Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:32 PM AWST
22/07/2026 10:32 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 for a work area
Ensure a safe workplace for a work area
Unit of competency
National Code
BSBWHS521
BSBWHS521
State Code
OBA88
OBA88
TGA Status
Current
Current
DTWD Status
Approved
Approved
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
13/12/2019
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
13/12/2019
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish, maintain and evaluate an organisation’s work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and programs in a work area to ensure a safe workplace, according to WHS legislative requirements. It takes a systems approach and addresses compliance with relevant legislative requirements.The unit applies to those 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 laws, for example persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) or officers, as defined by WHS laws.NOTES1. 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 model WHS laws have not been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements.2. The model WHS laws include the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations and model WHS Codes of Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information.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 define the organisation’s commitment to complying with WHS laws
- 1.2 Identify duty holders and define WHS responsibilities for all workplace personnel in the work area according to WHS laws, policies, procedures and programs
- 1.3 Identify and approve financial and human resources required by the WHS management system (WHSMS) according to organisational procedures
2. Establish and maintain effective and compliant consultative arrangements for managing WHS in a work area
- 2.1 Work with required personnel to set up and maintain consultative arrangements according to required WHS laws
- 2.2 Resolve issues raised through participation and consultation arrangements according to required WHS laws and organisational protocols
- 2.3 Provide information about consultation and participation outcomes to required personnel according to organisational policies and procedures
3. Establish and maintain procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks in 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 workplace change to ensure that new hazards are not created by 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 measures and WHS legislative requirements
- 3.4 Identify inadequacies in existing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control measures 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, according to organisational procedures
4. Evaluate and maintain a work area WHS management system (WHSMS)
- 4.1 Develop and provide a WHS induction and training program for required personnel in a work area as part of organisation’s training program
- 4.2 Use a system for WHS recordkeeping 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 decisions
- 4.3 Measure and evaluate the WHSMS according to organisation’s quality systems framework
- 4.4 Develop and implement improvements to WHSMS to achieve organisational WHS objectives according to organisational procedures
- 4.5 Ensure compliance with WHS legislative framework to achieve, as a minimum, WHS legal requirements
No information
No information
Replaces
| State Code | National Code | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUM01 | BSBWHS501 | Ensure a safe workplace | Unit of competency |