Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 3:09 PM AWST

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Contribute to the systematic management of WHS risk

Contribute to the systematic management of WHS risk

Unit of competency
National Code
BSBWHS503A
State Code
WE735
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
18/12/2012
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
25/06/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
25/06/2014
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to contribute to the systematic management of work health and safety (WHS) risk. It addresses the processes and techniques necessary to contribute to the systematic management of WHS risk.
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Access information and data to contribute to the systematic management of WHS risk
  • 1.1 Identify sources of information and data
  • 1.2 Obtain information and data to determine the purposes, objectives, principles and framework of a systematic approach to managing WHS risk
2. Contribute to effective consultation and participation during all stages of the risk-management process
  • 2.1 Identify individuals and parties who need to participate and be consulted
  • 2.2 Apply knowledge of effective consultation and participation to contribute to ensuring effective consultation and participation processes occur
3. Contribute to establishing the context for risk management
  • 3.1 Apply knowledge of WHS legislation to identify duty holders and legislative requirements for WHS risk management
  • 3.2 Identify individuals and parties impacting on risk management
  • 3.3 Apply knowledge of organisation to identify factors that will impact on risk control
  • 3.4 Contribute to establishing the context of the risk-management process
  • 3.5 Contribute to defining risk criteria
4. Contribute to risk assessment
  • 4.1 Apply knowledge of workplace hazards and risks to contribute to risk identification
  • 4.2 Apply knowledge of WHS legislation, risk assessment and workplace WHS information and data to contribute to risk analysis and evaluation
5. Contribute to risk treatment
  • 5.1 Apply knowledge of WHS hazard and risk control, and WHS legislation to contribute to the selection of risk treatment options
  • 5.2 Apply knowledge of the organisation’s WHS management system (WHSMS) and WHS information system (WHSIS) to prepare and implement risk treatments
6. Contribute to monitoring, reviewing and recording risk-management process
  • 6.1 Apply knowledge of the organisation’s WHSMS to contribute to monitoring and reviewing risk-management process
  • 6.2 Apply knowledge of the organisation’s WHSIS to contribute to recording risk-management process
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.

Sources of information and data may include:
Australian Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000-2009 Risk management - Principles and guidelines
Standards Australia publication HB 327:2010 Communicating and consulting about risk (Companion to AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009)
Standards Australia publication HB 158-2010 Delivering assurance based on ISO 31000:2009 - Risk management - Principles and guidelines
industry associations
Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
unions
WHS professionals
WHS professional associations
WHS specialists.
Individuals and parties may include:
contractors and suppliers
health and safety committees
health and safety representatives
industry associations
managers and supervisors
PCBUs or their officers
unions
WHS inspectors
WHS professionals
WHS professional associations
WHS regulators
WHS specialists
workers.
WHS legislation may include:
WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice, including the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks.
Duty holders may include:
as specified in WHS Acts:
PCBUs or their officers
workers
other persons at a workplace.
Context of the risk-management process may include:
as specified in Australian Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000-2009 Risk management - Principles and guidelines
as specified in WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and standards, including the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
organisational requirements, such as integration with work processes, and other organisational systems, for example information technology, human resources, quality, management and environment.
Risk criteria may include:
as specified in Australian Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000-2009 Risk management - Principles and guidelines
as specified in WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and standards, including the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks.
Risk identification may include:
analysing existing WHS information - desktop identification
as specified in Australian Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000-2009 Risk management - Principles and guidelines
as specified in the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
incident investigations
using hazard registers
workplace inspections.
Risk analysis and evaluation may include:
as specified in Australian Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000-2009 Risk management - Principles and guidelines
meeting requirements of WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and standards, including the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
gathering information on hazards to see what harms they may cause
assessing who and how many may be harmed by a hazard
examining acceptability of a risk
examining severity and likelihood of harm occurring
using risk level matrices to rate and prioritise risks.
Risk treatment options may include:
as specified in Australian Standard AS/NZS ISO 31000-2009 Risk management - Principles and guidelines
options based on the hierarchy of control
options based on the as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP) principle
options that meet the requirements of WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and standards, including the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks.
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

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
Evidence of the following is essential:

contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of a systematic approach to WHS risk management
knowledge of pertinent sections of relevant Australian standards and WHS Acts, regulations, codes of practice and standards, including the Safe Work Australia model Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks
preparing an action plan to implement a systematic approach to WHS risk management
preparing positive performance indicators for evaluation of a systematic approach to WHS risk management.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:

actual workplaces and stakeholder groups
office equipment and resources
relevant legislation, standards and guidelines
workplace documentation
reports from other parties consulted during the approach to WHS risk management.
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
demonstration of techniques used to identify, analyse, evaluate, control and monitor risks
direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party reports of onthejob performance by the candidate
observation of performance in role plays
observation of presentations
review of information and data communicated to stakeholders about the WHS risk process
assessment of comparison of outcomes of WHS risk analysis with criteria
review of documentation of process and outcomes of analysis and evaluation of WHS risk of a task or process.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

BSBWHS502A Manage effective WHS consultation and participation processes
BSBWHS504A Manage WHS hazards and risks
BSBWHS506A Contribute to developing, implementing and maintaining WHS management systems
BSBWHS507A Contribute to managing WHS information systems
BSBWHS508A Manage WHS hazards associated with plant.
Replaces
State Code National Code Title Type
D0906 BSBOHS504B Apply principles of OHS risk management Unit of competency
Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
AUM38 BSBWHS503 Contribute to the systematic management of WHS risk Unit of competency