Application
This unit of competency specifies the outcomes required to participate in preparing a job safety analysis (JSA) for general hazards, or a safe work method statement (SWMS) for high risk work hazards, on construction sites according to the level of responsibility of the work role as specified in work health and safety (WHS) legislation.
The unit supports construction workers undertaking work on a construction site alone or as part of a team to identify hazards and select risk control strategies. It applies to construction work on residential and commercial work sites in new construction, renovation or refurbishment, and maintenance projects.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory, or certification requirements apply to this unit of competency at the time of endorsement.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the range of conditions. | ||
1. | Identify general hazards and record them on JSA. | 1.1. | Job task, work site and compliance requirements are confirmed according to workplace procedures. |
1.2. | Work site is inspected, hazards relevant to job task are identified, and level of risk for each hazard is identified and noted. | ||
1.3. | Job task is broken down into logical steps, and tools, equipment or plant, and materials to be used for each step are identified and recorded on JSA sheet. | ||
1.4. | Potential work site and task-related hazards are identified for each step of the job task, and recorded on JSA sheet. | ||
2. | Complete and check JSA. | 2.1 | Risk control strategies for each hazard in each step of the job task are identified according to the hierarchy of controls. |
2.2 | Identified risk control strategies are discussed with relevant personnel, and those selected for implementation are recorded on JSA sheet. | ||
2.3 | Work site and job task are reviewed immediately before starting work and JSA is discussed with relevant personnel and confirmed as still applicable, or amended as required. | ||
2.4. | JSA is securely stored on site according to compliance requirements. | ||
3. | Identify high risk work hazards and record them on SWMS. | 3.1. | Work site conditions or job task requirements that categorise construction work as high risk work are determined. |
3.2. | Job task, location and work methods are confirmed. | ||
3.3. | Work site is inspected according to safety and compliance requirements, and high risk work hazards relevant to job task are identified and noted. | ||
3.4. | Job task is broken down into logical steps, and tools, equipment or plant, and materials to be used for each step are identified and recorded on SWMS. | ||
3.5. | High risk work hazards are identified for each step of the job task, and recorded on SWMS. | ||
4. | Complete and check SWMS. | 4.1 | Risk control strategies for each hazard in each step of the job task are identified according to the hierarchy of controls. |
4.2 | Identified risk control strategies are discussed with relevant personnel, and those selected for implementation are recorded on SWMS. | ||
4.3 | Work site and job task are reviewed immediately before starting work and SWMS is discussed with relevant personnel and confirmed as still applicable, or amended as required. | ||
4.4. | SWMS is securely stored on site according to compliance requirements. |
Evidence of Performance
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must satisfy all of the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. The person must also:
develop a new job safety analysis (JSA) for general hazards in consultation with relevant company personnel for two different job tasks on two different work sites
revise one of the JSA prior to starting work, identifying changed conditions and where appropriate, amending the JSA to reflect changed hazards and risk control strategies
develop a new safe work method statement (SWMS) for high-risk work in consultation with relevant company personnel for two different job tasks on two different work sites
revise one of the SWMS prior to starting work, identifying changed conditions and where appropriate, amending the SWMS to reflect changed hazards and risk control strategies.
In doing the above work, the person must:
inspect the work sites to identify potential hazards associated with work site and tasks
identify and review compliance with requirements relating to each work site and potential task-related hazards
consult with relevant personnel to select risk control strategies for both general hazards and high-risk work
document and store the above JSA and SWMS according to workplace requirements.
Evidence of Knowledge
A person demonstrating competency in this unit must demonstrate knowledge of:
common hazards and causes of incidents and near misses on construction sites
compliance requirements in relation to identified job tasks and work sites
construction hand and power tools, and equipment and plant relevant to the identified job tasks, and requirements for their safe handling and operation
format and content requirements for JSA and SWMS
principles of the hierarchy of controls
purpose and application of safety data sheets (SDS) when working with different materials
risk management strategies relevant to identified job tasks specified in the performance evidence
types of construction methods and materials used in both general hazards and high-risk construction work and risk factors inherent in their use and application
use and application of the Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice – Construction Work when identifying construction site hazards and selecting risk control strategies
use and meaning of construction terminology used on construction work sites relevant to identifying site hazards and selecting suitable risk control strategies.
Assessment Conditions
Suitable assessment of performance requires:
equipment:
computer with internet access
contingencies:
changes in work conditions at one work site for a JSA and one work site for an SWMS, requiring a review and amendment of the JSA and SWMS
specifications:
Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice – Construction Work
templates for documentation of JSA and SWMS
plain English guides to compliance requirements relevant to job tasks
physical conditions:
construction work sites for which JSA and SWMS are required
relationships with team members and supervisor:
consultation with team members and supervisor is required.
Assessor requirements
As a minimum, assessors must satisfy the assessor requirements in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) current at the time of assessment.
Foundation Skills
This section describes the language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills essential to performance in this unit but not explicit in the performance criteria. | |
Skill | Performance feature |
Learning skills to: | apply previous knowledge of effective risk control strategies to select strategies for different job tasks and new work sites search the internet to identify relevant compliance requirements for job tasks. |
Numeracy skills to: | interpret numerical information in compliance documentation. |
Oral communication skills to: | discuss risk control strategies with other site staff using appropriate construction terminology and questioning skills to clarify suitable risk control strategies. |
Reading skills to: | interpret information in compliance documentation and apply to the preparation and documentation of JSA and SWMS. |
Writing skills to: | complete and present all documentation according to industry standard: legible, coherent, precise and concise. |
Range Statement
This section specifies 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. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. | |
Job task must include: | general on-site construction, installation, fitout, or non-structural demolition task use of construction hand and power tools, and equipment or plant. |
Compliance requirements that relate to the job tasks must include: | Australian standards, industry guidelines, industry advisory standards, National Construction Code requirements, and codes of practice, including Safe Work Australia Model Code of Practice – Construction Work commonwealth, state and territory legislation and local government regulations environmental requirements public health and safety requirements WHS requirements, including safe operating procedures. |
Work site and task-related hazards must include consideration of: | common causes of incidents on construction sites manufacturer instructions for equipment other work going on near the work area safety data sheets (SDS). |
High risk work must include two of the following risks: | demolition of load-bearing structures diving work energised electrical installations or services falling more than two metres installation of tilt-up or precast concrete elements tasks where disturbance of asbestos is possible use of explosives work in areas with potential contaminated or flammable atmospheres work in areas with artificial extremes of temperatures work in or near confined spaces work in or near tunnels, shafts or trenches deeper than 1.5 metres work in or near water or other liquids that involves a risk of drowning work on telecommunications towers work on, in or adjacent to roads, railways, shipping lanes or other traffic corridors in use by traffic other than pedestrians work in or near one of the following: pressurised gas distribution mains or piping chemical, fuel or refrigerant lines. |
Sectors
Construction
Competency Field
Work health and safety