BSBWHS311
Assist with maintaining workplace safety


Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to assist with implementing and monitoring an organisation’s work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and programs as part of a small work team.

The unit applies to individuals who have roles in assisting with maintaining workplace safety in an organisation. Individuals closely monitor aspects of work associated with the safe delivery of products and services, and they contribute to influencing safety in the workplace.

NOTES

1. The terms ‘occupational health and safety’ (OHS) and ‘work health and safety’ (WHS) are equivalent, and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where model WHS laws have not been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements.

2. The model WHS laws include the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations and model WHS Codes of Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information.

No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.


Elements and Performance Criteria

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

Elements describe the essential outcomes.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element.

1. Assist with incorporating WHS policies and procedures into work team processes

1.1 Identify health and safety requirements of work team according to applicable WHS laws

1.2 Assist with explaining organisational WHS policies, procedures, programs and legislative requirements to required personnel

1.3 Assist with explaining hazard identification and risk assessment outcomes to required personnel

2. Contribute to consultative arrangements for managing WHS

2.1 Assist with implementing consultative processes designed to engage work team in managing WHS

2.2 Respond to WHS issues in a timely manner and according to organisational policies and procedures for issue resolution

2.3 Encourage others to participate in arrangements for managing WHS

2.4 Assist in engaging with required personnel to identify and implement improvements in response to WHS feedback

3. Contribute to organisational procedures for providing WHS training

3.1 Identify WHS training needs of the work team and report to relevant stakeholders

3.2 Identify strategies and opportunities for developing work team’s WHS competence and report to relevant stakeholders

3.3 Provide assistance to work team members to support the effective development of their WHS competence

4. Participate in identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks for the work area

4.1 Identify hazards in the work area and report to relevant stakeholders according to organisational policies and procedures, and WHS legislative requirements

4.2 Assist with implementing processes designed to control risks using the hierarchy of control measures according to organisational procedures and WHS legislative requirements

4.3 Identify and document inadequacies in existing risk control measures according to organisational policies and procedures, the hierarchy of control measures and WHS legislative requirements

4.4 Report inadequacies in existing risk control measures to relevant stakeholders

4.5 Complete and maintain WHS incident records in the work area according to organisational procedures and WHS legislative requirements

Evidence of Performance

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, and to:

assist with implementing and monitoring at least three different organisational work health and safety (WHS) policies or procedures into a work team’s processes.

During the above, the candidate must:

assist with implementing and monitoring consultation about each policy or procedure according to legislative and organisational requirements

identify opportunities to encourage work team to contribute to implementing improvements to each policy or procedure based on feedback received through consultation

complete WHS documentation.


Evidence of Knowledge

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. This includes knowledge of:

characteristics and composition of the work team

procedures related to the following:

identifying hazards

assessing and controlling risks to health and safety, including the hierarchy of control measures

organisational WHS policies and procedures, including those relating to:

risk management

fire

emergencies

evacuation

incident investigation

reporting

relevant legislation, regulations and codes of practice from all levels of government that impact on business operations, including those relating to:

WHS and environmental issues

equal opportunity

industrial relations

antidiscrimination

WHS aspects of other organisational systems and procedures.


Assessment Conditions

Assessment must comply with WHS laws, and WHS legal responsibilities and duty of care required for this unit. It must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities undertaken by individuals carrying out WHS duties in the workplace, and include access to:

safety processes relevant to the area of work

organisational policies and procedures, standard operating procedures and plans

standards, WHS laws and licensing requirements

opportunities for interaction with others

workplace equipment and resources required for the performance evidence.

Assessors of this unit must satisfy the assessor requirements in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.


Foundation Skills

This section describes language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills incorporated in the performance criteria that are required for competent performance.

Skill

Description

Reading

Interprets WHS legislative and organisational documentation

Applies appropriate strategies to construct meaning from WHS legislative and organisational documentation

Writing

Documents WHS information using required format and industry specific vocabulary

Oral communication

Presents information using language and non-verbal communication appropriate to audience and context

Uses questioning and active listening to confirm understanding

Navigate the world of work

Follows WHS policies, procedures and legislative requirements relevant to own role

Keeps up to date with changes to WHS laws relevant to own role

Interact with others

Selects appropriate communication protocols and conventions to provide information to others

Collaborates with others to achieve joint outcomes

Plays an active role in facilitating effective group interaction, influencing direction and taking a leadership role on occasion

Provides feedback to others in forms with which they can engage and respond

Get the work done

Sequences and schedules activities, monitors implementation and manages relevant communication

Initiates standard procedures when responding to issues raised through consultation

Uses feedback to participate in the identification and implementation of opportunities to improve arrangements for managing WHS issues


Sectors

Regulation, Licensing and Risk – Work Health and Safety