Elements and Performance Criteria

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.


WHS legislation varies in different states and will include:
National Work Health and Safety Model
Current relevant State/territory WHS legislation
Relevant state/territory Manual Handling Code of Conduct


Standards include:
Documents produced by national bodies, WHS 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:
Documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standards
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, officers, PCBUs, 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 WHS information include
Persons, organisations and references where knowledge about WHS 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, WHS performance data
reports and audits
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registers
employees handbooks
workers including questionnaire results
Health and Safety Representatives
manufacturers’ manuals and specifications

External, including:
Employee Assistance Program providers and workplace counselling services
relevant state WHS Acts, regulations, codes and guidance material
other relevant legislation
Safe Work Australia
State/territory regulatory bodies
databases such as national and state injury data
WHS specialists and consultants
newspapers and journals, trade/industry publications
internet sites
industry networks and associations including unions and employer groups
WHS professional bodies
specialist advisors
research information


WHS information includes:
Requirements under WHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice/compliance codes and guidelines
Rights and responsibilities
Information on hazards including SDSs
Collated information on hazard incidents and injuries
Investigation and audit reports
Outcomes of hazard identifications and workplace inspections
Risk assessments
Risk controls
Workplace WHS policies and procedures
Work procedures
Training records


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 WHS legislation and regulations for:
Serious incident and injury reporting
Registered plant
Hazardous substances and dangerous goods
Environmental monitoring
Health surveillance
Privacy legislation.


WHS 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
Safety Data Sheet (SDS) 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 workers and other stakeholders of WHS 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 WHS including:
hazard, incident and injury reporting
hazard identification, risk assessment and control
human resources policies and procedures such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs, team meetings, alcohol and drug policies
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


Common workplace hazards (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety Risks - Code of Practice) include:

Manual tasks - Overexertion or repetitive movement can cause muscular strain
Gravity - Falling objects, falls, slips and trips of people can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or death
Electricity - Potential ignition source. Exposure to live electrical wires can cause shock, burns or death from electrocution
Machinery and equipment - Being hit by moving vehicles, or being caught by moving parts of machinery can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, permanent injuries or death
Hazardous chemicals - Chemicals (such as acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitis
Extreme temperatures - Heat can cause burns, heat stroke or fatigue. Cold can cause hypothermia or frost bite
Noise - Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damage
Radiation - Ultra violet, welding arc flashes, micro waves and lasers can cause burns, cancer or blindness
Biological - Micro-organisms can cause hepatitis, legionnaires’ disease, Q fever, HIV/AIDS or allergies
Psychosocial hazards - Effects of work-related stress, bullying, violence and work-related fatigue


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 risk control (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety - Risks Code of Practice) includes:
The ranking of ways control risks ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest, including:
Level 1 controls
Eliminate hazards
Level 2 controls
Substitute the hazard with something safer
Isolate the hazard from people
Use engineering controls
Level 3 controls
Use administrative controls
Use personal protective equipment (PPE)


Expert advisors include:
Persons either internal or external to the organisation including:
safety professionals
ergonomists
employee assistance and workplace counselling services
occupational hygienists
audiologists
safety engineers
toxicologists
occupational health professionals
Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
Health and Safety committees (HSCs)

Other persons providing specific technical knowledge or expertise in areas related to WHS including:
risk managers
health professionals
injury management advisors
legal practitioners with experience in WHS
engineers (e.g. design, acoustic, mechanical, civil)
security and emergency response personnel
workplace trainers and assessors
maintenance and trade persons


WHS induction includes:
The processes by which new workers 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:
officers
PCBUs
Health and Safety representatives (HSRs)
Health and Safety committees (HSCs)
workers and contractors
the community


WHS action plans include:
Documented plans developed within the workplace to implement a systematic approach to WHS management and contain:
actions that support an integrated strategy to address deficiencies, meet obligations or provide for improved outcomes
allocated responsibilities
timeframes

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:
The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills
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 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 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


Access and equity considerations:
All workers in the health industry 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


Related units:
Assessment of this unit should address and build on the content of related unit:
HLTWHS300A Contribute to WHS processes