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Elements and Performance Criteria

  1. Implement requirements for the WHS and environmental management systems
  2. Implement and maintain participative arrangements for the management of WHS and the environment
  3. Implement and maintain WHS and environmental risk management processes
  4. Implement and maintain an WHS and environmental training program
  5. Implement and maintain a system for records
  6. Identify areas for systems improvement
  7. Initiate and maintain systems improvements

Range Statement

This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included.

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements

Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements include the latest version of one or more of:

AS/NZS 2243 Set:2006 Safety in laboratories

other Australian, national and international standards, guidelines and codes covering WHS; laboratory design and construction; occupational protective equipment; labelling of workplace substances; storage, handling and transport of dangerous goods; environmental management; physical containment levels and facility types

industry specific codes, regulations and guidelines, such as Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Codes of Practice; Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) Export Control (Orders) Regulations and Import Guidelines, gene technology regulations, and National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Guidelines

WHS and environmentalworkplace policies, procedures and programs

WHS and environmental workplace policies, procedures and programs include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

procedures for handling, storage and disposal of hazardous materials, hazardous goods manifest and substance register

waste minimisation, recycling, by-product collection and waste disposal

purchase and maintenance of safety-related supplies and equipment

minimisation of environmental threats

emergency, fire and environmental incident response procedures

selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

standard operating procedures (SOPs), safe work instructions, laboratory manuals, operator's manuals and manufacturers' operating manuals, maintenance schedules, formulas and batch sheets, and contractor and employee handbooks

immunisation registers for employees at risk, monitoring and appropriate tasking of personnel with possible infections

consultation and issue resolution procedures

WHS and environmental issues

WHS and environmental issues include, but are not limited to, one or more of:

identification of hazards

assessment of risk and decisions about measures to reduce/control risk

implementation of controls and associated problems

investigation of injury and incidents, hazards not otherwise addressed

clarification of policies or procedures

Stakeholders

Stakeholders include one or more of:

managers, supervisors, laboratory and production personnel

WHS committees, health and safety and other employee representatives

external WHS agencies

the community, including workers' families

Participative processes with employees and their representatives

Participative processes with employees and their representatives include one or more of:

consultations with workers and committees (such as WHS and planning)

employee and supervisor involvement in WHS activities, such as inspections, audits and risk assessments

procedures for reporting hazards and raising and addressing WHS issues

identification of hazards, assessment of level of risk, implementation of risk control measures and review of their effectiveness

review of WHS records and statistics, injury and incident investigations

job safety analysis (JSA), development/revision of policies and procedures

audits and workplace inspections, and review of registers of hazardous substances and dangerous goods

Hazard identification processes

Hazard identification processes include one or more of:

review of hazard and incident reports and workplace inspections

pre-purchase risk assessments

review of relevant internal documentation, including material safety data sheets (MSDS), manufacturer manuals and minutes of meetings

review of legislation, codes of practice, standards and guidelines

review of online and printed WHS publications, journals and newsletters produced by WHS regulators, industry bodies

Risk assessment

Risk assessment includes:

analysing the risk to identify factors influencing the risk and the range of potential consequences

assessing the effectiveness of existing controls, the likelihood of each consequence and combining these to obtain a level of risk

comparing the determined risk with pre-established criteria for tolerance (or as low as reasonably achievable) and ranking risks requiring control

Data for evaluation of the management systems

Data for evaluation of the management systems includes one or more of:

hazard, incident and injury reports

workplace inspections

audit reports

formal and informal input of employees

WHS and environmental management requirements

WHS and environmental management requirements include:

· complying with WHS and environmental management requirements at all times, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation. These requirements must not be compromised at any time

· applying standard precautions relating to the potentially hazardous nature of samples

accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health, where relevant

Performance Evidence

Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:

implementing and monitoring work health and safety (WHS) and environmental management systems for a work group or laboratory

accessing and interpreting relevant sections of WHS and environmental legislation, regulations and codes of practice

analysing the work environment and data and monitoring WHS and/or environmental interventions

documenting WHS and environmental responsibilities, duties and accountabilities of employees

consulting employees and other stakeholders about WHS and environmental issues

implementing a process of hazard identification and risk assessment and developing controls

raising issues related to concerns with safety of work systems and work environment through consultation with management and employees

promptly addressing WHS and environmental management issues within the area of control

developing and implementing improvements in work practices and procedures to reduce the risk of illness and injury and meet WHS legislative requirements

conducting a training needs assessment for the work group

developing and implementing a WHS or environmental management training program for the work group

communicating effectively with personnel at all levels of the organisation and WHS specialists

keeping WHS and environmental records complete, current and secure

preparing summary reports for the WHS committee, WHS representatives, managers and supervisors.

Knowledge Evidence

Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:

definitions and workplace examples of risk, hazards, control measures, hierarchy of control and risk management

principles and practices of effective WHS and environmental management

relevant standards, codes and guidelines for WHS and environmental management systems

roles and responsibilities under WHS and environmental legislation of employers and employees, including supervisors and contractors

WHS and environmental management policies and procedures

legislative requirements for WHS information and consultation, WHS, environmental and waste status record keeping

workplace counselling/disciplinary/issue resolution processes

sources of WHS and environmental management information, including specialist advisors and key personnel within workplace

participative consultation processes used in WHS and environmental management systems.