Application
Field officers deploying broadband Access Networks using optical technologies apply the skills and knowledge in this unit. They combine technical skills with specific OHS skills to work safely on live systems. This unit applies to telecommunications staff working under supervision in a technical environment. This includes school-based workers, entry-level workers, trainees and apprentices. This unit applies in conjunction with other technical industry or enterprise-specific units. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
1. Identify OHS legislative requirements | 1.1. Identify and explain applicable OHS legislative requirements relevant to own work, role and responsibilities 1.2. Identify duty of care requirements 1.3. Identify and explain own responsibilities to comply with safe work practices |
2. Identify construction hazards and control measures | 2.1. Identify basic principles of risk management 2.2. Identify and discuss common construction hazards 2.3. Identify measures for controllinghazards and risks |
3. Follow workplace procedures for hazard identification and risk control | 3.1. Recognise and report hazards in the work area to designatedpersonnel according to workplace procedures 3.2. Follow OHS legislative requirements, workplace procedures and work instructions to control risks 3.3. Comply with safe work practices 3.4. Implement duty of care requirements 3.5. Complete job safety analysis (JSA) sheets according to work requirements, including hazard identification and risk assessment 3.6. Use and maintain personal protective equipment according to work requirements |
4. Recognise safety requirements for work with optical fibre equipment | 4.1. Identify safe working practices when handling optical fibre, lasers and optical connectors 4.2. Use safe work practices when handling optical fibre, lasers and optical connectors according to the relevant Australian standards 4.3. Identify safe working practices when handling and disposing of chemical waste |
5. Identify OHS communication and reporting processes | 5.1. Identify and discuss OHS communication processes, information and documentation 5.2. Identify and explain the role of designated OHS personnel 5.3. Identify and explain safety signs and symbols 5.4. Identify procedures and relevant authorities for reporting hazards, incidents and injuries |
6. Identify OHS incident response procedures | 6.1. Identify and explain general proceduresfor responding to incidents and emergencies 6.2. Identify procedures for accessing first aid 6.3. Identify and demonstrate requirements for the selection and use of relevant personal protective equipment 6.4. Identify and discuss fire safety equipment |
7. Contribute to the management of OHS | 7.1. Raise OHS issues with designated personnel according to workplace procedures and relevant OHS legislation 7.2. Contribute to participative arrangements for OHS management in the workplace within organisational procedures and scope of responsibilities and competencies |
8. Contribute to the management of workplace environmental issues | 8.1. Raise environmental issues with designated personnel according to workplace procedures and relevant environmental requirements and legislation 8.2. Contribute to participative arrangements for environmental management in the workplace within organisational procedures and scope of responsibilities and competencies 8.3. Record and report all OHS issues, risks and hazards to designated personnel |
Required Skills
Required skills |
communication skills to: ask effective questions and clarify requirements listen to, and liaise with, relevant personnel on technical and operational matters raise and report OHS matters, discuss and relay OHS information to others explain legislative requirements and principles of risk management, safety signs and symbols and common hazards in relation to own work literacy skills to interpret technical documentation and standards and demonstrate knowledge by incorporating technical language into written tasks, such as report on recommendation to minimise hazards and injury numeracy skills to interpret technical data, such as specifications of laser operations problem solving skills to apply methodology in minimising risks research skills to access technical information and sources to understand and report on safety requirements safety awareness skills to: apply precautions and required action to minimise, control or eliminate hazards that may exist during work activities select and use required personal protective equipment conforming to industry and OHS standards work systematically with required attention to detail without injury to self or others, or damage to goods or equipment select and use appropriate methods for laser handling |
Required knowledge |
applicable Commonwealth, state or territory OHS legislation, regulations, standards, codes of practice and industry standards and guidance notes relevant to own work, role and responsibilities common construction hazards general construction work activities that require licenses, tickets or certificates of competency environmental control processes: air quality management disposal and handling of hazardous and dangerous substances noise pollution safe disposal of fibre offcuts stormwater and materials spillage waste disposal OHS responsibilities and rights of duty holders/workplace parties under environmental and OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice, including: persons in control of construction work/projects employers and self-employed persons supervisors employees designers inspectors manufacturers and suppliers optical fibres and equipment: hazards relating to handling of optical fibre and laser light source in the workplace injuries: damage to retina from lasers damage to lungs from inhalation of fibre offcuts and particles needle stick injury from fibres and offcuts laser warning signs and labels relating to optical fibre components and equipment safety requirements when handling and working with: devices laser light sources optical fibre connectors optical fibres patchcords own responsibilities to comply with safe work practices relating to: housekeeping identification of hazards preventing bullying or harassment smoking use of amenities use of drugs and alcohol principles of risk management and assessment for construction work ways in which OHS is managed in the workplace, and activities required under OHS legislation, including: hazard identification hazards that exist in the workplace OHS instruction preferred order of ways to control risks (known as the hierarchy of control) risk assessment and controls role of OHS committees and representatives training and provision of OHS information types of common personal protective equipment and fire safety equipment types of OHS information and documentation workplace environmental and OHS procedures relevant to the work being undertaken, including procedures for: designated personnel responsible for OHS employee participation in OHS management general first aid response requirements general workers' compensation and injury management requirements meaning of OHS symbols found on signs and labels in the workplace raising OHS issues recognising and reporting on: accidents dangerous occurrences emergencies hazards incidents injuries near misses responding to: accidents emergencies evacuation procedures fires and hazards incidents injuries work operations to control risks |
Evidence Required
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the ability to: apply personal awareness of: OHS legislative and safety requirements for construction work, including duty of care the range of common construction hazards and procedures for the assessment of risk and application of the hierarchy of control OHS communication processes, information and documentation including the role of OHS committees and representatives, the meaning of common safety signs and symbols, and procedures for reporting hazards, incidents and injuries general procedures for responding to incidents and emergencies, including evacuation, first aid, fire safety equipment and personal protective equipment recognise and report hazards to designated personnel follow workplace procedures necessary to control risks in the workplace safely handle optical fibres and laser sources. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure: relevant OHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice OHS implementation resources, such as sample forms, signs and procedures enterprise OHS policies and procedures personal protective equipment first aid equipment fire safety equipment relevant work areas for identification of hazards and control measures. optic fibre cabling and equipment. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct observation of the candidate applying safety aspects to the handling of optical fibres and lasers direct observation of the candidate following or participating in common OHS workplace procedures oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of OHS concepts and applications evaluation of written reports on hazards and safety recommendations. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended. Aboriginal people and other people from a non-English speaking background may have second language issues. Access must be provided to appropriate learning and assessment support when required. Assessment processes and techniques must be culturally appropriate, and appropriate to the oral communication skill level, and language and literacy capacity of the candidate and the work being performed. In all cases where practical assessment is used it will be combined with targeted questioning to assess required knowledge. Questioning techniques should not require language, literacy and numeracy skills beyond those required in this unit of competency. Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with special needs. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
OHS legislative requirements relate to: | Australian standards duty of care health and safety representatives, committees and supervisors industry OHS standards and guidelines licences, tickets or certificates of competency national safety standards OHS and Welfare Acts and regulations safety codes of practice construction industry OHS standards and guidelines National Code of Practice for Induction Training for Construction Work |
Duty of care requirements relate to: | legal responsibility to do everything reasonably practicable to protect others from harm own responsibilities to comply with safe work practices: activities that require licences tickets certificates of competency relevant state OHS requirements, including: construction supervisors construction workers designers employers and self-employed persons inspectors manufacturers and suppliers persons in control of the work site subcontractors. |
Safe work practices relate to: | access to site amenities: drinking water toilets appropriate warning labels on cabinets and enclosures avoiding coming into contact with chemicals, breathing in fumes and vapours, and digesting such materials being aware of what to do and how to treat any potential accident drugs and alcohol at work general requirements for: safe use of plant and equipment use of personal protective equipment and clothing housekeeping to ensure a clean, tidy and safe work area manufacturer's warnings or instruction labels in relation to the laser product are not damaged or obscured during installation no fibre particles, hazardous solvents or chemicals left on site at the completion of the work preventing bullying and harassment relevant Australian standards of required health and safety precautions smoking in designated areas specific organisational safety requirements storing and removing debris using a wet cleaning process and making sure all solvent residues are disposed of according to environmental policy warning labels used in conjunction with laser and optical fibre systems. |
Principles of risk management include: | assessing the risks involved consulting and reporting ensuring the involvement of relevant workers controlling the hazard identifying hazards reviewing to identify change or improvement. |
Common construction hazards include: | confined spaces electrical safety excavations, including trenches falling objects hazardous substances and dangerous goods HIV and other infectious diseases hot and cold working environments manual handling noise plant and equipment traffic and mobile plant unplanned collapse ultraviolet (UV) radiation working at heights. |
Measures for controlling hazards and risk include: | administrative control elimination engineering control isolation personal protective equipment substitution. |
Hazards may include: | activating equipment without notifying other staff who may be working remotely on the network cleaning alcohol, epoxy resins and other solvents and chemicals may be carcinogenic, cause allergies or be dangerous to health in other ways environmental hazards: air pollution damage to natural or heritage precincts dangerous gases ground water contamination heavy or noxious metals pollution noise petrochemical spillage release of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) flammable cleaning chemicals fluids and solvents fibre offcut damage to eyes and skin health hazards: dangerous or harmful substances handling of optic fibres and lasers risk of infection risk of sustained injury from repetitive tasks inhalation of fibre offcuts and particles from vacuum cleaning of worksite laser damage to eyes safety hazards: biomechanical lifting potentially harmful procedures such as welding working at heights. |
Designated personnel includes: | management managers OHS personnel other persons authorised or nominated by the enterprise or industry to: approve specified work direct specified work inspect specified work perform specified work supervisors team leaders. |
Workplace procedures may include: | assessing risks consulting and participating controlling hazards emergency responses to: accidents emergencies fires identifying hazards reporting OHS issues resolving OHS issues using personal protective equipment. |
Control risks may include: | three steps in risk management process: identify hazard assess risk implement control methods. |
Job safety analysis (JSA) may include: | health, safety and environmental hazards each new workplace or worksite situation sheets to record the steps in the risk management process: assessment control identification primary application of assessment. |
Hazard identification includes: | checking equipment and work area: before work commences during work housekeeping reviewing accident or incident records workplace inspections. |
Risk assessment includes: | a scale: low medium high awareness of likelihood and consequence factors JSA. |
Personal protective equipment used to control a hazard may include: | aprons arm guards breathing apparatus dust masks respirators clothing boots gloves overalls protective jackets or pants for preparing, cutting or jointing optical fibres eye protection face and head protection face masks goggles helmets gloves hard hat hearing protection high visibility retro reflective vests protective, well fitting clothing respiratory protection safety footwear UV protective clothing and sunscreen protective eyewear designed specifically for laser radiation detectors. |
Australian Standards may include: | Australian Communications Industry Forum (ACIF) standards and codes Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) standards TS 14 AS Communications Cabling Manual (CCM) AS/NZS 3000:2007 AS/NZS 3080:2003 AS/NZS 3084:2003 AS/NZS 3085.1:2004 AS/NZS IEC 61935.1:2006 AS/NZS IEC 61935.2:2006 AS/NZS ISO/IEC 14763.3:2007 AS/NZS ISO/IEC 15018:2005 AS/NZS ISO/IEC 24702:2007 cabling security codes and regulations Environmental Protection Acts International Standards ISO 9000 and 9001 International Telecommunications Union (ITU) recommendations OHS Acts and relevant codes and standards road and traffic control legislation and codes technical standards AS/ACIF S008:2006 and AS/ACIF S009:2006 Telecommunications Act and relevant codes. |
OHS communication processes may include: | discussions with OHS representatives OHS meetings OHS notices, newsletters, bulletins and correspondence OHS participative arrangements processes for raising OHS issues toolbox talks workplace consultation relating to OHS issues and changes. |
OHS information and documentation may include: | accident and incident reports Acts and regulations Australian standards codes of practice construction documentation and plans emergency information contact evacuation plans guidance notes job safety analyses labels material safety data sheets (MSDS) proformas for reporting hazards, incidents and injuries reports of near misses and dangerous occurrences risk assessments safe work method statements safety meeting minutes site safety inspection reports. |
Designated OHS personnel may include: | first aid officers OHS committee members OHS representatives supervisors. |
Safety signs and symbols may include: | emergency information signs: equipment exits first aid fire signs, location of fire alarms and fire fighting equipment hazard signs danger and warning regulatory signs: mandatory limitation or restriction prohibition safety tags and lockout: danger tags out of service tags. |
Relevant authorities may include: | emergency services: ambulance emergency rescue fire brigade police OHS regulatory authority supervisor. |
Incidents may include: | accidents resulting in personal injury or damage to property near misses or dangerous occurrences which do not cause injury but may pose an immediate and significant risk to persons or property, and need to be reported so that action can be taken to prevent recurrence, for example: breathing apparatus malfunctioning to the extent that the user's health is in danger collapse of the floor, wall or ceiling of a building being used as a workplace collapse or failure of an excavation more than 1.5 metres deep including any shoring collapse or partial collapse of a building or structure collapse, overturning or failure of the load bearing of any scaffolding, lift, crane, hoist or mine-winding equipment damage to or malfunction of any other major plant electric shock electrical short circuit, malfunction or explosion uncontrolled explosion, fire or escape of gas, hazardous substance or steam any other unintended or uncontrolled incident or event arising from operations carried on at a workplace. |
General procedures for responding to incidents and emergencies may include: | basic emergency response: keep calm raise alarm obtain help evacuation notification of designated OHS personnel and authorities notification of emergency services, when and how referring to site emergency plans and documentation. |
Emergencies may include: | chemical spill fire injury to personnel structural collapse toxic and flammable vapours emission vehicle and mobile plant accident. |
Fire safety equipment may include: | breathing apparatus fire blankets fire fighting equipment. |
Participative arrangements may include: | committees: consultative OHS planning purchasing concerns health and safety representatives OHS informal meetings reports requests suggestions. |
Environmental requirements must include: | clean-up management dust noise waste management. |
Sectors
Unit sector | Telecommunications |
Competency Field
Occupational health and safety |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Refer to Unit Descriptor