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 ability to:

apply personal awareness of:

OHS legislative and safety requirements for construction work, including duty of care

the range of common construction hazards and procedures for the assessment of risk and application of the hierarchy of control

OHS communication processes, information and documentation including the role of OHS committees and representatives, the meaning of common safety signs and symbols, and procedures for reporting hazards, incidents and injuries

general procedures for responding to incidents and emergencies, including evacuation, first aid, fire safety equipment and personal protective equipment

recognise and report hazards to designated personnel

follow workplace procedures necessary to control risks in the workplace

safely handle optical fibres and laser sources.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

relevant OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice

OHS implementation resources, such as sample forms, signs and procedures

enterprise OHS policies and procedures

personal protective equipment

first aid equipment

fire safety equipment

relevant work areas for identification of hazards and control measures.

optic fibre cabling and equipment.

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:

direct observation of the candidate applying safety aspects to the handling of optical fibres and lasers

direct observation of the candidate following or participating in common OHS workplace procedures

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of OHS concepts and applications

evaluation of written reports on hazards and safety recommendations.

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required.

Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed.

In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs.

Required skills

communication skills to:

ask effective questions and clarify requirements

listen to, and liaise with, relevant personnel on technical and operational matters

raise and report OHS matters, discuss and relay OHS information to others

explain legislative requirements and principles of risk management, safety signs and symbols and common hazards in relation to own work

literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and standards and demonstrate knowledge by incorporating technical language into written tasks, such as report on recommendation to minimise hazards and injury

numeracy skills to interpret technical data, such as specifications of laser operations

problem solving skills to apply methodology in minimising risks

research skills to access technical information and sources to understand and report on safety requirements

safety awareness skills to:

apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities

select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OHS standards

work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment

select and use appropriate methods for laser handling

Required knowledge

applicable Commonwealth, state or territory OHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and industry standards and guidance notes relevant to own work, role and responsibilities

common construction hazards

general construction work activities that require licenses, tickets or certificates of competency

environmental control processes:

air quality management

disposal and handling of hazardous and dangerous substances

noise pollution

safe disposal of fibre offcuts

stormwater and materials spillage

waste disposal

OHS responsibilities and rights of duty holders/workplace parties under environmental and OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice, including:

persons in control of construction work/projects

employers and self-employed persons

supervisors

employees

designers

inspectors

manufacturers and suppliers

optical fibres and equipment:

hazards relating to handling of optical fibre and laser light source in the workplace

injuries:

damage to retina from lasers

damage to lungs from inhalation of fibre offcuts and particles

needle stick injury from fibres and offcuts

laser warning signs and labels relating to optical fibre components and equipment

safety requirements when handling and working with:

devices

laser light sources

optical fibre connectors

optical fibres

patchcords

own responsibilities to comply with safe work practices relating to:

housekeeping

identification of hazards

preventing bullying or harassment

smoking

use of amenities

use of drugs and alcohol

principles of risk management and assessment for construction work

ways in which OHS is managed in the workplace, and activities required under OHS legislation, including:

hazard identification

hazards that exist in the workplace

OHS instruction

preferred order of ways to control risks (known as the hierarchy of control)

risk assessment and controls

role of OHS committees and representatives

training and provision of OHS information

types of common personal protective equipment and fire safety equipment

types of OHS information and documentation

workplace environmental and OHS procedures relevant to the work being undertaken, including procedures for:

designated personnel responsible for OHS

employee participation in OHS management

general first aid response requirements

general workers' compensation and injury management requirements

meaning of OHS symbols found on signs and labels in the workplace

raising OHS issues

recognising and reporting on:

accidents

dangerous occurrences

emergencies

hazards

incidents

injuries

near misses

responding to:

accidents

emergencies

evacuation procedures

fires and

hazards

incidents

injuries

work operations to control risks

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.

OHS legislative requirements relate to:

Australian standards

duty of care

health and safety representatives, committees and supervisors

industry OHS standards and guidelines

licences, tickets or certificates of competency

national safety standards

OHS and Welfare Acts and regulations

safety codes of practice

construction industry OHS standards and guidelines

National Code of Practice for Induction Training for Construction Work

Duty of care requirements relate to:

legal responsibility to do everything reasonably practicable to protect others from harm

own responsibilities to comply with safe work practices:

activities that require licences

tickets

certificates of competency

relevant state OHS requirements, including:

construction supervisors

construction workers

designers

employers and self-employed persons

inspectors

manufacturers and suppliers

persons in control of the work site

subcontractors.

Safe work practices relate to:

access to site amenities:

drinking water

toilets

appropriate warning labels on cabinets and enclosures

avoiding coming into contact with chemicals, breathing in fumes and vapours, and digesting such materials

being aware of what to do and how to treat any potential accident

drugs and alcohol at work

general requirements for:

safe use of plant and equipment

use of personal protective equipment and clothing

housekeeping to ensure a clean, tidy and safe work area

manufacturer's warnings or instruction labels in relation to the laser product are not damaged or obscured during installation

no fibre particles, hazardous solvents or chemicals left on site at the completion of the work

preventing bullying and harassment

relevant Australian standards of required health and safety precautions

smoking in designated areas

specific organisational safety requirements

storing and removing debris

using a wet cleaning process and making sure all solvent residues are disposed of according to environmental policy

warning labels used in conjunction with laser and optical fibre systems.

Principles of risk management include:

assessing the risks involved

consulting and reporting ensuring the involvement of relevant workers

controlling the hazard

identifying hazards

reviewing to identify change or improvement.

Common construction hazards include:

confined spaces

electrical safety

excavations, including trenches

falling objects

hazardous substances and dangerous goods

HIV and other infectious diseases

hot and cold working environments

manual handling

noise

plant and equipment

traffic and mobile plant

unplanned collapse

ultraviolet (UV) radiation

working at heights.

Measures for controlling hazards and risk include:

administrative control

elimination

engineering control

isolation

personal protective equipment

substitution.

Hazards may include:

activating equipment without notifying other staff who may be working remotely on the network

cleaning alcohol, epoxy resins and other solvents and chemicals may be carcinogenic, cause allergies or be dangerous to health in other ways

environmental hazards:

air pollution

damage to natural or heritage precincts

dangerous gases

ground water contamination

heavy or noxious metals pollution

noise

petrochemical spillage

release of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC)

flammable cleaning chemicals fluids and solvents

fibre offcut damage to eyes and skin

health hazards:

dangerous or harmful substances

handling of optic fibres and lasers

risk of infection

risk of sustained injury from repetitive tasks

inhalation of fibre offcuts and particles from vacuum cleaning of worksite

laser damage to eyes

safety hazards:

biomechanical

lifting

potentially harmful procedures such as welding

working at heights.

Designated personnel includes:

management

managers

OHS personnel

other persons authorised or nominated by the enterprise or industry to:

approve specified work

direct specified work

inspect specified work

perform specified work

supervisors

team leaders.

Workplace procedures may include:

assessing risks

consulting and participating

controlling hazards

emergency responses to:

accidents

emergencies

fires

identifying hazards

reporting OHS issues

resolving OHS issues

using personal protective equipment.

Control risks may include:

three steps in risk management process:

identify hazard

assess risk

implement control methods.

Job safety analysis (JSA) may include:

health, safety and environmental hazards

each new workplace or worksite situation

sheets to record the steps in the risk management process:

assessment

control

identification

primary application of assessment.

Hazard identification includes:

checking equipment and work area:

before work commences

during work

housekeeping

reviewing accident or incident records

workplace inspections.

Risk assessment includes:

a scale:

low

medium

high

awareness of likelihood and consequence factors

JSA.

Personal protective equipment used to control a hazard may include:

aprons

arm guards

breathing apparatus

dust masks

respirators

clothing

boots

gloves

overalls

protective jackets or pants for preparing, cutting or jointing optical fibres

eye protection

face and head protection

face masks

goggles

helmets

gloves

hard hat

hearing protection

high visibility retro reflective vests

protective, well fitting clothing

respiratory protection

safety footwear

UV protective clothing and sunscreen

protective eyewear designed specifically for laser

radiation detectors.

Australian Standards may include:

Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes

Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards TS 14

AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM)
Volume 1

AS/NZS 3000:2007

AS/NZS 3080:2003

AS/NZS 3084:2003

AS/NZS 3085.1:2004

AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006

AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005

AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007

cabling security codes and regulations

Environmental Protection Acts

International Standards ISO 9000 and 9001

International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommendations

OHS Acts and relevant codes and standards

road and traffic control legislation and codes

technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006

Telecommunications Act and relevant codes.

OHS communication processes may include:

discussions with OHS representatives

OHS meetings

OHS notices, newsletters, bulletins and correspondence

OHS participative arrangements

processes for raising OHS issues

toolbox talks

workplace consultation relating to OHS issues and changes.

OHS information and documentation may include:

accident and incident reports

Acts and regulations

Australian standards

codes of practice

construction documentation and plans

emergency information contact

evacuation plans

guidance notes

job safety analyses

labels

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

proformas for reporting hazards, incidents and injuries

reports of near misses and dangerous occurrences

risk assessments

safe work method statements

safety meeting minutes

site safety inspection reports.

Designated OHS personnel may include:

first aid officers

OHS committee members

OHS representatives

supervisors.

Safety signs and symbols may include:

emergency information signs:

equipment

exits

first aid

fire signs, location of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment

hazard signs danger and warning

regulatory signs:

mandatory

limitation or restriction

prohibition

safety tags and lockout:

danger tags

out of service tags.

Relevant authorities may include:

emergency services:

ambulance

emergency rescue

fire brigade

police

OHS regulatory authority

supervisor.

Incidents may include:

accidents resulting in personal injury or damage to property

near misses or dangerous occurrences which do not cause injury but may pose an immediate and significant risk to persons or property, and need to be reported so that action can be taken to prevent recurrence, for example:

breathing apparatus malfunctioning to the extent that the user's health is in danger

collapse of the floor, wall or ceiling of a building being used as a workplace

collapse or failure of an excavation more than 1.5 metres deep including any shoring

collapse or partial collapse of a building or structure

collapse, overturning or failure of the load bearing of any scaffolding, lift, crane, hoist or mine-winding equipment

damage to or malfunction of any other major plant

electric shock

electrical short circuit, malfunction or explosion

uncontrolled explosion, fire or escape of gas, hazardous substance or steam

any other unintended or uncontrolled incident or event arising from operations carried on at a workplace.

General procedures for responding to incidents and emergencies may include:

basic emergency response:

keep calm

raise alarm

obtain help

evacuation

notification of designated OHS personnel and authorities

notification of emergency services, when and how

referring to site emergency plans and documentation.

Emergencies may include:

chemical spill

fire

injury to personnel

structural collapse

toxic and flammable vapours emission

vehicle and mobile plant accident.

Fire safety equipment may include:

breathing apparatus

fire blankets

fire fighting equipment.

Participative arrangements may include:

committees:

consultative

OHS

planning

purchasing

concerns

health and safety representatives

OHS informal meetings

reports

requests

suggestions.

Environmental requirements must include:

clean-up management

dust

noise

waste management.