.
Hierarchy of control is:
the preferred order of control measures for OHS risks:
elimination (e.g. 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 (e.g. policies and procedures for safe work practices)
personal protective equipment (e.g. respirators and ear plugs).
Expert advisors include:
persons either internal or external to the organisation, including:
audiologists
ergonomists
occupational health professionals
occupational hygienists
safety engineers
safety professionals
toxicologists
other persons providing specific technical knowledge or expertise in areas related to OHS, including:
engineers (e.g. design, acoustic, mechanical and civil)
health professionals
injury management advisors
legal practitioners with experience in OHS
maintenance and trade persons
risk managers
security and emergency response personnel
workplace trainers and assessors.
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 and
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:
employees and contractors
health and safety and other employee representatives
managers
OHS committees
supervisors
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 for 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.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
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 of 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 processes
portfolio of workplace documents.

Evidence of workplace performance over time must be obtained to inform a judgement of competence.

Context of and specific resources for assessment
Products that could be used as evidence include:
verbal and written responses to verbal, pictorial or physical scenarios
demonstrated action to scenarios, simulations and 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 advisors.

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
how incident investigation occurs.
Method of assessment
This unit should be assessed together with other units of competence relevant to the function or work role.

Guidance information for assessment
Access and equity considerations:
All assessment should be applied with respect torelevant work-related access and equity issues
Competence should reflect an ability to work in a culturally diverse environment.
Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities.