Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to understand work health and safety (WHS) laws, and comply with them in one’s own workplace.
The unit applies to those who contribute to compliance with WHS laws as part of their WHS responsibilities, which are in addition to their main duties.
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 wheremodel WHS lawshave not been implemented, registered training organisations (RTOs) are advised to contextualise this unit of competency by referring to existing WHS legislative requirements.
2. Themodel WHS lawsinclude the model WHS Act, model WHS Regulations and model WHS Codes of Practice. See Safe Work Australia for further information.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

What You'll Learn

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, and to:
• identify and apply at least two different standards or work health and safety (WHS) laws relevant to own work role, workplace and industry.
During the above, the candidate must:
• communicate WHS information to others
• refer any identified non-compliances with WHS laws to responsible persons or authorities
• seek advice from relevant stakeholders if any non-compliance matters are identified that are outside own expertise and legal duties.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. This includes knowledge of:
• WHS legislative duties of self and others, including limits of own expertise
• organisational WHS policies, procedures, processes and systems for:
• monitoring workplace compliance with WHS laws
• identifying and reporting non-compliance with WHS laws
• communicating WHS-related information
• requirements of commonwealth and state/territory WHS laws, standards and guidance material, and publications relevant to own work role, workplace and industry
• obligations and duties relating to consultation regarding training of workers, and health and safety representatives, including who must be consulted
• consequences of non-compliance with WHS laws, related documentation and organisational WHS policies, procedures, processes and systems
• individuals and duty holders to access for advice and accountability about WHS compliance
• sources of information about compliance with legislation.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment must comply with WHS laws, and WHS legal responsibilities and duty of care required for this unit. It must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities undertaken by individuals carrying out WHS duties in the workplace, and must include access to:
• organisational policies, procedures and plans relating to compliance requirements specified in the performance evidence
• WHS laws, licensing requirements and standards relevant to the work of the unit
• guidance materials and alerts issued by the relevant WHS regulator
• workplace equipment and resources required for the performance evidence.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the assessor requirements in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Learning', 'description': 'Identifies and evaluates information from sources to update knowledge'}
• {'skill': 'Reading', 'description': 'Interprets a range of textual information to determine regulatory and procedural requirements, and associated necessary actions'}
• {'skill': 'Writing', 'description': 'Documents WHS information in a sequential manner using required format, correct grammar and industry-specific language'}
• {'skill': 'Oral communication', 'description': 'Provides information and advice using language appropriate to audience and context; Uses listening and questioning to clarify and confirm understanding'}
• {'skill': 'Navigate the world of work', 'description': 'Follows policies, procedures and legislative requirements relevant to own role'}
• {'skill': 'Interact with others', 'description': 'Selects appropriate communication protocols and conventions to provide and seek information'}
• {'skill': 'Get the work done', 'description': 'Plans, sequences and prioritises tasks and activities to support compliance with WHS legislative requirements; Uses main features and functions of technology to complete work tasks and access information'}

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