Assessor Resource

HLTWHS601A
Improve workplace WHS processes

Assessment tool

Version 1.0
Issue Date: May 2024


Application of this unit should be contextualised to reflect any specific workplace risks, hazards and associated safety practices

This unit specifies the workplace performance required by an individual who is responsible for the review and improvement of a systematic approach to managingWHS, where there is some autonomy regarding development of policies, procedures and processes, and in the allocation of roles and resources

You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)

Prerequisites

Not applicable.


Employability Skills

This unit contains Employability Skills




Evidence Required

List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the Performance Criteria, Required Skills and Knowledge, the Range Statement and the Assessment Guidelines for this Training Package.

Critical aspects of assessment:

The individual being assessed must provide evidence of specified essential knowledge as well as skills

Evidence gathered by an assessor to determine competence will include:

verbal and/or written responses to scenarios, case studies and role plays

written reports

reports from persons who have been involved in review and improvement processes

portfolio of workplace documents

Evidence of performance over time must be obtained to inform a judgement of competence

Products that could be used as evidence include:

Verbal and written responses to case studies, scenarios

Responses to scenarios, simulations, role plays

Completed reports, plans, policies and procedures developed

Written directions, emails, memos and other information

Reports from team leaders, senior managers, other managers, specialist advisors

Processes that could be used as evidence include:

How WHS information was sourced and analysed

How consultation to determine priorities were conducted

How achievement against the WHS plan was monitored

Access and equity considerations:

All workers in the health industry should be aware of access and equity issues in relation to their own area of work

All workers should develop their ability to work in a culturally diverse environment

In recognition of particular health issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, workers should be aware of cultural, historical and current issues impacting on health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

Assessors and trainers must take into account relevant access and equity issues, in particular relating to factors impacting on health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities

Related units:

Assessment of this unit should address and build on the content of related unit:

HLTWHS300A Contribute to WHS processes


Submission Requirements

List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here

Assessment task 1: [title]      Due date:

(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)


Assessment Tasks

Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.

This describes the essential skills and knowledge and their level required for this unit.

Essential knowledge:

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes knowledge of:

Due diligence and general duty requirements of WHS legislation

Examples of WHS management benchmarks

Hazards of the particular work environment and how they cause harm

Hazard identification procedures relevant to the hazards in their workplace:

awards and enterprise agreements that impact on the particular workplace

organisation procedures related to WHS including hazard, incident and injury reporting, hazard identification, risk assessment and control, consultation and participation, incident investigation, record keeping

the characteristics and composition of the workforce and how they may impact on the management of WHS

Job and work role design and how this impacts on workplace safety and worker wellbeing (e.g. remote work, shift work, solo worker)

Legal requirements for WHS record keeping and reporting

Legislative requirements for consultation

Principles of risk assessment

Principles of safe design processes

Regulatory requirements relevant to the particular industry/type of work site

Relationship between WHS and managing sustainability issues in the workplace, including environmental, economic, workforce and social sustainability

Requirements for hazard identification

Roles and responsibilities of Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs) and Health and Safety committees (HSCs)

Roles and responsibilities of workers, officers and Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBUs)

Sources of WHS information both internal and external to the workplace, including Safe Work Australia and relevant state/territory regulators

The difference between hazard and risk

The hierarchy of risk control and its application

Use and limitations of a range of WHS performance measures

WHS management processes including elements of WHS management systems

Workplace specific information on WHS

Essential skills:

It is critical that the candidate demonstrate the ability to

Review and improve WHS processes for an organisation or part of an organisation

In addition, the candidate must be able to effectively do the task outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage the task and manage contingencies in the context of the identified work role

This includes the ability to:

Analyse and interpret WHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice/ compliance codes and guidance material for relevance to the organisation context

Apply a quality improvement process

Assimilate information from a range of sources to evaluate effectiveness of processes

Communicate with supervisors, other managers, staff, WHS inspectors and expert advisers in a range of contexts, and using a range of media and formats

Conduct effective meetings

Establish and promote opportunities to address waste minimisation, environmental responsibility and sustainable practice issues

Identify and support individuals to access external and internal support services as employee assistance programs, workplace counselling and medical services as appropriate

Relate to people from a range of social, cultural and ethic backgrounds and physical and mental abilities

Use language and writing skills to develop easily understood policies and procedures

Use technical skills to access WHS information

The Range Statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Add any 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.

WHS legislation varies in different states and will include:

National Work Health and Safety Model

Current relevant state/territory WHS legislation

Relevant state/territory Manual Handling Code of Conduct

Standards include:

Documents produced by national bodies, WHS regulators or industry bodies that prescribe preventative action to avert occupational deaths, injuries and diseases.

Standards are of an advisory nature only, except where a law adopts the standard and thus makes it mandatory.

They may be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action.

Codes of practice/compliance codes are:

Documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standards.

Codes of practice/compliance codes may:

be incorporated into regulations

not relate to a standard

be called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action.

Guidance material is:

Is an advisory technical document, providing detailed information for use by unions, officers, PCBUs, health and safety committee members and representatives, safety officers and others requiring guidance

Advises on ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’

Has no legal standing

Hierarchy of risk control (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety - Risks Code of Practice) includes:

The ranking of ways control risks ranked from the highest level of protection and reliability to the lowest, including:

Level 1 controls

Eliminate hazards

Level 2 controls

Substitute the hazard with something safer

Isolate the hazard from people

Use engineering controls

Level 3 controls

Use administrative controls

Use personal protective equipment (PPE)

WHS information includes:

Persons, organisations and references where knowledge about WHS may be obtained

These sources may be:

Internal, including:

hazard, incident and investigation reports

workplace inspections

incident investigations

minutes of meetings

Job Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments

organisation data such as insurance records, enforcement notices and actions, workers compensation data, WHS performance data

reports and audits

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registers

employees handbooks

employees including questionnaire results

Health and Safety Representatives

manufacturers’ manuals and specifications

External, including:

Employee Assistance Program providers and workplace counselling services

relevant state WHS Acts, regulations, codes and guidance material

other relevant legislation

Safe Work Australia

State/territory regulatory bodies

databases such as national and state injury data

WHS specialists and consultants

newspapers and journals, trade/industry publications

internet sites

industry networks and associations including unions and employer groups

WHS professional bodies

specialist advisors

research information

Due diligence requirements include:

All precautions reasonable in the circumstances to protect the health and safety of workers and others who may be affected by actions or omissions of the individual or corporation.

Other functional areas and management processes refers to:

Functions other than WHS specific functions that impact on the management of WHS and may include:

strategic planning

purchasing, procurement and contracting

logistics including supply chain and distribution

HR, IR and personnel management, including payroll

engineering and maintenance

information, data and records management

finance and auditing

environmental management

quality management.

Indicators of WHS performance include:

Lead indicators that assess how successfully a workplace is developing or improving WHS by measuring the activities that drive or ‘lead’ the safety performance. They may be either:

a quantitative indicator that can be counted or measured and described numerically (for example, number of safety audits conducted) or

a qualitative indicator that describes or assesses a quality or behaviour (such as rating of management commitment to achieving ‘best practice’ in WHS).

Lag indicators that assess how successfully a workplace is developing or improving WHS by measuring outcomes such as numbers or frequency of injuries or claims costs:

They measure loss and, as changes to these measures usually take considerable time (or ‘lag’) behind the implementation of any improvement strategy, they are termed lag indicators.

Stakeholders are

Those people or organisations who may be affected by, or perceive themselves to be affected by, an activity or decision including:

officers

PCBUs

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

Health and Safety committees (HSCs)

workers and contractors

the community

Organisation policies and procedures include:

Policies and procedures underpinning the management of WHS including:

hazard, incident and injury reporting

hazard identification, risk assessment and control

human resources policies and procedures such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs, team meetings, alcohol and drug policies

consultation and participation

incident investigation

quality system documentation.

Legislative requirements include:

National Work Health and Safety Model

Current relevant State/territory WHS legislation

Other relevant legislation covering:

dangerous goods

workers compensation

environment protection

privacy legislation

contract law

criminal law

common law

industrial relations law

equal employment opportunity and anti- discrimination law.

Systematic approach to managing WHS includes:

all the comprehensive processes that are combined in a methodical and ordered manner to minimise the risk of injury or ill health in the workplace

processes of planning, allocation of resources, communication, consultation, hazard management, record keeping, reporting, training and assessment, and review and evaluation for ongoing improvement.

Accountability includes:

The processes of verification of proper conduct or by which a person with (WHS) responsibilities demonstrates fulfilment of those responsibilities to those to whom they are answerable.

Safe design is:

A process that applies information and data about human capabilities and behaviour to the design of objects, facilities, procedures and environments that people use.

Safe design generally provides for the minimisation of risk through engineering, rather than reliance on human behaviour.

Benchmarks may include:

legislation

regulations

codes of practice/compliance codes

national standards

Australian standards

industry standards

standards established by other organisations

standards developed internally by the organisation.

Resources include:

personnel

finance

hardware and equipment.

Expert advice may be sought from:

Persons either internal or external to the organisation including:

safety professionals

ergonomists

employee assistance and workplace counselling services

occupational hygienists

audiologists

safety engineers

toxicologists

occupational health professionals

Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)

Health and Safety committees (HSCs)

Other persons providing specific technical knowledge or expertise in areas related to WHS including:

risk managers

health professionals

injury management advisors

legal practitioners with experience in WHS

engineers (e.g. design, acoustic, mechanical, civil)

security and emergency response personnel

workplace trainers and assessors

maintenance and trade persons

Barriers may include:

language

literacy and numeracy

special needs of workers

shift work and rostering arrangements

contractual arrangements

timing of information provision

workplace organisation structures (e.g. geographic, hierarchical)

workplace culture related to WHS.

WHS plan is

The strategy for implementing the WHS policy and includes:

strategic documents developed to improve WHS within an organisation that identifies objectives together with strategies and accountabilities for achieving the objectives and:

WHS performance indicators (i.e. objectives and targets that are achievable and practical) reflecting systematic approaches to managing WHS

is usually developed annually but may be developed for a shorter or longer period

is reviewed regularly

provides the basis for WHS Action Plans which are developed to implement the strategic WHS plan

Key personnel include:

managers from other areas

people involved in WHS decision making

people who are impacted by decisions

Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.

Observation Checklist

Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice Yes No Comments/feedback
Identify and access relevant WHS legislation, standards, codes of practice/compliance codes, guidance material and other sources of WHS information and evaluate their relevance to workplace performance 
Analyse other WHS information from a wide range of internal and external sources in relation to organisation needs, including information relating to sustainability issues 
Identify due diligence requirements of management personnel 
Identify relationship of WHS to other functional areas and management processes, including management to achieve a range of sustainable outcomes 
Identify implications for the workplace of any changes in WHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice/compliance codes and guidance materials 
Identify WHS implications of proposed changes to the workplace, work processes or work organisation 
Identify valid and reliable indicators of WHS performance in consultation with stakeholders 
Evaluate organisation policies and procedures for compliance with legislative requirements and a systematic approach to managing WHS 
Develop and/or implement processes to ensure that WHS responsibilities and duties are documented and accountability processes are in place 
Review processes for specification, design, purchasing and commissioning of new buildings, plant, equipment and work processes within a safe design framework to ensure that WHS issues are addressed 
Analyse information and compare against relevant benchmarks where available 
Document outcomes of analysis and communicate them to key personnel and stakeholders 
Identify resources for effective management of WHS and develop a budget 
Recognise limits of own expertise and seek expert advice as required 
Determine priorities in consultation with appropriate managers and according to consultative procedures 
Identify potential barriers to improvement 
Develop an WHS plan in consultation with stakeholders and key personnel 
Identify resources required for implementation of plan 
Establish processes to monitor achievement against the plan and update plans as required 
Monitor effectiveness of the systematic approach to managing WHS on an ongoing basis 
Consult stakeholders and key personnel according to legislative requirements and organisation procedures 

Forms

Assessment Cover Sheet

HLTWHS601A - Improve workplace WHS processes
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Assessment Record Sheet

HLTWHS601A - Improve workplace WHS processes

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