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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. |
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WHS legislation varies in different states and will include: | National Work Health and Safety ModelCurrent relevant State/territory WHS legislationRelevant state/territory Manual Handling Code of Conduct |
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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 |
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Codes of practice/compliance codes are: | Documents generally prepared to provide advice to employers and workers, of an acceptable way of achieving standardsCodes of practice/compliance codes may:be incorporated into regulationsnot relate to a standardbe called up as evidence in court or other enforcement action |
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Guidance material: | 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 guidanceAdvises on ‘what to do’ and ‘how to do it’Has no legal standing |
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Organisation policies and procedures include: | Policies and procedures underpinning the management of WHS including:hazard, incident and injury reporting hazard identification, risk assessment and controlhuman resources policies and procedures such as harassment and grievance procedures, induction programs, team meetings, alcohol and drug policiesconsultation and participationincident investigation quality system documentation |
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A hazard is: | A source or situation with the potential for harm in terms of human injury or ill-health, damage to property, the environment, or a combination of these |
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Common workplace hazards (from Safe Work Australia Work Health And Safety - Risks Code of Practice) include: | Manual tasks - Overexertion or repetitive movement can cause muscular strainGravity - Falling objects, falls, slips and trips of people can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, concussion, permanent injuries or deathElectricity - Potential ignition source. Exposure to live electrical wires can cause shock, burns or death from electrocutionMachinery and equipment - Being hit by moving vehicles, or being caught by moving parts of machinery can cause fractures, bruises, lacerations, dislocations, permanent injuries or deathHazardous chemicals - Chemicals (such as acids, hydrocarbons, heavy metals) and dusts (such as asbestos and silica) can cause respiratory illnesses, cancers or dermatitisExtreme temperatures - Heat can cause burns, heat stroke or fatigue. Cold can cause hypothermia or frost biteNoise - Exposure to loud noise can cause permanent hearing damageRadiation - Ultra violet, welding arc flashes, micro waves and lasers can cause burns, cancer or blindnessBiological - Micro-organisms can cause hepatitis, legionnaires’ disease, Q fever, HIV/AIDS or allergiesPsychosocial hazards - Effects of work-related stress, bullying, violence and work-related fatigue |
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Risk: | In relation to any hazard, means the probability and consequences of injury, illness or damage resulting from exposure to a hazard |
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Risk assessments involve analysing a hazard to: | Identify factors influencing the risk and the range of potential consequences:effectiveness of existing controlslikelihood of each consequence considering exposure and hazard levelAnd combining these in some way to obtain a level of risk |
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Risk controls include: | The devices and methods to, where practicable, eliminate the hazard or, where this is not practicable, minimise the risk associated with the hazard |
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Examples of risks requiring management in a direct client care work environment may include: | Worker fatigue or burnout requiring appropriate supervision and stress managementInjury or damage resulting from violent or aggressive behaviour, requiring strategies to defuse or avoid behaviours of concern Risks relating to working in client’s homes, requiring appropriate worker education and associated strategiesFire in client’s homes requiring workers to provide basic information on home fire safety |
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Personal protective equipment (PPE) includes: | Equipment worn by a person to provide protection from hazards, by providing a physical barrier between the person and the hazard and may include:head protectionface and eye protectionrespiratory protectionhearing protectionhand protectionclothing and footwear |
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Work procedures include: | Standard operating procedures Batch specificationsOperator or manufacturer manuals Procedures for selecting, fitting, using and maintaining personal protective equipment. |
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Hazard identification is: | The process of identifying sources of harm and may be required: at design or pre purchase of equipment and materialsat commissioning or pre-implementation of new processes or practices before new forms of work and organisation of work are implementedbefore changes are made to workplace, equipment, work processes or work arrangementsas part of planning major tasks or activities, such as equipment shutdownsfollowing an incident report when new knowledge becomes available at regular intervals during normal operationsprior to disposal of equipment, buildings or materials |
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Reporting processes include: | Hazards reportsMaintenance requests and reports Reports on completion of inspectionsIncident reportsReports of non-compliance with work procedures Reporting on progress of action plans |
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WHS housekeeping practices address items such as: | Workplace cleanliness and tidinessUnobstructed walkways and emergency exitsUnderfoot conditions Work space around equipment and machineryFunctioning services such as lighting, air flow and ventilation, emergency lightingStorage areas including manual handling issues, storage, personal protective equipment Signage |
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Residual risk is: | The risk which remains after controls have been implemented |
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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 controlsEliminate hazardsLevel 2 controlsSubstitute the hazard with something saferIsolate the hazard from peopleUse engineering controlsLevel 3 controlsUse administrative controlsUse personal protective equipment (PPE) |
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Expert advice can be obtained from: | Persons either internal or external to the organisation including:safety professionals ergonomistsemployee assistance and workplace counselling servicesoccupational hygienistsaudiologistssafety engineers toxicologists occupational health professionalsHealth 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 advisorslegal practitioners with experience in WHSengineers (e.g. design, acoustic, mechanical, civil)security and emergency response personnelworkplace trainers and assessorsmaintenance and trade persons |
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WHS records may include: | Hazard, incident and investigation reports Workplace inspection reportsIncident investigation reportsFirst aid recordsMinutes of meetingsJob Safety Analyses (JSAs) and risk assessments Safety Data Sheet (SDS) and registersEmployees handbooks Plant and equipment operation records including those relevant to registered plant Maintenance and testing reportsTraining recordsEnvironmental monitoring recordsHealth surveillance records |
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Legislative requirements for record keeping include those specified under: | WHS legislation for:serious incident and injury reporting registered plant hazardous substances and dangerous goods environmental monitoring health surveillancePrivacy legislation |
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Emergencies may include any abnormal or sudden event that requires immediate action such as: | Serious injury eventsEvents requiring evacuationFires and explosionsHazardous substance and chemical spillsExplosion and bomb alertsSecurity emergencies, such as armed robberies, intruders and disturbed personsInternal emergencies, such as loss of power or water supply and structural collapseExternal emergencies and natural disasters, such as flood, storm and traffic accident impacting on the organisation |
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Emergency equipment is equipment required as part of the emergency response by the organisation and includes: | First aid equipmentEye wash shower or portable eye washesFire extinguishers and equipment Communication equipmentEvacuation alarmsEvacuation equipment, especially that for disabled personsTorchesItems of clothing such as coloured hats and vests |
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Incidents include: | Any event that has caused or has the potential for injury, ill-health or damage |
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