Application
This unit of competency covers the ability to follow work health and safety (WHS) policies and procedures, deal with the identification and control of hazards, work safely at all times, follow emergency response procedures and contribute to the maintenance of workplace safety.
This unit of competency is applicable to laboratory assistants and instrument operators working in all industry sectors. WHS responses are restricted to a 'first response' approach, including the notification of appropriate workplace personnel. Workers will be provided with clear directions, information, training and appropriate supervision.
While no specific licensing or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication, laboratory operations are governed by relevant legislation, regulations and/or external accreditation requirements. Local requirements should be checked.
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Identify, control and report WHS and environmental hazards | 1.1 | Routinely check immediate work area for hazards prior to commencing and during work |
1.2 | Address hazards within area of responsibility | ||
1.3 | Report hazards and incidents to designated personnel according to workplace policies and procedures | ||
2 | Conduct work safely | 2.1 | Select, fit and use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) |
2.2 | Follow workplace procedures when carrying out work tasks | ||
2.3 | Keep all work areas clean and free from obstacles | ||
2.4 | Maintain workplace standards of personal hygiene | ||
2.5 | Safely store, transport and dispose of hazardous materials and dangerous goods | ||
3 | Follow incident and emergency response procedures | 3.1 | Identify incident and emergency situations |
3.2 | Report and record incident and emergency situations according to workplace procedures | ||
3.3 | Follow incident and emergency procedures as appropriate to the nature of emergency using emergency equipment according to workplace procedures | ||
4 | Contribute to health and safety in the workplace | 4.1 | Raise WHS and environmental issues with designated personnel in accordance with workplace procedures and legislated rights and obligations of employees |
4.2 | Participate in WHS activities within scope of responsibilities |
Evidence of Performance
Evidence of competence in this unit must satisfy all of the requirements of the elements and performance criteria, and include demonstration of:
working safely at all times by following work health and safety (WHS) policies and procedures
following workplace incident, first aid and emergency response procedures
identifying hazards and controlling risks
performing routine safety checks, including:
conducting general housekeeping, such as recognising possible trip hazards
checking functionality of personal protective equipment (PPE) and other safety equipment
inspecting reagents, equipment and instruments
checking availability of emergency equipment
seeking assistance to clarify obligations, procedures and work instructions that impact on safety and legal liability
recognising potential incidents and taking appropriate corrective action
reporting hazards and incidents
communicating WHS and environmental issues or concerns to designated personnel promptly
participating in workplace fire drill, incident, first aid and emergency evacuation procedures
using, storing and maintaining PPE
storing, transporting and disposing of dangerous goods following workplace instructions and procedures.
Evidence of Knowledge
Must provide evidence that demonstrates knowledge of:
personal roles, rights and responsibilities and those of the employer
signage, symbols and signals relating to WHS
examples of hazards relevant to the work area, likely impacts and ways of addressing these using the hierarchy of control
site layout, including emergency exits, location and use of safety alarms, emergency response system and procedures, and designated WHS personnel
location, use, care and storage requirements for PPE and emergency/hazard control equipment in the work area
sources of advice and information on WHS issues, including material safety data sheets (MSDS) and key personnel
requirements and procedures for reporting (potential) WHS hazards and incidents, injuries, illness and near misses, and safety and environmental issues or concerns
standard operating procedures (SOPs), workplace procedures and safe work practices relevant to job role, including:
handling, storage and disposal of hazardous substances and requirements for labelling of hazardous substances
handling equipment and any task-specific manual handling techniques as required by work role
instructions that govern personal work, equipment use, and response to incidents and emergencies.
Assessment Conditions
Judgement of competence must be based on holistic assessment of the evidence. Assessment methods must confirm consistency of performance over time, rather than a single assessment event.
This unit of competency is to be assessed in the workplace or a simulated workplace environment. A simulated workplace environment must reflect realistic operational workplace conditions that cover all aspects of workplace performance, including the environment, task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
Foundation skills are integral to competent performance of the unit and should not be assessed separately.
Assessment processes and techniques must be appropriate to the language, literacy and numeracy requirements of the work being performed and the needs of the candidate.
Knowledge evidence may be collected concurrently with performance evidence or through an independent process, such as workbooks, written assessments or interviews (provided a record is kept in each case).
This unit of competency may be assessed with:
other relevant technical units of competency
Holistic assessment methods include:
feedback from peers and supervisors about the candidate’s ability to conduct work safely
review of candidate's responses to WHS case studies, scenarios and/or 'what ifs'
review of workplace documents, such as incident report forms, completed by the candidate
written and/or oral questioning to assess required knowledge and likely reactions in hazardous/emergency situations
observation of the candidate preparing for and undertaking a range of work tasks.
Access is required to instruments, equipment, materials, workplace documentation, procedures and specifications associated with this unit, including, but not limited to:
laboratory/field work environment, equipment and materials
PPE
emergency equipment, such as first aid equipment, eye wash kit or shower and fire extinguisher
workplace procedures.
Assessors must satisfy the assessor competency requirements that are in place at the time of the assessment as set by the VET regulator.
The assessor must demonstrate both technical competence and currency.
Technical competence can be demonstrated through:
relevant VET or other qualification/Statement of Attainment AND/OR
relevant workplace experience.
Currency can be demonstrated through:
performing the competency being assessed as part of current employment OR
having consulted with a laboratory about performing the competency being assessed within the last twelve months.
Foundation Skills
This section describes those language, literacy, numeracy and employment skills that are essential to performance.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different 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. | |
Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements | Standards, codes, procedures and/or workplace requirements include the latest version of one or more of: Australian and international standards, guidelines and codes covering safety in laboratories; occupational protective equipment; labelling of workplace substances; storage, handling and transport of dangerous goods; environmental management; physical containment levels and facility types specific industry codes, such as Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) Codes of Practice national WHS standards and codes of practice |
Designated personnel | Designated personnel include: laboratory manager, supervisor, WHS coordinator and WHS representative |
Workplace policies and procedures | Workplace policies and procedures refer to one or more of the following: WHS specific procedures, such as hazard and incident reporting, communication, consultation and issue resolution, and risk management controlling known hazards minimising environmental threats minimising and disposing of waste responding to safety, emergency, fire and incidents selecting/using PPE |
Incidents | Incidents include, but are not limited to, one or more of: workplace accidents and near misses biological, chemical or radioactive spills workplace injuries, such as cutting, stabbing, puncturing, crushing, immersion in water, suffocation, hypothermia, burns, heat stress, animal bites, allergic reactions and assaults emergency situations, such as fire, bomb threat, security threat and explosion |
WHS and environmental issues | WHS and environmental issues include one or more of: identification of hazards not otherwise addressed assessment of risk and decisions about measures to control risk risk reduction measures problems with implementation of controls problems with recycling, by-product collection and waste disposal investigation of injury and incidents clarification of understanding of WHS policies and procedures |
WHS and environmental management requirements | WHS and environmental management requirements include: · complying with WHS and environmental management requirements at all times, which may be imposed through state/territory or federal legislation. These requirements must not be compromised at any time · applying standard precautions relating to the potentially hazardous nature of samples accessing and applying current industry understanding of infection control issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and State and Territory Departments of Health, where relevant |
Sectors
Competency Field
Work health and safety