Elements and Performance Criteria

General context
Work must be carried out in compliance with mandatory OHS rules and regulations and IMO Conventions and Codes including the relevant sections of the AMSA Marine Orders and the ISM Code.

Work is performed relatively independently under broad operational requirements, with accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the prescribed outcomes.

Work involves the application of safety management and hazard and risk control principles to the management of workplace safety on a vessel across a wide and often unpredictable variety of operational contexts. Contribution to the development and implementation of a broad management plan or strategy for shipboard safety is required and accountability and responsibility for self and others in achieving the outcomes is involved.

Work requires significant judgement, leadership and technical expertise in development and implementation of safety management plans, the formulation of safe working practices and procedures and the development of hazard and risk control strategies. This includes management, training and control of personnel, interpretation of safety regulations and statutory requirements and the identification and analysis of the workplace hazards and safety risks on board a vessel.

Worksite environment
Vessel may include any Australian or international commercial vessel.

Safety management plans must encompass all work areas on board vessel, including those involving work in enclosed spaces, exposed conditions and controlled or open environment.

Safe working practices and hazard and safety risk control strategies must be applied at all times including:
by day or night in both normal and emergency situations
under any permissible conditions of weather and loading
while underway
during berthing and unberthing operations
while anchoring or mooring
when slipped or in dry-dock
when bunkering
during cargo operations.

Emergencies may include:
loss of propulsion
loss of electrical power
loss of steerage
flooding of vessel
fire or explosion
loss of refrigeration
loss of water making ability
fuel oil, lubrication oil, steam and gas leaks
overheating and overspeed of machinery, governors, emergency trips
dangerous atmosphere.

Workplace hazards may include but are not restricted to:
moving heavy loads in an unsafe work environment
unsecured machinery, components or repaired equipment
slippery deck
welding equipment
sharp tools and implements
power tools
moving and rotating machinery
flammable liquids, vapours and fuel
faulty machinery equipment handling equipment and lifting gear
using equipment beyond safe working limits
poor housekeeping procedures
non-compliance with safe working procedures
electrical wiring and systems, including exposed electrical circuits
hot pipes and valves (steam, fuel oil, lubricating oil)
cold pipes and valves (refrigeration and liquefied gas cargoes)
working at heights
toxic gases and substances
chemicals and other harmful substances
damaged cargo and containers, dangerous cargoes.

Establishment and maintenance of an OHS management framework may include:
policy development and updating
determining the ways in which OHS will be managed. This may include distinct occupational health and safety management activities, or inclusion of OHS functions within a range of management functions and operations such as:
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchasing of materials and equipment
designing operations, work flow and materials handling
planning or implementing alterations to site, plant, operations or work systems
mechanisms for review and allocation of human, technical and financial resources needed to manage OHS, including defining and allocating OHS responsibilities for all relevant positions
mechanisms for keeping up to date with relevant OHS information and updating the management systems
arrangements for OHS, for example, information on health effects of hazards, technical developments in risk control and environmental monitoring and changes to legislation
mechanisms to assess and update occupational health and safety management arrangements relevant to legislative requirements
a system for communicating occupational health and safety information to crew, officers and others onboard vessel.

Establishment and maintenance of participative arrangements for management of OHS may cover:
OHS committees and other committees for example consultative planning and purchasing
health and safety representatives
employee and supervisor involvement in OHS management activities for example OHS inspections audits environmental monitoring risk assessment and risk control
procedures for reporting hazards safety risks and OHS issues by managers and employees
inclusion of OHS in consultative or other meetings and processes.

Establishment and maintenance of procedures for identifying hazards may include developing and updating procedures for:
workplace inspections, including plant and equipment audits
maintaining and analysing OHS records, including environmental monitoring and health surveillance reports
maintenance of plant and equipment
reviews of materials and equipment purchases including manufacturers and suppliers information
employee reporting of OHS issues
shipboard OHS reports to company and AMSA.

Establishment and maintenance of procedures for assessing safety risks may include developing and updating procedures for:
determining the likelihood and severity of adverse consequences from hazards
OHS audits
workplace inspections, work permits
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchasing of materials and equipment
planning or implementing alterations to site operations or work systems
analysis of relevant records and reports, for example injuries and incidents hazardous substances inventories/registers, audit and environmental monitoring reports and OHS committee records.

Establishment and maintenance of procedures for controlling safety risks may include developing and updating procedures for:
assessing the OHS consequences of materials, plant or equipment prior to purchase;
obtaining expert advice
appropriate application of measures according to the hierarchy of control, namely:
elimination of the risk
engineering controls
administrative controls
requirements for the use of personal protective clothing and equipment
designing safe operations and systems of work
inclusion of new OHS information into procedures
checking compliance with regulatory requirements.

Establishment and maintenance of organisational procedures for hazardous events may include developing and updating procedures for:
making inventories of, and inspecting, high risk operations
inspecting systems and operations associated with potentially hazardous events, for example: emergency communications, links to emergency services, fire fighting, chemical spill containment
first aid services.

Establishment and maintenance of an OHS training program may include:
arrangements for ongoing assessment of training needs, for example, relating to:
training for specific hazards or hazardous tasks or equipment
training or drills for emergencies and evacuations
specific training required under OHS legislation
allocation of resources for OHS training, including acquisition of training resources
development of staff training skills and purchase of training services
induction safety training for new crew
training for new operations, transfer to new assignments, materials or equipment.

Establishment and maintenance of a system for OHS records may cover identifying records required under OHS legislation, for example:
worker's compensation and rehabilitation records
hazardous substances registers.

Evaluation of the organisation's OHS system may include arrangements for:
reviewing the effectiveness of the OHS management system
regular review of operating procedures
regular analysis of OHS records
audits against OHS legislative requirements
shipboard OHS reports to company and AMSA.

Sources of information/documents
Documentation/records may include:
ISM Code safety management system plans, procedures, checklists and instructions
vessel and company's safety management policies, emergency contingency plans and procedures
identifying records required under OHS legislation, for example:
worker's compensation and rehabilitation records
hazardous substances registers
Material Safety Data Sheets
major accident/injury notifications and
certificates and licences
manufacturers and suppliers OHS information
OHS audits and inspection reports
maintenance and testing reports
workplace environmental monitoring and health surveillance records
records of instruction and training and
first aid/medical post records.

Applicable International, Australian and State/Territory regulations and legislation
Applicable procedures and codes may include:
relevant sections of national and international regulations, IMO Conventions and Codes, including AMSA Marine Orders and class society rules dealing with OHS in shipboard workplaces
relevant international, Australian and State/Territory OH&S legislation, particularly:
OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice, including regulations and codes of practice relating to hazards present in the workplace or industry
general duty of care under OHS legislation and common law
requirements for the maintenance and confidentiality of records of occupational injury and disease
requirements for provision of OHS information and training
provisions relating to health and safety representatives and/or OHS committees; and
provisions relating to OHS issue resolution.

Critical aspects of evidence to be considered
Assessment must confirm appropriate knowledge and skills to:
Develop an OHS management plan and related safe working practices and procedures
Provide training in safe working practices
Evaluate the company and shipboard OHS system and related policies, procedures and programs
Establish hazard reduction strategies
Establish and maintain procedures for assessing and controlling safety risks onboard vessel
Establish and maintain a system for OHS records
Communicate effectively with others about OHS management plan and procedures and their implementation.

Interdependent assessment of units
This unit of competency may be assessed in conjunction with other units that form part of a job role of a senior officer onboard a commercial vessel.

Required knowledge and skills
Knowledge of relevant maritime regulations applicable to the management of OHS onboard a vessel
The provisions of OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice relevant to the workplace, including legal responsibilities of employers, manufacturers, suppliers, employees and other parties with legal responsibilities
Principles and practices of effective OHS management, including:
elements of an effective OHS management system
risk management
appropriate links to other management systems for example contractors maintenance and purchasing
the role of technical information and experts in designing hazard control measures, monitoring systems and health surveillance procedures
the hierarchy of hazard and risk control measures
arrangements for participation and consultation over OHS
incident and accident investigation arrangements
Management arrangements relating to regulatory compliance, for example, arrangements for:
keeping the organisation abreast of developments in OHS, for example, current regulations, control measures and hazards, mandatory notifications and reporting requirements
mandatory licenses and certificates
registers, listings and labeling of regulated materials, for example, hazardous substances and
dangerous goods
communicating with the crew about OHS
consulting about, and participating in, OHS management
identifying and reporting on hazards, for example, through audits and inspections
assessing and controlling safety risks
monitoring risk control measures
allocating financial, technical and human resources for OHS
responding to, and dealing with, hazardous events
OHS training
OHS record keeping
collection and use of OHS-related data
Hazards and associated safety risks that exist on the vessel, including:
the range of control measures available for these safety risks
considerations for choosing between different control measures
how to identify when expert advice is needed
How the characteristics and composition of the workforce impact on OHS management including:
level of literacy and communication skills
cultural background
gender
qualifications and experience of crew
The relevance to OHS management of other organisational management systems, policies and procedures, including:
operational planning (especially technological and organisational change and workplace design)
finance, contracting and purchasing
materials transport and storage
maintenance
training
human resource management and equal employment opportunity policies
Procedures for analysing the working environment in order to identify hazards, assess safety risks and design and implement appropriate OHS management systems
Procedures for analysing relevant workplace data, for example, incident and environmental monitoring, to identify hazards, assess safety risks and evaluate the effectiveness of the OHS management system; and
Procedures for assessing the resources needed to establish and maintain OHS management systems, including a range of risk control measures.

Resource implications
Access is required to opportunities to either:
participate in a range of practical and theoretical assignments, exercises, case studies and other assessments that demonstrate the skills and knowledge to develop and implement required safety management plans and procedures onboard a vessel, including the development of workplace safety practices and procedures, hazard and risk control strategies, safety related training, and documentation of safety management plans and safety incident reports; and/or
carry out safety management functions on a commercial or training vessel.

Consistency in performance
Applies underpinning knowledge and skills when:
developing an OHS management plan and related safe working practices and procedures
providing training in safe working practices
evaluating the vessel's OHS system and related policies, procedures and programs
establishing hazard reduction strategies
establishing and maintaining procedures for assessing and controlling safety risks
establishing and maintaining a system for OHS records.

Shows evidence of application of relevant workplace procedures including:
relevant sections of international Conventions and Codes and AMSA Marine Orders
OHS regulations and hazard prevention policies and procedures
ISM Code safety management system procedures and work instructions.

Action taken promptly to report and/or rectify hazards, safety risks and safety incidents in accordance with statutory requirements, company procedures and the ISM Code.

Work is managed, controlled and completed systematically with required attention to detail.

Context for assessment
Assessment of competence must comply with the assessment requirements of the relevant maritime regulations.

Assessment of this unit must be undertaken within relevant marine authority approved and audited arrangements by a registered training organisation:
As a minimum, assessment of knowledge must be conducted through appropriate written/oral examinations
Appropriate practical assessment must occur:
at the registered training organisation, and/or
on an appropriate working or training vessel.