Introduction

Unit Title

HLTWHS001 – Participate in work health and safety

Unit Purpose

This unit specifies the workplace performance required by a worker to contribute to work health and safety (WHS) processes where there is responsibility for own work outputs and possibly limited responsibility for the work outputs of others.

Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this unit.

Content

Section 1: Following safe work practices
Section 2: Contributing to safe work practices

Resources/Readings

Readings A – F are located in the associated readings section of the module.

Suggested Hours

Although everyone will work at their own pace, we suggest you allow approximately 20 hours to complete this unit competently, including assignments activities.

Timeframe

The recommended time frame for this unit is 4 weeks.

Assessment

This unit will be assessed in the HLTWHS001 Assessment Book.

How to Use This Module

This module and the associated readings contain all the information that you need to complete the assessment tasks associated with this unit. You must read through all the information provided (both the module and associated readings) before attempting the assessment tasks.

Throughout this module, there are a few coloured boxes used to help you. These include:

Upon completion of this unit, you should be able to:

Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate essential knowledge required to effectively complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the work role. These include knowledge of:

• state/territory legislation and how it impacts on workplace regulations, codes of practice and industry standards, including:
  • state/territory WHS authorities
  • rights and responsibilities of employers and workers, including duty of care
  • hazardous manual tasks
  • infection control
• safety signs and their meanings, including signs for:
  • dangerous goods classifications
  • emergency equipment
  • personal protective equipment (PPE)
  • specific hazards such as sharps, radiation 
• hazard identification, including:
  • definition of a hazard
  • common workplace hazards relevant to the industry setting
  • workplace procedures for hazard identification
• workplace emergency procedures
• workplace policies and procedures for WHS

Performance Evidence

The candidate must show evidence of the ability to complete tasks outlined in elements and performance criteria of this unit, manage tasks and manage contingencies in the context of the job role. There must be demonstrated evidence that the candidate has completed the following tasks at least once in line with state/territory WHS regulations, relevant codes of practice and workplace procedures:

• contributed to a WHS meeting or inspection in workplace
• conducted a workplace risk assessment and recorded the results
• consistently applied workplace safety procedures in the day-to-day work activities required by the job role
• followed workplace procedures for reporting hazards
• followed workplace procedures for a simulated emergency situation.

This unit specifies the workplace performance required by a worker to contribute to work health and safety (WHS) processes where there is responsibility for own work outputs and possibly limited responsibility for the work outputs of others.

Overview of Sections

Section 1: Following safe work practices

This section of the Study Guide will provide you with a detailed introduction to Workplace Health and Safety. You will learn how to follow workplace policies and procedures for safe work practices. You will also learn how to identify existing and potential hazards in the workplace, report them to the correct person, and record them according to workplace procedures. The common WHS processes associated with emergency situations will be discussed, including the importance of having an emergency plan, how to control and/or confine emergency situations, and how to report HWS incidents.

Section 2: Contributing to safe work practices

In this section of the Study Guide you will learn how to raise WHS issues with designated persons according to organisational procedures. Different ways to contribute to safe work practices in the workplace (including participation in workplace safety meetings, inspections, and consultative activities) will also be discussed. You will learn how to contribute to the development and implementation of safe workplace policies and procedures in your own work area and the importance of maintaining currency of safe work practices in regard to workplace systems, equipment, and processes. Finally, you will learn how to reflect on your own levels of stress and fatigue in the workplace and how to report to the designated persons with respect to workplace procedures.

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