Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 1:40 AM AWST

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Advise on application of safe design principles to control OHS risk

Advise on application of safe design principles to control OHS risk

Unit of competency
National Code
BSBOHS607B
State Code
D0918
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
10/03/2009
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
31/07/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
31/07/2014
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to advise on applying safe design principles to control occupational health and safety (OHS) risk during a product's life cycle.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Advise on the OHS requirements of the design process
  • 1.1. Inform decision makers about their responsibility for the safety of downstream users and beneficiaries
  • 1.2. Advise decision makers of their obligation under law to design and supply a safe designed product by eliminating OHS hazards and controlling for residual OHS risk
  • 1.3. Promote OHS within the design requirements and include an overall risk evaluation of the designed product's life cycle
  • 1.4. Source and make available to decision makers the most current information of OHS principles, materials, technology and systems for application in the design of the product
  • 1.5. Identify and make available required education and training to enable decision makers to have the necessary skills and knowledge to identify and eliminate OHS hazards, and to control OHS risk in the design phase
  • 1.6. Identify and access relevant sources of information and data, for equipment users in particular
  • 1.7. Consult potential users of the equipment during the design phase
  • 1.8. Identify situations where specialist advisors may be required
2. Develop a systematic hazard identification and OHS risk evaluation system for safe design
  • 2.1. Identify OHS hazards and conduct a risk analysis of associated risks across the life cycle of the designed product
  • 2.2. Guide the selection and implementation of the most appropriate OHS risk controls for the designed product from a systematic analysis of the likelihood and consequences of injury or illness arising from exposure to identified OHS hazards
  • 2.3. Ensure hazard identification and risk analysis includes potential alterations to the designed product during its life
  • 2.4. Document decision making during the OHS risk evaluation process and make accessible to all parties
  • 2.5. Establish a residual risk register, recording OHS hazards not eliminated in the design together with possible control strategies, and distribute this information to those involved in the downstream or subsequent life cycle stages
  • 2.6. Monitor the design as it evolves to identify potential new OHS hazards and to manage risks if they become evident
3. Advise on principles of OHS risk control
  • 3.1. Base design to minimise risk on the hierarchy of control
  • 3.2. Minimise the impact of possible failure or defect, by ensuring the designed product includes fail-to-safe action
4. Advise on consultation processes between people involved in the life cycle of the designed product
  • 4.1. Advise decision makers to consider the needs of the range of people who will use or interact with the designed product
  • 4.2. Arrange consultation between all parties during the concept and detailed design phases to identify and eliminate OHS hazards and minimise risk
  • 4.3. Appropriately communicate residual OHS risk in the designed product to those who will use or interact with the designed product throughout its life cycle
5. Advise on contractual arrangements and procurement systems to minimise 'purchased' OHS risk
  • 5.1. Advise decision makers involved in purchasing and contractual arrangements to include a requirement to eliminate OHS hazards, minimise OHS risks, and provide information and data on residual OHS risk
  • 5.2. Include an agreement to carry out a safe design approach in the design brief or draft specifications
any party with influence over the specifications of the designed product including:
designer
client or commissioning agent
financier
manufacturer
supplier
purchaser
installer
user
insurer
importer
erector
maintainer
regulator
employees of these agents.

source or situation with a potential for harm in terms of:
human injury or ill health
damage to property
damage to the environment
a combination of the above.

Australian and international anthropometric databases
commonwealth, state and territory OHS and other regulatory bodies
employer groups and unions
government and other advisory bodies such as Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Consumers Association, Australian Safety and Compensation Council
industry advisory bodies
international and Australian Standards, codes of practice and guidance material
professional associations such as Ergonomics Society of Australia, Engineers Australia, Safety Institute of Australia
research literature.

architects, interior designers and builders
building surveyors and certifiers
design professionals
drafts people, quantity surveyors and surveyors
engineers (such as design, acoustic, safety, mechanical, chemical, civil)
health professionals
insurers
legal practitioners
maintenance and trades personnel
manufacturers
occupational hygienists
specialist ergonomists
suppliers and distributors
technical professionals
workplace trainers and assessors.

defining the range of consequences
assessing the effectiveness of existing controls
deciding the likelihood of each consequence
combining these is some way to obtain a level of risk.

design
construction/manufacture
supply/installation
use
maintenance/servicing
decommissioning/dismantling
disposal.

assumptions
description of consequences and their likelihood
effectiveness of existing controls
factors affecting level of risk
further information and data, and investigation required
groups involved/consulted
information and data used in estimates
methods used
uncertainty in analysis.

comparison of risk with pre-established criteria for tolerance (or as low as reasonably achievable) and the subsequent ranking of risks requiring control

list of the risks including:
an indication of the likelihood of the consequence/s occurring
possible consequence/s or outcome/s in terms of injury or damage
scenarios or circumstances under which damage or injury may occur.

eliminating the hazard
and where this is not practicable, minimising risk by:
substitution
isolating the hazard from personnel
using engineering controls
using administrative controls (e.g. procedures, training)
using personal protective equipment (PPE).

builder
commissioning agent
contractors
designer
disposer
importer
installer
maintenance agencies
manufacturer
supplier and/or distributor
user.

purchase order
specifications
statement of work
supplier pre-qualification
tender documentation.

form or outline of document for design brief
instructions
technical requirements or specifications for a designed product, structure, item, system or process.

Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

application of OHS risk controls within a collaborative safe design process
products developed for effective application of knowledge and skill in applying OHS risk controls in a safe design process
use of these products
knowledge of professional liability in relation to providing advice.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

access to reports from other parties consulted in developing appropriate interactions between people involved in the life cycle of the designed product
access to relevant legislation, standards and guidelines, research or industry data
access to workplace documentation.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

analysis of responses to case studies and scenarios
direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
demonstration of techniques used to apply principles to control OHS risk
observation of performance in role plays
observation of presentations
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of direct and indirect influences that impact on OHS and the environment in the design of product/s
review of information made available in relation to OHS principles, materials, technology and systems for application in the design of the product
evaluation of consultation of potential users of the equipment during the design phase
review of residual risk register established
assessment of decision making documented during the OHS risk evaluation process.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

BSBOHS504B Apply principles of OHS risk management
BSBOHS505C Manage hazards in the work environment.

Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
C7808 BSBOHS607A Advise on application of safe design principles to control OHS risk Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
WE751 BSBWHS609A Advise on the application of safe design principles to control WHS risks Unit of competency