Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to contribute to WHS risk management, which includes the processes for identifying work health and safety (WHS) hazards and assessing and controlling the risk relating to those identified hazards.
It involves contributing to the development, implementation and evaluation of risk controls according to legislative and organisational requirements.
The unit applies to those working in a broad range of roles across all industries. WHS hazard identification and risk control processes are those defined in written workplace procedures.
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
ELEMENTS | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. |
1. Access information and data used to identify hazards, and to assess and control risks | 1.1 Access and review current WHS laws relevant to organisation’s hazard identification and risk control processes 1.2 Access workplace sources of information and data to inform hazard identification, risk assessment and risk controls 1.3 Access external sources of information and data to inform hazard identification, risk assessment and risk controls 1.4 Analyse information and data and determine nature and scope of workplace hazards, risk assessment and risk controls 1.5 Confirm information and data with required stakeholders, seeking input from technical and other advisors as required |
2. Contribute to identifying risk management requirements and compliance | 2.1 Contribute to identifying and complying with requirements of organisational policies, procedures, processes and systems for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk controls 2.2 Contribute to identifying and complying with requirements of WHS laws and guidelines for hazard identification, risk assessment and risk controls 2.3 Identify duty holders, and their roles and responsibilities according to risk management requirements 2.4 Identify tools used by organisational in current hazard identification and risk control processes |
3. Contribute to workplace hazard identification | 3.1 Contribute to selecting hazard identification tools and techniques according to WHS laws, and risk management requirements 3.2 Use hazard identification tools and techniques to assist with identifying hazards according to risk management requirements 3.3 Contribute to documenting hazard identification processes and results according to risk management requirements 3.4 Apply knowledge of hazards to advise individuals and/or parties about workplace hazards and the harms they may cause |
4. Contribute to WHS risk assessment | 4.1 Identify individuals and/or parties at risk of exposure to hazards and determine the nature, severity and likelihood of potential harm 4.2 Contribute to applying tools, techniques and processes to identified hazards to assess risk, according to risk management requirements 4.3 Contribute to documenting risk assessment results according to risk management requirements 4.4 Contribute to communicating risk assessment outcomes with workers, contract workers, managers and technical specialists according to risk management requirements |
5. Contribute to developing and implementing risk controls | 5.1 Contribute to selecting risk controls for identified hazards based on the risk assessment 5.2 Document agreed risk controls according to risk management requirements 5.3 Contribute to developing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control measures and WHS laws 5.4 Contribute to implementing risk controls and seek supervisory advice as required by the circumstances 5.5 Support communication of information on risk controls and actions to required individuals and/or parties |
6. Contribute to evaluating effectiveness of risk controls | 6.1 Identify requirements for ensuring ongoing effectiveness of risk controls 6.2 Contribute to identifying measures that enable evaluation of effectiveness of risk controls 6.3 Document plan for monitoring effectiveness of risk controls according to organisational policies and procedures 6.4 Present and effectively communicate plan to required stakeholders according to risk management requirements |
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance but not explicit in the performance criteria.
Skill | Description |
Reading | Locates, reviews and interprets WHS legislative and organisational texts and other external information and data |
Writing | Uses structure, layout and language suitable for audience to document WHS hazard identification and risk control processes Uses appropriate organisational formats and industry-specific vocabulary to document hazards, risks, and risk controls |
Oral communication | Uses structure and language suitable for audience to communicate information and contribute ideas about WHS hazard identification and risk control processes |
Navigate the world of work | Adheres to legal and regulatory responsibilities, and organisational policies and procedures in relation to WHS hazard identification and risk control processes Keeps up to date with WHS laws, and related organisational policies and procedures relevant to own role Uses appropriate technology in accessing, communicating, and recording information |
Interact with others | Identifies what, with whom and how to communicate in the context of advising about hazards, risks and risk controls Cooperates with others as part of WHS hazard identification and risk control processes, and contributes to specific activities requiring joint responsibility and accountability Collaborates with others to achieve individual and team outcomes Interacts to develop relationships with operational personnel and consultative groups Seeks information from others to understand work and work relationships as they relate to hazard management |
Get the work done | Applies processes to plan, sequence and prioritise tasks, showing awareness of time and resource constraints and the needs of others Uses decision-making processes in hazard identification and risk control processes: sets and clarifies goals, gathers information, and identifies and evaluates choices against a set of criteria Applies problem-solving processes, identifying and evaluating several options for action |
Sectors
Regulation, Licensing and Risk – Work Health and Safety