Safe work practices

HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care

This unit is about working safely to ensure the health and safety of staff, clients, and other community members. This unit applies to all workers who need to know workplace health and safety (WHS), whether in centre-based or home-based service provision.

 

How you will be assessed

You will be assessed through:

• Assessor observation on the job
• Supervisor reference (if the assessor is not the supervisor)
• Review of your workplace documents (e.g. procedures, risk assessment, hazard identifications, incident reports)
• Interview/assignment based on the requirements below.

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Practical

RE CA

You will be assessed in the workplace where you must have current workplace policies and procedures for WHS, and PPE relevant to the workplace and job role of the worker.

Show your assessor your workplace and the forms and procedures. Explain how it works as you go. Your assessor may ask you any questions on how it works. Most organizations have clear procedures. You will need to show that you have

1. Contributed to a workplace WHS meeting or inspection.
2. Done a written workplace risk assessment.
3. Consistently applied workplace safety procedures in the day-to-day work activities of your job role, including:
1. infection control
2. hazardous manual tasks
3. use of personal protective equipment
4. reporting incidents.
4. Followed workplace procedures for at least one simulated emergency situation.

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Interview/assignment questions

RK.

1. Explain in outline the main legislation in your State/territory on safe work practices.
2. How is it represented in:
1. workplace regulations,
2. industry codes of practice and standards,
3. the role of state/territory WHS authorities,
4. rights and responsibilities of employers and workers, including duty of care,
5. hazardous manual tasks,
6. infection control?
3. What are the safety symbols and their meanings for:
1. poisons,
2. emergency equipment,
3. personal protective equipment (PPE),
4. specific hazards (e.g. sharps, radiation)?
4. Hazard identification:
1. Define a hazard.
2. What hazards are most common in your workplace?
3. What are your organization’s procedures for identifying hazards?
4. Who is responsible for assessing risk?
5. What are your organization’s strategies for minimizing risk?
6. What is your organization’s system for consulting staff on WHS matters?
5. What are the most common kinds of emergencies in your workplace.
6. Explain your workplace emergency procedures.
7. What are the main safety risks when working in a home-based environment?

Note: Your assessor may also ask you a variety of what if questions.

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Detailed requirements

1. Follow safe work practices for direct client care. El 1/PC, RS O In W

1. Follow workplace policies and procedures for safe work practices.
2. Identify existing and potential hazards in the workplace (including client-related risk factors or behaviours of concern), report them to your WHS supervisor, and record them according to workplace procedures.
3. Follow workplace policies and procedures to minimize risk.
4. Identify and report incidents and injuries to your WHS supervisor according to workplace procedure.

 

2. Follow safe work practices for manual handling. El 2/PC, RS

1. Follow manual handling procedures and work instructions for minimizing risk.
2. Identify manual handling hazards and report them according to WHS procedures.
3. Apply controls for minimizing risk.

 

3. Follow safe work practices for infection control. El 3/PC, RS O In

1. Follow standard precautions as part of your work routine to prevent the spread of infection.
2. Recognize situations that need extra infection control procedures.
3. Apply extra precautions when standard precautions alone might not be enough to prevent transmission of infection.
4. Identify risks of infection and report them according to workplace procedures.

 

4. Contribute to safe work practices in the workplace. El 4/PC, RS

1. Report WHS issues to your WHS supervisor (follow your organization's procedures).
2. Participate in workplace safety meetings, inspections, and consultations.
3. Help to develop and implement safe workplace policies and procedures in your work area.

5. Reflect on your safety work practices. El 2/PC, RS, Id L

1. Identify ways to keep current with safe work practices in workplace systems, equipment and processes in your work role.
2. Reflect on your levels of stress and fatigue, and report them to the designated person according to workplace procedures.
3. Participate in workplace debriefing to address your individual needs.

 

6. Reading. R L

1. Read workplace safety policies and procedures and interpret them accurately.
2. Read workplace safety signs, dangerous goods classifications and safety instructions.
3. Manage tasks and contingencies on the job
4. Requirements above comply with WHS Act

 

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Code for unit reqts: CA: Conditions of assessment El/PC: Element & criteria RE: Required evidence RK: Required knowledge RS: Required skills

Code for Foundation skills: L: Learning Id: Identify beliefs & thinking R: Reading W: Writing

N: Numeracy O: Oral communication N: Navigate world of work In: Interact with others G: Get work done