Application

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to develop processes and procedures for controlling hazardous chemicals in the workplace, and then monitoring their effectiveness. The unit requires the application of knowledge associated with work health and safety (WHS) legislation, and organisational policies and procedures relating to controlling hazardous chemicals.
The unit applies to those who work under supervision and use some discretion and judgement to respond to monitoring hazardous chemicals in the workplace. It applies to hazardous chemicals with the potential to harm human health, which may be solids, liquids or gases – pure substances or mixtures. When used in the workplace these substances often generate vapours, fumes, dusts and/or mists.
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.
3. For the purposes of this unit of competency ‘safe systems of work’ refers to a formal procedure that results from systematic examination of a task in order to identify all the hazards. It defines safe methods to ensure that hazards are eliminated or, where this is not possible, risks are minimised.
No licensing, legislative 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:
• on at least two different occasions, develop processes and procedures to control hazardous chemicals in the workplace.
During each of these occasions, the candidate must:
• identify hazardous chemicals in the workplace through inspections and consultation with required personnel
• monitor and report on implementation of control processes and procedures
• communicate requirements and compliance associated with hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements for hazardous chemical monitoring
• implement training and development opportunities to address non-compliance
• identify WHS duty holders and their duties, and seek specialist advice as required.

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate the knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit. This includes knowledge of:
• range of common workplace hazardous chemicals and the origin and nature of associated harm
• requirements for controlling hazardous chemicals as specified in:
• relevant WHS laws, licences and permit conditions
• organisational WHS policies, procedures, processes and systems
• documentation about the safe use, handling, processing, storage, transportation, and disposal of hazardous chemicals in the workplace, including safety data sheets (SDSs)
• risk control processes and procedures, including:
• identifying hazards and assessing risks
• responding to incidents involving hazardous chemicals
• organisational policies and procedures for:
• accessing internal and external sources of WHS information and data
• recording outcomes of monitoring process and distributing to required personnel according to workplace policies and procedures
• key features and components of controls for hazardous chemicals in the workplace, including:
• workplace register for hazardous chemicals
• labelling of hazardous chemicals
• workplace signposting
• current and complete SDSs for hazardous chemicals in the workplace
• risk controls in line with the hierarchy of control measures
• safe work practices that eliminate, or where this is not possible, minimise risks
• emerging issues about hazardous chemicals and identifying potential risks from exposure to hazardous chemicals
• hierarchy of control measures suited to identified hazardous chemicals
• training and development procedures and protocols.

Assessment Conditions

Assessment must comply with WHS laws, 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:
• workplace equipment and resources
• WHS laws, standards and guidelines required to demonstrate the performance evidence
• organisational policies, procedures, processes and systems required to demonstrate the performance evidence
• case studies and, where possible, real situations
• opportunities for interaction with others.
Assessors of this unit must satisfy the assessor requirements in applicable vocational education and training legislation, frameworks and/or standards.

Foundation Skills

• {'skill': 'Reading', 'description': 'Locates, interprets and analyses WHS legislative and workplace information about hazardous chemicals'}
• {'skill': 'Writing', 'description': 'Uses appropriate organisational formats and industry-specific vocabulary to document control processes and procedures'}
• {'skill': 'Oral communication', 'description': 'Uses structure and language suitable for audience to communicate information and contribute ideas about hazardous chemical control'}
• {'skill': 'Navigate the world of work', 'description': 'Adheres to legal and regulatory responsibilities, and organisational policies and procedures in relation to hazardous chemicals; Keeps up to date on changes to WHS laws, and related organisational policies and procedures relevant to own role'}
• {'skill': 'Interact with others', 'description': 'Cooperates with others and contributes to specific activities requiring joint responsibility and accountability'}
• {'skill': 'Get the work done', 'description': 'Uses decision-making and problem-solving processes in hazardous chemicals monitoring: sets and clarifies goals, gathers information and checks compliance; Uses processes to monitor outcomes of processes and procedures to control hazardous chemicals in the workplace'}

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