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.

WHS legislation may include:
Acts
regulations
codes of practice.
Duty holders may include:
as specified in WHS Acts:
PCBUs or their officers
workers
other persons at a workplace.
WHS information may include:
information relevant to the organisation and its needs, which will be a function of the size and nature of the organisation, and specific hazards in the workplace, such as:
WHS legislative certifications, registrations and licensing
workplace policies, procedures, processes and systems
notices and other documents from WHS inspectors
ergonomic information and data, such as job and task analyses
incident reports, including reports on near misses, hits, incidents, injuries, first aid, illness, disease, dangerous occurrences
internal inspections
lost time injury and other WHS outcome performance indicator reports and summaries
WHS positive performance indicators
worker performance appraisal and training records, including instruction and supervision logs, diaries and workbooks
plant maintenance and servicing records
rectification action reports and plans
records relating to plant, equipment and tools
registers relating to hazards, risks, hazardous chemicals, dangerous goods, safety data sheets (SDS) and confined spaces
internal reports
reports from WHS consultants and others
results of WHS tests, measurements, monitoring and analyses
worker health screening and surveillance
risk assessments and risk-management records
safety manuals for plant and tools
sickness absence records
training records
compensation claims management and return-to-work programs.
Functions and purposes of the WHSIS include to:
document and communicate WHS and other relevant procedures, policies, processes and systems
facilitate keeping track of legal requirements and compliance
facilitate and support consultation and participation
describe and communicate the core elements of the management system and their interaction, and provide direction to related documentation
support awareness of what is required to achieve the organisation’s WHS objectives and enable the evaluation of the system and WHS performance.
Users of the WHSIS include:
individuals and parties who directly or indirectly access and use information from the WHSIS and/or provide and input information into the WHSIS.
What users need from the system may include:
usable and useful information that is easy to obtain and understand
easy ways to put information into the system
information content that meets the specific needs of individuals and parties, and enables them to contribute to WHS management and meet their WHS duties and responsibilities
information format (such as electronic, paper, signs, noticeboards, written, graphic and verbal) that is appropriate to the user and the nature of the information
integration with existing organisational management, quality, environmental and other systems as necessary
a system that is appropriate to the organisation and its specific needs
that it not require an unreasonable workload and resources to operate, maintain and develop
that it not be a barrier to WHS management and meeting WHS duties and responsibilities
that it not be an end in itself.
Workplace factors may include:
management commitment to WHS
management style and organisational WHS skills and knowledge
nature of hazards and levels of risk
organisational structure
other management systems requiring interface or integration with the WHSIS
required level of security for WHSIS, including:
prevention of theft and fraud
access security
prevention of interruption of services
inadvertent release of material
information and data destruction, corruption and alteration
resources available
size of organisation and industry type
staff profile, including:
language
literacy
numeracy
cultural diversity
workplace culture, including industrial relations and safety culture.
Advice and support may include:
one-on-one instruction
coaching
mentoring
training for specific groups of users.
Sources of WHS information and data may include:
external sources, such as:
Australian and international standards
WHS publications
manufacturer manuals and specifications
relevant professional associations
WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice
WHS regulators
unions and industry bodies
internal sources, such as:
health and safety committee meetings
organisational data, such as insurance records, incident investigations, enforcement notices and actions, workers’ compensation data, WHS performance indicators and WHS audits
risk assessments
safe work method statements
safety handbooks
SDS and registers
worker information papers, brochures, notes and newsletters
WHS policies, procedures, processes and systems
WHS reports
work instructions and standard operating procedures.
Appropriate tools may include:
electronic systems
graphical representations
handbooks
paperbased systems
performance monitoring charts and checklists
registers.
Legislated reporting requirements may include:
monitoring and exposure to specific hazards
notifiable incident reporting to WHS regulators
privacy
workers’ compensation.
Individuals and parties may include:
contractors and subcontractors
duty holders as specified in WHS Acts
PCBUs or their officers
WHS entry permit holders
WHS inspectors
workers
other persons at a workplace.

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:

preparation of an information and data plan
presentation of information and data about workplace hazards in appropriate formats
knowledge of frequency and incident rates.
Context of and specific resources for assessment
Assessment must ensure access to:

workplace documentation, reports and sample software for WHS information and data collation and analysis
relevant Acts, regulations, codes of practice, standards and guidelines.
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
assessment of written reports on the effectiveness of WHSIS
demonstration of techniques used to manage WHSIS
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
oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of methods of collecting reliable information and data, commonly encountered problems in collection, and strategies for overcoming such problems
review of WHS records
evaluation of information and data collected
review of communication of WHS information and data
evaluation of recommendations for improvement in prevention strategies.
Guidance information for assessment
Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

BSBWHS506A Contribute to developing, implementing and maintaining WHS management systems.