SITXWHS003 Implement and monitor work health and safety practices

What is competency? (Source SIT training package)

The broad concept of industry competency concerns the ability to perform particular tasks and duties to the standard of performance expected in the workplace. Competency requires the application of specified skills, knowledge and attitudes relevant to effective participation in an industry, industry sector or enterprise.

Competency covers all aspects of workplace performance and involves performing individual tasks; managing a range of different tasks; responding to contingencies or breakdowns; and dealing with the responsibilities of the workplace, including working with others. Workplace competency requires the ability to apply relevant skills, knowledge and attitudes consistently over time and in the required workplace situations and environments. In line with this concept of competency, Training Packages focus on what is expected of a competent individual in the workplace as an outcome of learning, rather than focussing on the learning process itself.

Competency standards in Training Packages are determined by industry to meet identified industry skill needs. Competency standards are made up of a number of units of competency each of which describes a key function or role in a particular job function or occupation. Each unit of competency within a Training Package is linked to one or more AQF qualifications.

Assignment Activity 1

Look at the Code of Practice for ‘Hazardous Manual Tasks’ and answer the following questions. (You will need to source this document yourself.)

• What range of workplace activities does manual tasks cover?

• What does MSD stand for?

• What are the four steps to identifying hazardous manual tasks?

• Describe five characteristics of hazardous manual tasks.

• What are the five questions in assessing risk factors?
• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

• What are the two types of vibration?

• What are the weight lifting limits for females in the code?

• Describe two mechanical aids that can be used for lifting that are described in the Code.

Assignment Activity 2

For the following case study, explain:

1. The employer’s responsibilities under the Model Act.
2. The employee’s responsibilities under the Model Act.

Note: Remember to quote parts of ‘the Model Act’ to support your findings.

Case study

Michael works as a marketing assistant at a major five star hotel; his office is located on the third floor of the hotel and is quite a comfortable area even if it is a bit cramped. Michael’s job is to liaise with the kitchens with regard to menus and specific arrangements for functions and VIP guests. He regularly needs to speak to the chefs in person and spends much of the day visiting them in the kitchens.

The kitchens are often busy and floors can sometimes become wet and slippery if certain types of shoes are worn. Michael’s uniform is usually a suit, tie and standard black shoes. On this particular day he was discussing some VIP arrangements with the chef in the seafood restaurant and upon leaving the kitchen, he slipped on a damp floor and suffered a broken arm. He was in much pain and an ambulance needed to be called.

While waiting for the ambulance, the Executive Chef attended and remarked that Michael was stupid and it was his own fault as the shoes he was wearing were not suitable to be worn in a kitchen.

The employer’s responsibilities under the Model Act.

The employee’s responsibilities under the Model Act.

Assignment Activity 3

Work groups and WHS Committees

Look at your workplace to answer the following questions. If you are not currently working you may base your assignment on a five-star hotel.

Part 1:

Explain what work groups are in place or you would recommend putting in place. State the reasons for these work groups.

Typical WG break ups for a hospitality business include:

Part 2:

Who is on the work health and safety committee or who would you recommend to sit on that committee?

(Refer to your state-based legislation for specific rules regarding the makeup of a health and safety committee in your state.)

Part 3:

Explain your reasons for the makeup of the committee.

Assignment Activity 4

Identify workplace hazards in the following areas:

Typical hazards – kitchen:

Typical hazards – FOH

Assignment Activity 5

Using five of the hazards that you previously identified in your workplace, grade the risk for each hazard using the Risk Table below:

Eliminate

Isolate

Eliminate

Isolate

Eliminate

Isolate

Eliminate

Isolate

Eliminate

Isolate

Assignment Activity 6

For the five hazards previously identified in your workplace:

1. Make recommendations for the control of each hazard.

2. Identify which level on the ‘hierarchy of control’ the selected controls are.

Assignment Activity 7

For two of the hazards previously identified, explain how the control measures would be monitored.

To help in this task, use the following flow chart used for controlling hazards.

Identification

Assessment

Control Measures

Evaluation and Monitoring

• Electrical hazards from electrical equipment and damaged cords - Physical hazard (unlikely / major injury / Medium)
  
  Maintenance of equipment - Engineering control

For electrical hazards the maintenance department could have a system where all electrical equipment is inspected and tagged on a periodic basis. This combined with staff training to recognise any damaged equipment and cords and report them to maintenance department would be a good monitoring system.

• Slips trips and falls - Physical hazard – (likely / major injury / high)

Staff training - Administration control
Keeping the workplace clean – Elimination control
Having adequate room to store items so that the workplace does not become untidy - Engineering control

This type of monitoring is on a daily, minute to minute basis, as workplace can be safe one minute then something is spilt on the floor and then it is hazardous then next minute.

Regular inspection for hazards are good and can pick up systemic problems but on a day to day minute by minute basis you will rely on the supervision of the workplace by the supervisors and managers who have the training and knowledge and authority to direct action in the workplace.

Assignment Activity 8

Research the WorkSafe or WorkCover website in your state and find the pages on training. You will find some approved training providers and the courses that they offer.

Give a brief description of three training courses that are offered by these providers. You will need to include information such as duration, location, providers and costs. Present this as a report to a WHS committee for them to discuss training options.

Student is to identify three training courses from those listed on the worksafe or work cover website and include all the necessary information.

Assignment Activity 9

CASE STUDY

A number of injuries have occurred recently; therefore, you need to communicate to staff correct manual handling information. This has been done in the past, but looking back on records not much has been done in this area for the last three years.

You have many new employees, so you will need to disseminate this information regarding manual handling to new employees and existing ones.

1. What information will you disseminate?

The issue is too big for handling by just a memo, so one of the important pieces of information will be when and where the training is. You would also highlight to staff the reasons why the training is needed and maybe highlight injuries and problems that have occurred (no names)

You may supplement these training sessions with new posters around the workplace giving staff information on correct manual handling methods.

You may also make sure that information such as WG and HSR are in locations where staff can see these so they can talk to HSRs if they feel the need to.

You may also use posters etc to show how to correctly use machinery

2. How will you communicate this information?

Staff would need to be informed about the new training program. This could be done by a combination of memo, memo with pay slip, department meetings, staff newsletter, posters, and staff page on website.

Posters can be good to communicate correct methods.

Staff newsletter can be used to highlight the issue. Department meetings can be used to inform staff and highlight the issue.

3. Will you use more than one method?

Yes

4. Explain the methods you will use.

• Memo
• Memo with pay slips
• Staff newsletter
• Training sessions
• Department meetings
• Posters
• Staff page on website