Unit of competency Outline
Date retreived
22/07/2026 10:19 PM AWST
22/07/2026 10:19 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.
Monitor and maintain workplace safety
Monitor and maintain workplace safety
Unit of competency
National Code
PSPOHS501A
PSPOHS501A
State Code
C8066
C8066
TGA Status
Deleted
Deleted
DTWD Status
Deleted
Deleted
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
22/07/2014
Field of Education
061301 - Occupational Health And Safety
Original Release Date
22/07/2014
Nominal Hours
50
Description
This unit covers the monitoring and improvement of the organisation's occupational health and safety policies, procedures and programs in the relevant work area to achieve and maintain occupational health and safety standards.In practice, monitoring and maintaining workplace safety may be demonstrated in the context of generalist and specialist work activities such as coordinating a workgroup, developing client services, coordinating and allocating resources, initiating and managing projects.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication
Notes
Elements and Performance Criteria
1. Monitor the provision of workplace safety information
- 1.1 Explanations to the workgroup of relevant provisions of occupational health and safety legislation and codes of practice are monitored to ensure they meet individual needs and are in accordance with organisational requirements.
- 1.2 The quality of information on the organisation's occupational health and safety policies, procedures and programs is monitored and improvements implemented to ensure they remain up-to-date and readily accessible to the workgroup.
- 1.3 Information about identified hazards and the outcomes of risk assessment and risk control procedures is monitored and the workgroup's understanding of the information is regularly assessed through feedback and questioning suited to individual needs.
2. Monitor and maintain participative arrangements for workplace safety
- 2.1 The importance of effective participative arrangements in managing health and safety risks is promoted and all members of the workgroup are encouraged to contribute in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.
- 2.2 Consultative procedures are monitored to ensure participation of the workgroup in the management of workplace hazards in accordance with legislative requirements.
- 2.3 Issues raised through consultation are resolved or referred for resolution in accordance with workplace procedures for issue resolution.
- 2.4 The outcomes of consultation over occupational health and safety issues are monitored and progressed in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.
3. Review procedures for identifying hazards and assessing risks
- 3.1 Procedures for identifying existing and potential hazards in the work area are monitored and evaluated for effectiveness.
- 3.2 Improvements are identified and recommended for hazard identification where necessary.
- 3.3 Recommendations are made for risk assessment and risk control procedures to be enhanced where necessary.
4. Monitor and continuously improve procedures for controlling risks
- 4.1 Work procedures to control risks and adherence to them by the workgroup are monitored in accordance with workplace procedures.
- 4.2 Results of monitoring existing risk control measures are analysed and recommendations for any action are reported regularly in accordance with workplace procedures.
- 4.3 Inadequacies in existing risk control measures are identified in accordance with the hierarchy of control and are reported to designated personnel.
- 4.4 Inadequacies in resource allocation for implementation of risk control measures are identified and reported to designated personnel.
5. Monitor and maintain procedures for dealing with hazardous events
- 5.1 Workplace procedures for dealing with hazardous events are monitored whenever necessary to ensure that control action is effective and timely.
- 5.2 Hazardous events are investigated to identify their cause in accordance with investigation procedures.
- 5.3 Control measures to prevent recurrence and minimise risks of hazardous events are implemented based on the hierarchy of control if within scope of responsibilities and competencies or, alternatively, referred to designated personnel for implementation.
6. Monitor and maintain procedures for providing workplace safety training
- 6.1 Training records and skills audits are regularly monitored to ensure ongoing workplace safety training needs are identified and addressed in accordance with organisational policy and procedures.
- 6.2 The effectiveness of both on-the-job and off-the-job training programs to address the organisation's occupational health and safety training needs is evaluated in consultation with relevant parties, and continuous improvements are negotiated and implemented as necessary.
7. Monitor procedures for maintaining workplace safety records
- 7.1 Occupational health and safety records for the work area are monitored to ensure they meet workplace requirements and legal requirements for the maintenance of records of occupational injury and disease.
- 7.2 Aggregate information from the area's occupational health and safety records is used to identify hazards and monitor risk control procedures within the work area according to organisational procedures and within scope of responsibilities and competencies.
The Range Statement provides information about the context in which the unit of competency is carried out. The variables cater for differences between States and Territories and the Commonwealth, and between organisations and workplaces. They allow for different work requirements, work practices and knowledge. The Range Statement also provides a focus for assessment. It relates to the unit as a whole. Text in bold italics in the Performance Criteria is explained here.
Occupational health and safety legislation may include:
State/Territory/Commonwealth occupational health and safety 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 occupational health and safety legislation and common law
requirements for the maintenance and confidentiality of records of occupational injury and disease
requirements for provision of occupational health and safety information and training
provisions relating to health and safety representatives and/or occupational health and safety committees
provisions relating to occupational health and safety issue resolution
Individual needs may relate to:
literacy
communication skills
gender
cultural background
people with disabilities
part-time, contract or casual workers
level of experience
existing knowledge
Information topics may include:
induction to new work/management systems
the nature of work
tasks and procedures
hazards and risk management procedures; to assist in work tasks
new/inexperienced workers
legislation and codes of practice, for example, relating to hazards in the work area
consultation with health and safety representatives and occupational health and safety committees
Occupational health and safety policies and procedures may include:
job procedures and work instructions
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchasing of supplies and equipment
counselling/disciplinary processes
providing occupational health and safety information
consultation and participation
emergency response
housekeeping
specific hazards
identifying hazards, for example, inspections
incident investigation
assessing risks
controlling risks
personal protective equipment
occupational health and safety training and assessment
occupational health and safety recordkeeping
reporting occupational health and safety issues
occupational health and safety issue resolution
change management
Participative arrangements may include:
formal and informal meetings which include occupational health and safety
occupational health and safety committees
other committees, for example, consultative, planning and purchasing
health and safety representatives
suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward by employees to management
external providers
clients/visitors
Identifying hazards and assessing risks may occur through activities such as:
audits
workplace inspections
housekeeping
checking work area and/or equipment before and during work
job and work system assessment
reviews of occupational health and safety records, including registers of hazardous substances, dangerous goods, etc
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchasing of supplies and equipment, for example, review of Material Safety Data Sheets and manufacturer/supplier information
identifying employee concerns
Controlling risks may include actions such as:
measures to remove the cause of a risk at its source
consultation with workers and their representatives
application of the hierarchy of control, namely:
elimination of the risk
substitution
engineering controls
administrative controls
personal protective equipment.
Procedures for dealing with hazardous events may include:
evacuation
chemical containment
first aid
accident/incident reporting and investigation
Hazardous events may include:
incidents and near misses
fires and explosions
emergencies such as chemical spills
bomb scares
violent incidents, for example, armed robberies
workplace violence, including bullying
natural disasters/events
Workplace safety training may include:
induction training
management systems/policy
specific hazard training
specific task or equipment training
emergency and evacuation training
training as part of broader programs, for example, equipment operation
Occupational health and safety records may include:
complying with privacy and confidentiality requirements
occupational health and safety audits and inspection reports
health surveillance and workplace environmental monitoring records
records of instruction and training
manufacturers' and suppliers' information, including Material Safety Data Sheets and dangerous goods storage lists
hazardous substances registers
maintenance and testing reports
workers compensation and rehabilitation records
first aid/medical post records
Occupational health and safety legislation may include:
State/Territory/Commonwealth occupational health and safety 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 occupational health and safety legislation and common law
requirements for the maintenance and confidentiality of records of occupational injury and disease
requirements for provision of occupational health and safety information and training
provisions relating to health and safety representatives and/or occupational health and safety committees
provisions relating to occupational health and safety issue resolution
Individual needs may relate to:
literacy
communication skills
gender
cultural background
people with disabilities
part-time, contract or casual workers
level of experience
existing knowledge
Information topics may include:
induction to new work/management systems
the nature of work
tasks and procedures
hazards and risk management procedures; to assist in work tasks
new/inexperienced workers
legislation and codes of practice, for example, relating to hazards in the work area
consultation with health and safety representatives and occupational health and safety committees
Occupational health and safety policies and procedures may include:
job procedures and work instructions
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchasing of supplies and equipment
counselling/disciplinary processes
providing occupational health and safety information
consultation and participation
emergency response
housekeeping
specific hazards
identifying hazards, for example, inspections
incident investigation
assessing risks
controlling risks
personal protective equipment
occupational health and safety training and assessment
occupational health and safety recordkeeping
reporting occupational health and safety issues
occupational health and safety issue resolution
change management
Participative arrangements may include:
formal and informal meetings which include occupational health and safety
occupational health and safety committees
other committees, for example, consultative, planning and purchasing
health and safety representatives
suggestions, requests, reports and concerns put forward by employees to management
external providers
clients/visitors
Identifying hazards and assessing risks may occur through activities such as:
audits
workplace inspections
housekeeping
checking work area and/or equipment before and during work
job and work system assessment
reviews of occupational health and safety records, including registers of hazardous substances, dangerous goods, etc
maintenance of plant and equipment
purchasing of supplies and equipment, for example, review of Material Safety Data Sheets and manufacturer/supplier information
identifying employee concerns
Controlling risks may include actions such as:
measures to remove the cause of a risk at its source
consultation with workers and their representatives
application of the hierarchy of control, namely:
elimination of the risk
substitution
engineering controls
administrative controls
personal protective equipment.
Procedures for dealing with hazardous events may include:
evacuation
chemical containment
first aid
accident/incident reporting and investigation
Hazardous events may include:
incidents and near misses
fires and explosions
emergencies such as chemical spills
bomb scares
violent incidents, for example, armed robberies
workplace violence, including bullying
natural disasters/events
Workplace safety training may include:
induction training
management systems/policy
specific hazard training
specific task or equipment training
emergency and evacuation training
training as part of broader programs, for example, equipment operation
Occupational health and safety records may include:
complying with privacy and confidentiality requirements
occupational health and safety audits and inspection reports
health surveillance and workplace environmental monitoring records
records of instruction and training
manufacturers' and suppliers' information, including Material Safety Data Sheets and dangerous goods storage lists
hazardous substances registers
maintenance and testing reports
workers compensation and rehabilitation records
first aid/medical post records
The Evidence Guide specifies the evidence required to demonstrate achievement in the unit of competency as a whole. It must be read in conjunction with the Unit descriptor, Performance Criteria, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Public Sector Training Package.
Units to be assessed together
Pre-requisite units that must be achieved prior to this unit:Nil
Co-requisite units that must be assessed with this unit:Nil
Co-assessed units that may be assessed with this unit to increase the efficiency and realism of the assessment process include, but are not limited to:
PSPGOV502B Develop client services
PSPGOV503B Coordinate resource allocation and usage
PSPGOV504B Undertake research and analysis
PSPGOV511A Provide leadership
PSPGOV512A Use complex workplace communication strategies
PSPGOV517A Coordinate risk management
PSPLEGN501B Promote compliance with legislation in the public sector
PSPPM501B Design complex projects
PSPPM502B Manage complex projects
Overview of evidence requirements
In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:
the knowledge requirements of this unit
the skill requirements of this unit
application of Employability Skills as they relate to this unit
monitoring and maintaining workplace safety in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)
Resources required to carry out assessment
These resources include:
occupational health and safety acts, regulations and codes of practice
organisational occupational health and safety policies and procedures
Australian standards such as AS/NZS:4360 for risk management, or as revised
relevant work areas for identification of hazards and control measures
Where and how to assess evidence
Valid assessment of this unit requires:
a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when monitoring and maintaining workplace safety procedures and programs, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine
the applicant to monitor and maintain workplace safety in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)
the assessor to have recognised expertise in managing occupational health and safety in the industry, or work in an assessment team with such a person.
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, such as literacy, and the needs of particular groups, such as:
people with disabilities
people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
women
young people
older people
people in rural and remote locations.
Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this competency may include, but are not limited to, a combination of 2 or more of:
case studies
portfolios
questioning
scenarios
simulation or role plays
authenticated evidence from the workplace and/or training courses
For consistency of assessment
Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments
Units to be assessed together
Pre-requisite units that must be achieved prior to this unit:Nil
Co-requisite units that must be assessed with this unit:Nil
Co-assessed units that may be assessed with this unit to increase the efficiency and realism of the assessment process include, but are not limited to:
PSPGOV502B Develop client services
PSPGOV503B Coordinate resource allocation and usage
PSPGOV504B Undertake research and analysis
PSPGOV511A Provide leadership
PSPGOV512A Use complex workplace communication strategies
PSPGOV517A Coordinate risk management
PSPLEGN501B Promote compliance with legislation in the public sector
PSPPM501B Design complex projects
PSPPM502B Manage complex projects
Overview of evidence requirements
In addition to integrated demonstration of the elements and their related performance criteria, look for evidence that confirms:
the knowledge requirements of this unit
the skill requirements of this unit
application of Employability Skills as they relate to this unit
monitoring and maintaining workplace safety in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)
Resources required to carry out assessment
These resources include:
occupational health and safety acts, regulations and codes of practice
organisational occupational health and safety policies and procedures
Australian standards such as AS/NZS:4360 for risk management, or as revised
relevant work areas for identification of hazards and control measures
Where and how to assess evidence
Valid assessment of this unit requires:
a workplace environment or one that closely resembles normal work practice and replicates the range of conditions likely to be encountered when monitoring and maintaining workplace safety procedures and programs, including coping with difficulties, irregularities and breakdowns in routine
the applicant to monitor and maintain workplace safety in a range of (3 or more) contexts (or occasions, over time)
the assessor to have recognised expertise in managing occupational health and safety in the industry, or work in an assessment team with such a person.
Assessment methods should reflect workplace demands, such as literacy, and the needs of particular groups, such as:
people with disabilities
people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
women
young people
older people
people in rural and remote locations.
Assessment methods suitable for valid and reliable assessment of this competency may include, but are not limited to, a combination of 2 or more of:
case studies
portfolios
questioning
scenarios
simulation or role plays
authenticated evidence from the workplace and/or training courses
For consistency of assessment
Evidence must be gathered over time in a range of contexts to ensure the person can achieve the unit outcome and apply the competency in different situations or environments
