Critical aspects of competency

Correct identification of all site safety requirements.

Accurate classification of all site areas (including evacuation area, First Aid, restricted areas and level of danger).

Ability to specify all necessary PPE required to undertake work safely in each site area.

Understanding of all relevant OHS requirement and duty of care to provide safe environment for personnel and general public.

Knowledge needed to achieve the performance criteria

Knowledge and understanding are essential to apply this unit in the workplace, to transfer the skills to other contexts, and to deal with unplanned events. The knowledge requirements for this unit are listed below.

OHS requirements.

Site safety plan requirements.

Components, features and layout of a site safety plan.

Standard symbols, terms and abbreviations used in site safety plans.

Company policy and procedures in relation to safety.

Site environment.

Personnel work requirements and company site operations.

Duty of care to personnel and general public.

Personal protective equipment types and uses.

OHS hierarchy of control.

Specific skills needed to achieve the performance criteria

To achieve the performance criteria, some complementary skills are required. These are:

communication including listening, questioning, giving clear instructions, answering questions, obtaining feedback

reading and interpreting work requirements

preparing a clear, detailed and accurate site safety plan (including drawing simple site maps)

identification of waste types and level of associated danger

identification of potential risks and hazards in the work environment

communicating and explaining site safety plan to personnel.

Other units of competency that could be assessed with this unit

This unit could be assessed on its own or in combination with other competencies relevant to the job function, for example PRMCMN301A Contribute to workplace safety arrangements.

Resources required to assess this unit

The following resources should be available:

range of waste types/streams for identification

OHS requirements

work environment in which to identify range of potential risks and hazards.

Gaining evidence to assess this unit

For valid and reliable assessment of this unit, the competency should be demonstrated over a period of time and be observed by the assessor (or assessment team working together to conduct the assessment). The competency is to be demonstrated in a range of situations, which may include customer/workplace interruptions and involvement in related activities normally experienced in the workplace.

Evidence of competency is best obtained by observing activities in the field and reviewing the development of a site safety plan. If this is not practicable, observations in realistic simulated environments may be substituted.

Consistency in performance

Assessment requires that strategies meet the objectives of clients and comply with industry expectations in the particular client environment. If the environment is narrowly defined or is not representative of industry needs, it will be necessary to assess the unit within a variety of waste management environments or different client needs to assess competency in the development of a site safety plan.

Oral questioning or written assessment and hypothetical situations (scenarios) may be used to assess underpinning knowledge. (In assessment situations where the candidate is offered a preference between oral questioning and written audit, questions are to be identical.)

Supplementary evidence may be obtained from relevant authenticated correspondence from existing supervisors, team leaders or specialist training staff.

Note: All practical demonstrations must adhere to the safety and environmental regulations relevant to each state or territory.

Key competency levels

There are a number of processes that are learnt throughout work and life that are required in all jobs. They are fundamental processes and generally transferable to other work functions. Some of these are covered by the key competencies, although others may be added.

Information below highlights how these processes are applied in this competency standard.

Refer to Evidence Guide

The range statement links the required knowledge and organisational and technical requirements to the workplace context. It describes any contextual variables that will be used or encountered when applying the competency in work situations. It allows for different work practices and work and knowledge requirements as well as for differences between organisations and workplaces. The following variables may be present for this particular unit.

Company requirements are found in briefing documents, letters, quality assurance documents, tender/contract documents and verbal or written instructions.

Details of site and site requirements will include all necessary detail to ascertain safety requirements. Such information may include:

areas allowing access to general public

company and site OHS requirements

number of personnel on site

potential risks and hazards/level of risk

wastes incoming/present at the site

work schedule.

Emergency and PPE must include:

appropriate footwear

communications equipment

eye protection

eyewash kit

fire extinguishers

First Aid kit

gloves

overalls and protective clothing.

Emergency and PPE could also include:

breathing apparatus

emergency procedure guides

face shield/mask

hard hat

hearing protection

material safety data sheets (MSDS)

spill kit.

Performance of this unit is carried out in accordance with relevant requirements of the following:

Australian Standards

environmental regulations

legislative requirements

manufacturers' specifications

organisational procedures

relevant state/territory regulations.

Relevant legislation and codes cover state and federal industry codes of conduct, occupational health and safety legislation, Australian Standards and environmental protection legislation.

Site areas may include evacuation area, First Aid bay, general public access areas and restricted areas.

Site safety requirements will include all necessary requirements to ensure the safety of all personnel, equipment, structures, environment and general public. Site safety requirements could also include:

awareness of potential risks and hazards

communications requirement

confined spaces awareness

emergency procedure guides

emergency response equipment (e.g. First Aid kit, fire fighting equipment)

emergency shut-down and lock-out procedures

evacuation area

First Aid

induction

PPE requirements

site security

training

warning signs and barriers.

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