Application
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to implement a system of work for managing the use, handling, processing, storage, transportation and disposal of hazardous chemicals in the workplace; and to verify and validate the effectiveness of that system and the control methods in place against safety data sheet (SDS) requirements. The unit includes the application of the hierarchy of control measures, and applicable legislative requirements and licensing conditions imposed on the workplace in managing these hazardous chemicals.
The unit applies to those accountable for ensuring that a system of work is in place for managing hazardous chemicals in a specified work area. The system of work to be implemented protects all those potentially at risk in the workplace from exposure to hazardous chemicals, including internal and external personnel.
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. Prepare to implement safe system of work to manage hazardous chemicals in work area | 1.1 Identify hazardous chemicals in work area according to legislative requirements and workplace procedures 1.2 Check that hazardous chemicals register and SDSs contain required information about identified chemicals 1.3 Consult with required personnel to address any identified deficiencies and update hazardous chemicals register and safe work method statements (SWMSs) according to legislative requirements 1.4 Assess risks associated with identified hazardous chemicals and their use, handling, processing, storage, transportation and disposal |
2. Implement and monitor system of work for managing hazardous chemicals in work area | 2.1 Establish suitable control methods and incident action plans within work area, consulting with required personnel and seeking external specialist advice as required 2.2 Communicate established control methods and incident action plans to required personnel according to legislative requirements and workplace procedures 2.3 Monitor work area activities, processes and procedures for compliance with established control methods, and SDSs and SWMSs requirements according to workplace procedures 2.4 Adjust system components in response to identified deficiencies, within scope of own role, or escalate with suitable personnel, according to workplace procedures |
3. Verify and validate system effectiveness in managing hazardous chemicals in work area | 3.1 Monitor work area safety records and information against expected benchmarks according to workplace procedures 3.2 Seek feedback from suitable personnel to inform system verification and validation process 3.3 Document outcomes of, and recommendations arising from, system verification and validation process according to legislative requirements and workplace procedures 3.4 Report outcomes of system verification and validation process to required personnel |
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 | Interprets and critically analyses texts when managing hazardous chemicals Applies appropriate strategies to construct meaning from texts to assist in handling and storing hazardous chemicals |
Writing | Updates hazardous chemicals registers, SWMS, reports and associated documentation according to organisational requirements Uses vocabulary, grammatical structure and conventions appropriate to text when developing documentation |
Oral communication | Asks questions and actively listens to gather information about potential risk situations Provides information before, during and after hazardous chemicals situations using structure and language appropriate to the audience |
Navigate the world of work | Contributes to broader goals in hazardous chemicals exposure contexts Identifies own legal rights and responsibilities as well as general legal principles in relation to hazardous chemicals Keeps up to date on changes to WHS laws relevant to own role and responsibilities, and considers their implications in hazardous chemical contexts |
Interact with others | Collaborates with others to achieve joint outcomes, playing an active role in facilitating effective group interaction Takes a leadership role, as required, in supporting, consulting and liaising on hazardous chemicals incidents |
Get the work done | Uses decision-making processes: sets and clarifies goals, gathers information, and identifies and evaluates several choices to determine appropriate storage and handling of hazardous chemicals |
Sectors
Regulation, Licensing and Risk – Work Health and Safety