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SISOEQU010 Current

Application

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to identify hazards, assess associated safety risks, take measures to eliminate or control those risks and document all processes. It covers the processes necessary to manage the significant safety risks associated with horse handling, instructing, coaching, guiding and riding activities.
This unit applies to a range of organisations including those involved in equestrian sport, instructional and recreational riding programs. Risk assessments are usually completed by those responsible for the activity including instructors, coaches, guides, and trail bosses. They may complete risk assessments independently, in consultation with others or through a team effort.
No occupational licensing, certification or specific legislative requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.

What You'll Learn

1.

  • 1.1 Use hazard identification and risk assessment templates, independently or with other personnel to complete assessments
  • 1.2 Use a range of methods to identify current and foreseeable hazards with potential to harm health and safety of anyone involved in or present during activities.1.3. Identify man-made or environmental obstacles and hazards in areas where horse handling or riding activities are scheduled.1.4. Gather and interpret weather and environmental information to ascertain impacts on handling or riding conditions.1.5. Identify hazards, including biosecurity issues, associated with handling or riding horses for program activities.1.6. Identify features of and potential hazards for tack and all other equipment to be used.1.7. Record identified hazards according to organisational procedures and legal requirements

2.

  • 2.1 Consult with other personnel, as required, for input into risk assessments
  • 2.2 Collect sufficient evidence of the type and level of risk posed by identified hazards.2.3. Use commonly accepted methods to complete risk analysis and risk assessments.2.4. Document outcomes of risk assessments and proposed actions to eliminate or control risks.2.5. Maintain records of risk assessments according to organisational procedures and legal requirements

3.

  • 3.1 Use organisational templates designed to match horses to handlers or riders
  • 3.2 Identify handler or rider characteristics and level of horse handling or riding skills.3.3. Identify known behaviour and education level of horses available for the activity and consider potential hazards.3.4. Assess and select horses of suitable history, size and temperament to match handler or rider characteristics and skill level.3.5. Assess handler or rider’s own horse, when self-provided, and ensure horse and handler or rider combination is safely matched.3.6. Maintain records of assessments according to organisational procedures

4.

  • 4.1 Evaluate and determine ways to eliminate hazards from horse handling or riding activity
  • 4.2 Evaluate and determine ways that safety risks can be effectively controlled for horse handling or riding activity.4.3. Take measures to eliminate or control risks, within scope of responsibility or refer for authorisation.4.4. Incorporate risk control processes into documented plans or procedures for horse handling or riding activities

5.

  • 5.1 Monitor horse behaviour and handler or rider control during activities and adjust horse and handler or rider combination as required
  • 5.2 Respond immediately to safety situations and stimuli causing adverse horse reactions as they arise.5.3. Complete on-the-spot risk assessment to avoid injury to handlers or riders and horses.5.4. Amend or cease activities if hazard or safety risk is determined to be extreme

Assessment Requirements

Performance Evidence

Evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit in the context of the job role, and:
• for particular equestrian sport, instructional or recreational handling or riding programs:
• complete one horse suitability audit
• complete two risk assessments for different activities within the relevant program
• incorporate risk control processes into documented plans or safety procedures for the above two activities
• complete three risk assessments to match horses to handlers or riders, each using different horses and for different handlers or riders
• according to three different scenarios, provide responses to immediate safety risks that have arisen during handling or riding activities.

Knowledge Evidence

Demonstrated knowledge required to complete the tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit:
• requirements under the local state or territory work health and safety law for:
• organisational and worker responsibility to ensure safety of self, other workers and other people in the workplace
• when, where and how hazards must be identified
• when, where and how risk assessments must be conducted
• consultation in the hazard identification and risk assessment process
• record keeping
• for equestrian sport, instructional or recreational organisations:
• what constitutes the workplace including environments where horse handling and riding activities occur
• what constitutes a worker including paid and volunteer workers
• what constitutes other people present in the workplace including participant handlers or riders and spectators
• organisational work health and safety procedures for:
• identifying hazards
• assessing risks
• assessing horse and handler or rider combination
• a range of methods that can be used to identify hazards for horse handling and riding activities to include:
• inspecting the workplace, tack and all equipment used for the activity and completing safety checklists
• gathering and evaluating weather and environmental information including terrain when relevant
• identifying the known behaviour and education level of horses available for the activity
• completing periodic horse suitability audits
• completing biosecurity checks
• identifying handler or rider characteristics and level of horse handling and or riding skills
• reviewing near miss incidents and accidents
• evaluating the complexity of activities
• features of commonly used risk assessment methods which can include:
• identifying potential injuries, illness and consequences
• determining the exposure
• estimating probability
• determining overall risk level
• features of commonly used methods for controlling risks which can include:
• substituting systems or equipment with something safer
• isolating the hazard
• introducing engineering or administrative or procedural controls
• using personal protective equipment
• implementing combined controlled measures to minimise risks
• for the particular sport, instructional or recreational riding activity:
• industry association safety standards or codes or practice
• safety standards or codes of practice issued by national, state or territory work health and safety authorities
• format, content and use of templates to:
• identify and record hazards, complete horse suitability audits and biosecurity checks
• assess and record associated risks and control methods
• match horses to handlers and or riders
• factors that affect the matching of horses to handler or rider capabilities to include:
• horse:
• age and gender
• size
• health and fitness
• tractability and temperament
• level of education
• history
• behaviour patterns
• participant characteristics:
• age, size and weight
• current horse handling or riding experience and skill level
• fitness level and physical capabilities
• injuries and medical conditions
• emotional, behavioural and intellectual ability or disability.

Assessment Conditions

In order to demonstrate the physical hazard identification components of this unit, access to the following is required:
• the environment where the particular equestrian sport, instructional or recreational riding programs are conducted
• tack and all equipment used for the activity.
Assessment must ensure use of:
• hazard identification and risk assessment templates specific to horse handling and riding activities, including those for horse suitability audits and biosecurity issues
• weather and environmental information including terrain when relevant
• horse profiles to include:
• age and gender
• size
• health and fitness
• tractability and temperament
• level of education
• history
• behaviour patterns
• participant profiles to include:
• age, size and weight
• current horse handling or riding experience and skill level
• fitness level and physical capabilities
• injuries and medical conditions
• templates designed to match horses to handlers or riders
• organisational work health and safety procedures for:
• identifying hazards
• assessing risks
• assessing horse and handler or rider combination
• for the particular equestrian sport, instructional or recreational riding activity:
• industry association safety standards or codes of practice
• safety standards or codes of practice issued by national, state or territory work health and safety authorities.
Assessors must satisfy the Standards for Registered Training Organisations requirements for assessors, and:
• hold a qualification or Statement of Attainment which includes this unit, SISOEQU010 Identify hazards, assess and control safety risks for horse handling and riding activities, or demonstrate competency in this unit, and
• have at least three years’ experience with an organisation involved in equestrian sport, instructional or recreational riding programs where they have applied the skills and knowledge covered in this unit of competency.

Foundation Skills

  • {'skill': 'Reading skills to:', 'description': 'interpret complex and sometimes unfamiliar documents which can include:organisational work health and safety procedures and templatesmaterials describing work health and safety regulatory requirements for hazard identification and risk assessment.; organisational work health and safety procedures and templates; materials describing work health and safety regulatory requirements for hazard identification and risk assessment.'}
  • {'skill': 'Numeracy skills to:', 'description': 'score the level of risk and calculate overall risk level for hazards.'}
  • {'skill': 'Self-management skills to:', 'description': 'critically analyse hazards and logically evaluate associated risks to apply effective and tailored control measures.'}

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Last updated from training.gov.au: 07 April 2026