Elements and Performance Criteria

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, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
OHS (also known as workplace health and safety) legislation may include:
general duty of care under OHS legislation and common law
provisions relating to:
OHS issue resolution
roles and responsibilities of health and safety representatives and OHS committees
regulations and codes of practice, including those relating to hazards present in the workplace or industry
requirements for:
maintenance and confidentiality of records of occupational injury and disease
provision of OHS information and training
state, territory and commonwealth OHS Acts and regulations.
Workplace procedures may include:
assessing and controlling risks
consultation and participation arrangements for employees
emergency responses
housekeeping
incident investigation
OHS procedures, including:
issue resolution
providing OHS information
record keeping
reporting OHS issues
training and assessment
safe operating procedures or instructions that cover but are not limited to:
awareness of electrical hazards
confined space procedures
provision of first aid
safe use of tools and equipment
working safely around electrical wiring, cables and overhead powerlines
specific hazards
reporting OHS issues
use of personal protective equipment
workplace safety inspections.
Work group members may include:
contractors authorised by the organisation to perform specified work or functions
employees under direct supervision
entry-level trainees
full-time, part-time and casual employees
trainee supervisors and trainee team leaders.
Company requirements may include:
counselling and disciplinary processes
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchase of supplies and equipment
work procedures and work instructions, including those relating to disposing of, re-using or recycling resources.
Information may be:
about hazards and risk-management procedures
about nature of work, tasks and procedures
as part of providing direct supervision, such as to inexperienced workers
for induction of new workers
to assist in work tasks
to communicate legislation and codes of practice, such as those relating to work area hazards.
Readily accessible refers to information that:
caters for individual language and literacy levels
conforms to the principles of plain English
is openly available.
Appropriate personnel may include:
health and safety representatives
managers
OHS personnel
other persons, including emergency service personnel, authorised or nominated by the organisation or industry to:
approve specified work
direct specified work or functions
inspect specified work
perform specified work or functions.
Participating may include:
formal and informal meetings of:
OHS committees
other committees, such as consultative, planning and purchasing
health and safety representatives
suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward by employees to management.
Contributions may include:
behaviour that contributes to a safe workplace
listening to ideas and opinions of others in work group
sharing opinions, views, skills and knowledge.
Identifying hazards and assessing risks may include:
audits
assessing job and work system
checking work area and equipment before and during work
housekeeping
identifying employee concerns
maintaining plant and equipment
reviewing material safety data sheets (MSDS) and manufacturer or supplier information when purchasing supplies and equipment
reviewing OHS records, including registers of:
hazardous substances
dangerous goods
workplace inspections.
Controlling risks may include:
administrative controls
application of the hierarchy of control, namely:
elimination of the risk
substitution controls
engineering controls
administrative controls, including training
personal protective equipment (PPE).
Emergency procedures may include:
accident and incident reporting
chemical containment
evacuations
following instructions from authorised or appropriate personnel during hazardous events
provision of first aid.
Hazardous events may include:
accidents, including motor vehicle accidents
bomb threats
chemical spills
environmental issues
fires and explosions
inhalation of dangerous substances
natural disasters
public health issues
violent incidents, such as armed robberies.
Hazards may include those associated with:
electrical and mechanical faults of plant or equipment
blocked exits
environment
ergonomics
obstructions
reliance on low-order control measures to reduce worker risk instead of controlling the hazard
slippery or uneven floors
unlabelled chemicals and substances
untidy or noisy work areas.
OHS training needs may include:
emergency and evacuation training
induction training
specific hazard training
specific task or equipment training
training as part of broader programs, such as equipment operation.
Training may include:
coaching and mentoring
off-the-job training
on-the-job training
presenting and promoting benefits of a safe workplace
providing encouragement
providing feedback and clarifying points where necessary.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
This unit of competency could be assessed by observing at least two instances of contributing to workplace safety arrangements.
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
A person who demonstrates competency in this unit must be able to provide evidence of the required skills and knowledge specified in this unit.
In particular the person should demonstrate the ability to:
identify and encourage compliance with OHS legal requirements within a work group
apply organisational requirements and work procedures to OHS within a work group
share information with a work group about workplace procedures pertaining to health and safety in a readily accessible manner
apply a consultative and open approach to identification of hazards within a work group and ensure unresolved issues are referred to appropriate personnel
identify and assist with meeting the OHS training needs of a work group
apply equity principles for the purpose of accepting and respecting individual differences within a work group.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment of essential underpinning knowledge may be conducted in an off-site context. It is to comply with relevant regulatory or Australian standards’ requirements.
Resource implications for assessment include access to:
assessment documentation forms and record books
manuals and relevant documentation outlining OHS policies and procedures
OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice relevant to the workplace
suitable work area, or a simulated workplace environment, that allows for hazard identification, risk assessment and application of risk control measures.
Method of assessment
Assessment methods must:
satisfy the endorsed Assessment Guidelines of the Property Services Training Package
include direct observation of tasks in real or simulated work conditions, with questioning to confirm the ability to consistently identify and correctly interpret the essential underpinning knowledge required for practical application
reinforce the integration of employability skills with workplace tasks and job roles
confirm that competency is verified and able to be transferred to other circumstances and environments.
This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other units relevant to the job function.
Guidance information for assessment
Reasonable adjustments for people with disabilities must be made to assessment processes where required. This could include access to modified equipment and other physical resources, and the provision of appropriate assessment support.
Assessment processes and techniques should as far as is practical take into account the language, literacy and numeracy capacity of the candidate in relation to the competency being assessed.