Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 3:18 PM AWST
22/07/2026 3:18 PM AWST
Whilst all efforts are made to provide accurate and timely information from the relevant source/documentation, please be aware that the information supplied may not be the most current version. The accuracy of the detail has not been confirmed by the Department and therefore should not be relied upon without first confirming the contents.
Ensure a safe workplace
Ensure a safe workplace
Unit of competency
National Code
BSBWHS501
BSBWHS501
State Code
AUM01
AUM01
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Transition (Replaced)
Transition (Replaced)
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
15/09/2015
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
15/09/2015
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish, maintain and evaluate the organisation’s work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and programs in the relevant work area, according to WHS legislative requirements. It takes a systems approach and addresses compliance with relevant legislative requirements. This unit applies to managers working in a range of contexts who have, or are likely to have responsibility for WHS as part of their broader management role. It is relevant for people with obligations under WHS legislation, for example persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) or officers, as defined by relevant legislation.NOTE: The terms 'occupational health and safety' (OHS) and 'work health and safety' (WHS) are equivalent and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the Model WHS Legislation has not been implemented RTOs are advised to contextualise the unit of competency by referring to the existing State/Territory OHS legislative requirements.No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1 Establish a WHS management system in a work area
- 1.1 Locate, adapt, adopt and communicate WHS policies that clearly define the organisation’s commitment to complying with WHS legislation
- 1.2 Identify duty holders and define WHS responsibilities for all workplace personnel in the work area according to WHS legislation, policies, procedures and programs
- 1.3 Identify and approve financial and human resources required by the WHS management system (WHSMS)
2 Establish and maintain effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS in a work area
- 2.1 Work with workers and their representatives to set up and maintain participation arrangements according to relevant WHS legislation
- 2.2 Appropriately resolve issues raised through participation and consultation arrangements according to relevant WHS legislation
- 2.3 Promptly provide information about the outcomes of participation and consultation to workers and ensure it is easy for them to access and understand
3 Establish and maintain procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks in a work area
- 3.1 Develop procedures for ongoing hazard identification, and assessment and control of associated risks
- 3.2 Include hazard identification at the planning, design and evaluation stages of any change in the workplace to ensure that new hazards are not created by the proposed changes and existing hazards are controlled
- 3.3 Develop and maintain procedures for selecting and implementing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control and WHS legislative requirements
- 3.4 Identify inadequacies in existing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control and WHS legislative requirements, and promptly provide resources to enable implementation of new measures
- 3.5 Identify requirements for expert WHS advice, and request this advice as required
4 Evaluate and maintain a work area WHS management system
- 4.1 Develop and provide a WHS induction and training program for all workers in a work area as part of the organisation’s training program
- 4.2 Use a system for WHS record keeping to allow identification of patterns of occupational injury and disease in the organisation, and to maintain a record of WHS decisions made, including reasons for the decision
- 4.3 Measure and evaluate the WHSMS in line with the organisation’s quality systems framework
- 4.4 Develop and implement improvements to the WHSMS to achieve organisational WHS objectives
- 4.5 Ensure compliance with the WHS legislative framework to achieve, as a minimum, WHS legal requirements
No information
No information
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| WE733 | BSBWHS501A | Ensure a safe workplace | Unit of competency |
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OBA88 | BSBWHS521 | Ensure a safe workplace for a work area | Unit of competency |