Health and safety

Participate in WHS processes HLTWHS200A

 

This unit is about what an entry level worker needs to be able to do in workplace health and safety (WHS) to keep themselves and others healthy and safe at work.

 

 

How you will be assessed

This unit will be assessed by:

  • Give your assessor a walkaround tour of your workplace, and describe your organization, its goals, and what you do. You assessor may ask any relevant questions in order to understand what you do.
  • Supervisor observation of your contribution in team meetings
  • Review of your workplan and your workplace documents
  • Interview based on the requirements below.

 

Interview/Assignment

Hazards and risks

  1. Make a list of the main hazards in your workplace and write the relevant safety measures next to each one.
  2. What is the difference between a hazard and a risk?
  3. Explain briefly the hierarchy of risk control.
  4. Explain each of the following common workplace hazards and what to do about each one:
    1. chemicals,
    2. bodily fluids,
    3. sharps,
    4. noise,
    5. manual handling,
    6. work postures,
    7. underfoot trip hazards, and
    8. moving parts of machinery.

Signs and signals

  1. What kinds of emergency signals or alarms does you workplace have. What is the required response to each one?
  2. Your assesor will quiz you on safety signs and their meanings, and you must get all of them right without prompting. The signs will include signs for:
    1. dangerous goods class signs
    2. emergency equipment
    3. personal protective equipment
    4. specific hazards such as sharps, radiation

Emergencies

  1. What kinds of emergencies are most likely in your workplace?
  2. What are your organization’s procedures for responding to them?
  3. What kind of alarms and signals are there?
  4. What should you do when an alarm sounds or a signal flashes?

WHS system

  1. Who is your designated person(s) for raising WHS issues?
  2. In your particular workplace, what are your organization’s procedures for
    1. Doing your particular job?
    2. Responding of specific hazards and controlling risk
    3. Reporting hazards?
    4. Reporting incidents and injuries?
    5. Consultation?
    6. Using PPE?
  3. What is each of the following legally responsible to do in WHS:
    1. workers?
    2. officers/managers?
    3. people who own/run the business?
    4. Health and Safety Representatives?
    5. Health and Safety committees?
  4. What common WHS issues affect your organization's workplace systems, equipment and processes?
  5. Where can you get WHS information in the workplace?
  6. Where can you get WHS information outside the workplace?

Sustainability

  • How do safe work practices help sustainability in:
    1. The environment
    2. The economy
    3. The workforce
    4. Society generally

 

 

Detailed requirements

1. Plan and prepare to work safely.

  1. Identify hazards in the work area, and take action to control risk.
  2. Report any residual risks according to your organization’s procedures.
  3. Carry out pre-start checks as required according to work procedures.

2. Communicate effectively about WHS matters.

  1. If anything is unclear, clarify meaning with your peers and supervisors.
  2. Follow clear, logical verbal or clear, logical Plain English written instructions.
  3. Give accurate verbal or written descriptions of incidents or hazards.
  4. Interpret selected pictorial/graphical and written signs/instructions.

3. Work safely.

  1. Use personal protective equipment correctly.
  2. Follow procedures and workplace instructions for ensuring safety when planning and doing your work.
  3. Follow procedures and workplace instructions to:
  4. report incidents and injuries to your supervisor or OHS rep.
  5. Do your WHS housekeeping in your work area.
  6. Identify your own levels of stress and fatigue so that you can work safely and sustainably.

4. Participate in WHS consultations.

  1. Show that you are prepared to be involved in WHS activities, including inspections and meetings.
  2. Contribute to WHS meetings, WHS inspections or other consultative activities.
  3. Raise WHS issues with the meeting leader according to organization procedures.
  4. Give your input to improve workplace WHS systems and processes to eliminate hazards or reduce risk, according to your organizations procedures.

5. Follow emergency response procedures.

  1. Identify emergency situations and report them. (The kind of emergency will vary greatly according to the kind of work you do.)
  2. Follow your organization’s procedures for responding to emergencies.