Elements and Performance Criteria

What processes for consultation are relevant to this standard?
OHS committees, consultation with health and safety representatives, issue resolution procedures and participative/consultative procedures conducted by supervisory staff within the area of managerial responsibility.

Which hazards may be relevant to this unit?
Hazards in the workplace, risks associated with plants and animals, risks associated with bystanders/public, levels of heath and fitness, OHS emergencies in land-based workplaces.

What methods to control a risk may be included?
General duty of care, following regulations and Codes of Practice, use of protective clothing or equipment, handling hazardous substances carefully.

What procedures for dealing with hazardous events may be associated with this unit?
Provision of clear directions to the location of an emergency using relevant National, State and local references.

How can training of adequate number of workers be determined?
By completion of recognised first aid training and maintaining skill levels to ensure that injured workers receive effective treatment while awaiting medical attention.

What records may be included in this standard?
OHS audits and inspections, action taken to control OHS risk, OHS induction and training of workers, registers of hazardous substances (including pesticides), use of hazardous substances and health surveillance results, workers occupational injury and illness, and Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) of hazardous substances.

What specific knowledge is needed to achieve the performance criteria?

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this standard in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below:

Significant hazards in the workplace.
All relevant OHS legislation and Codes of Practice consistent with the elements of competence, the hierarchy of OHS risk control and its implementation for hazards in land-based industries.
Risk control measures.
Hierarchy of control.
Relevant management systems and procedures.
Public safety issues.

What specific skills are needed to achieve the performance criteria?

To achieve the performance criteria, appropriate literacy and numeracy levels as well as some complementary skills are required. These include the ability to:

Develop OHS policies and procedures which demonstrate enterprise commitment to OHS.
Establish and maintain arrangements to ensure the involvement of all employees in the management of OHS.
Establish and maintain procedures for identifying hazards.
Establish and maintain procedures for assessing risks.
Establish and maintain procedures for controlling risks
Establish and maintain enterprise procedures for dealing with hazardous events.
Establish and maintain an OHS safety induction and training program.
Establish and maintain a system for OHS records.
Evaluate the enterprise OHS system and related policies, procedures and programs.
Analyse recorded data to determine where the OHS program can better meet enterprise and employee needs.

Are there other competency standards that could be assessed with this one?
This competency standard could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function.

Essential Assessment Information
There is essential information about

What processes should be applied to this competency standard? There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life, which are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added. The questions below highlight how these processes are applied in this competency standard. Following each question a number in brackets indicates the level to which the key competency needs to be demonstrated where 0 = not required, 1 = perform the process, 2 = perform and administer the process and 3 = perform, administer and design the process.
Communicating ideas and information
By establishing and maintaining participative processes for the management of OHS. (3)

Collecting analysing and organising information
By evaluating the enterprise OHS system. (3)

Planning and organising activities
By ensuring compliance with OHS legislation and codes. (3)

Working with others and in teams
By providing information and training to staff. (3)

Using mathematical ideas and techniques
By calculating costs, setting priorities and developing OHS business plan. (3)

Solving problems
By determining best possible options, setting priorities and overcoming difficulties to reduce injury risk. (3)

Using technology
By using a computer to communicate and record OHS activities. (3)