Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
23/07/2026 7:34 AM AWST
23/07/2026 7:34 AM 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.
Establish and maintain the occupational health and safety system
Establish and maintain the occupational health and safety system
Unit of competency
National Code
PUAOHS004B
PUAOHS004B
State Code
AVM91
AVM91
TGA Status
Replaced
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Replaced
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit covers how to establish, maintain and evaluate an occupational health and safety system in the work environment.This unit is based on the National Guidelines for Integrating Occupational Health and Safety Competencies into National Industry Competency Standards [NOHSC: 7025 (1994)].
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Organise consultation process
- 1.1 Relevant personnel or other representative personnel are identified and invited into the development and maintenance processes.
- 1.2 Issues raised through consultation are effectively handled according to issue resolution procedures.
- 1.3 Results from the consultation process are verified and made available to relevant personnel.
- 1.4 Consultative processes are flexible and consistent with representatives requirements.
2. Design Occupational Health and Safety framework
- 2.1 Hazards and risks are correctly identified and confirmed according to occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice and prevailing trends.
- 2.2 Procedure for ongoing identification of hazards and risks is developed and integrated within work systems and procedures.
- 2.3 Occupational health and safety policies are developed in line with relevant legislation.
- 2.4 Occupational health and safety responsibilities and duties are clearly defined and incorporated into job descriptions/statements.
- 2.5 Adequate resources are sourced and provided in a timely and consistent manner.
- 2.6 Measures to control assessed risks are developed and implemented in accordance with the hierarchy of control, relevant occupational health and safety legislation, codes of practice and trends.
- 2.7 Interim solutions are implemented until a permanent control measure is developed. Details are recorded clearly and efficiently according to organisation policy and procedures and relevant legislation.
3. Design and implement an Occupational Health and Safety awareness training program
- 3.1 Educational information on the occupational health and safety system is made available to all relevant personnel.
- 3.2 Appropriate training is provided to all relevant personnel to enable the implementation of safety procedures.
4. Establish, monitor and maintain Occupational Health and safety system
- 4.1 A system for keeping occupational health and safety records is established in accordance with legislative requirements.
- 4.2 Work activities are monitored to ensure that hazard identification and risk assessment and control procedures are effectively adopted.
- 4.3 Inadequacies in hazard identification, risk assessment and established risk control measures are identified in accordance with the hierarchy of control and reported to designated personnel.
- 4.4 Amendments to procedures are undertaken through appropriate consultation methods.
5. Establish and maintain a system for accident investigation
- 5.1 A system is developed and implemented for reporting and investigation of all accidents/incidents in accordance with the policies and procedures.
- 5.2 Training is provided to employees responsible for accident investigation for effective implementation of accident investigation policy.
- 5.3 Policies and procedures for reporting and investigating all accidents/incidents are reviewed and updated as required.
6. Evaluate the organisation's Occupational Health and Safety system and related policies procedures and programs
- 6.1 The effectiveness of the occupational health and safety system and related policies, procedures and programs is assessed according to the organisation's occupational health and safety policy.
- 6.2 Improvements to the occupational health and safety system are developed and implemented.
- 6.3 Compliance with occupational health and safety legislation and codes of practice is assessed to ensure that legal occupational health and safety standards are maintained.
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 in the Performance Criteria is detailed below.
Occupational Health and Safety policies may:
express the organisation’s commitment to OHS, and demonstrate consistency of application across the organisation’s policies
Resources may include:
financial and human
Information should be:
clear
concise
written in plain English where possible
in suitable format for particular target group
timely
Consultative process may include:
meetings
workshops
reports
Persons involved in consultation may include:
employer
employee
representative body (regulator, unions)
independent advisor
Occupational Health and Safety trends:
occupational health and safety trends may be identified from the occupational health and safety records system
System used to record safety details may:
allow the recording and identification of patterns of occupational injury and disease
Occupational Health and Safety training program may be:
internal or external
fulfil employees’ occupational health and safety needs as identified
as part of the organisation’s general training program
Hazard identification and risk assessment may include:
visual inspections
reports
notices
situational analyses
Hazards may be:
existing or potential
Hazardous procedures may include:
work practices
equipment
situations
Hazardous events may include:
accidents
fires
emergencies such as chemical spills and bomb scares
Procedures for dealing with hazardous events may include:
evacuation
chemical containment
first aid procedures
PIN notice
ceasing activity
Interim measures may be necessary when:
measures that control a risk at its source are not immediately practicable
Processes for consultation may include:
occupational health and safety committees
consultation with health and safety representatives
resolution procedures
participative/consultative procedures conducted by supervisory staff within the area of managerial responsibility
union/association and management meetings
Monitoring of activities may include:
review of written reports
performance appraisal
auditing procedures
observation of work task
Relevant personnel may include:
managers
supervisors
occupational health and safety officer/manager
permanent and part time workers
representative personnel
suppliers
staff organisation
Occupational Health and Safety policies may:
express the organisation’s commitment to OHS, and demonstrate consistency of application across the organisation’s policies
Resources may include:
financial and human
Information should be:
clear
concise
written in plain English where possible
in suitable format for particular target group
timely
Consultative process may include:
meetings
workshops
reports
Persons involved in consultation may include:
employer
employee
representative body (regulator, unions)
independent advisor
Occupational Health and Safety trends:
occupational health and safety trends may be identified from the occupational health and safety records system
System used to record safety details may:
allow the recording and identification of patterns of occupational injury and disease
Occupational Health and Safety training program may be:
internal or external
fulfil employees’ occupational health and safety needs as identified
as part of the organisation’s general training program
Hazard identification and risk assessment may include:
visual inspections
reports
notices
situational analyses
Hazards may be:
existing or potential
Hazardous procedures may include:
work practices
equipment
situations
Hazardous events may include:
accidents
fires
emergencies such as chemical spills and bomb scares
Procedures for dealing with hazardous events may include:
evacuation
chemical containment
first aid procedures
PIN notice
ceasing activity
Interim measures may be necessary when:
measures that control a risk at its source are not immediately practicable
Processes for consultation may include:
occupational health and safety committees
consultation with health and safety representatives
resolution procedures
participative/consultative procedures conducted by supervisory staff within the area of managerial responsibility
union/association and management meetings
Monitoring of activities may include:
review of written reports
performance appraisal
auditing procedures
observation of work task
Relevant personnel may include:
managers
supervisors
occupational health and safety officer/manager
permanent and part time workers
representative personnel
suppliers
staff organisation
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Demonstrated understanding of principles and practices for Occupational Health and Safety.
Demonstrated understanding of the significance of other management systems and procedures for occupational health and safety.
Consistency in performance
Evidence will need to be gathered over time across a range of variables.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Evidence must include observation of performance in the work environment or a simulation. Written and verbal tests may be used as supporting evidence. Competence may be demonstrated working individually or under the guidance of or as a member of a team with specialist occupational health and safety staff or managers.
Specific resources for assessment
No special requirements.
Demonstrated understanding of principles and practices for Occupational Health and Safety.
Demonstrated understanding of the significance of other management systems and procedures for occupational health and safety.
Consistency in performance
Evidence will need to be gathered over time across a range of variables.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Context of assessment
Evidence must include observation of performance in the work environment or a simulation. Written and verbal tests may be used as supporting evidence. Competence may be demonstrated working individually or under the guidance of or as a member of a team with specialist occupational health and safety staff or managers.
Specific resources for assessment
No special requirements.
Replaced By
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| OAX44 | PUAWHS004 | Establish and maintain the work, health and safety system | Unit of competency |
