Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2021
Course Code: OHTH5872C
Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5395 - Diploma of Information Technology
Course Contact: Val Christou
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5076
Course Contact Email: val.christou@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Course Leader: Michael Edwards
9925 1615
Nominal Hours: 60
Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Pre-requisites and Co-requisites
None
Course Description
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to establish, maintain and evaluate the organisation’s work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and programs in the relevant work area, according to WHS legislative requirements. It takes a systems approach and addresses compliance with relevant legislative requirements.
This unit applies to managers working in a range of contexts who have, or are likely to have responsibility for WHS as part of their broader management role. It is relevant for people with obligations under WHS legislation, for example persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) or officers, as defined by relevant legislation.
NOTE: The terms ’occupational health and safety’ (OHS) and ’work health and safety’ (WHS) are equivalent and generally either can be used in the workplace. In jurisdictions where the Model WHS Legislation has not been implemented RTOs are advised to contextualise the unit of competency by referring to the existing State/Territory OHS legislative requirements.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBWHS501 Ensure a safe workplace |
Element: |
1 Establish a WHS management system in a work area |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Locate, adapt, adopt and communicate WHS policies that clearly define the organisation’s commitment to complying with WHS legislation 1.2 Identify duty holders and define WHS responsibilities for all workplace personnel in the work area according to WHS legislation, policies, procedures and programs 1.3 Identify and approve financial and human resources required by the WHS management system (WHSMS) |
Element: |
2 Establish and maintain effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS in a work area |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Work with workers and their representatives to set up and maintain participation arrangements according to relevant WHS legislation 2.2 Appropriately resolve issues raised through participation and consultation arrangements according to relevant WHS legislation 2.3 Promptly provide information about the outcomes of participation and consultation to workers and ensure it is easy for them to access and understand |
Element: |
3 Establish and maintain procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks in a work area |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Develop procedures for ongoing hazard identification, and assessment and control of associated risks 3.2 Include hazard identification at the planning, design and evaluation stages of any change in the workplace to ensure that new hazards are not created by the proposed changes and existing hazards are controlled 3.3 Develop and maintain procedures for selecting and implementing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control and WHS legislative requirements 3.4 Identify inadequacies in existing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control and WHS legislative requirements, and promptly provide resources to enable implementation of new measures 3.5 Identify requirements for expert WHS advice, and request this advice as required |
Element: |
4 Evaluate and maintain a work area WHS management system |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Develop and provide a WHS induction and training program for all workers in a work area as part of the organisation’s training program 4.2 Use a system for WHS record keeping to allow identification of patterns of occupational injury and disease in the organisation, and to maintain a record of WHS decisions made, including reasons for the decision 4.3 Measure and evaluate the WHSMS in line with the organisation’s quality systems framework 4.4 Develop and implement improvements to the WHSMS to achieve organisational WHS objectives 4.5 Ensure compliance with the WHS legislative framework to achieve, as a minimum, WHS legal requirements |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course on a variety of topics as shown in the teaching schedule.
This may include self-paced and collaborative classroom activities such as:
- Class exercises
- Challenges
- Problem solving
- Project work
- Quizzes
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities as each week builds on the next
Teaching Schedule
Course Delivery:
The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete the course. This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessments requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Semester 1 2021 | ||||
Week |
Week Beginning |
Topic |
Learning Materials and Activities |
Assessment Remarks |
1 |
8 Feb |
Introduction to the Course including: Introduction to BSBWHS501 Introduction to course material, administration & assessments. |
Activity 1: Introduction to course Activity 2: Introduction to Workplace health and safety Activity 3: What is a WHS Policy? |
|
2 |
15 Feb |
·Due Diligence ·Definition of a ‘Hazard’ ·Type of hazards at different workplaces |
Activity 1: Hazards in the workplace Activity 2: Define Hazards |
Assessment 4 WHS Management report handed out Assessment 1 WHS Audit Report |
3 |
22 Feb |
·The Role of Health & Safety Reps ·Inspection and documenting WHS matters ·Accident Incident Reporting |
Activity 1: Safety Reps responsibilities Activity 2: Accident and Incident response |
|
4 |
1 Mar |
·Workplace Incidents reporting ·Safety Culture: OHS News ·AT1 Review |
Activity 1: Reporting Incidents Activity 2: Safe work cultures in the workplace |
Submission-Assessment 1 WHS Audit Report |
5 |
8 Mar |
·Law Construct (Act) ·WH&S responsibilities & penalties ·Roles and responsibilities |
Activity 1: OH&S laws and regulations Activity 2: Due diligence and responsibilities |
|
6 |
15 Mar |
·Introduction to Emergency and Evacuation Procedures ·Emergency and Evacuation at RMIT ·Emergency Procedures Manual |
Activity 1: Emergency procedures and documents Activity 2: Evacuation procedures Activity: Case Study 1 |
Start Work -Assessment 2 Emergency & Evac. Procedure
|
7 |
22 Mar |
·RMIT Emergency and Evacuation Procedures ·Research and preparation for presentation ·Emergency, Medical & Fire Scenarios ·Research and preparation for presentation |
Activity 1: Emergency procedures and documents Activity 2: Evacuation procedures Activity: Case Study 2 |
|
8 |
29 Mar |
·Case: Armed Intruder ·Policies & procedures ·Presentation Examples & Guidelines ·Presentation Preparation ·Group Rehearse ·Presentation Skills |
Activity 1: Emergency procedures cont. Activity 2: Preparation for assessment task Activity: Case Study 3 |
|
Mid-Semester Break (Thu 1st Apr to Wed 7th Apr – inclusive) | ||||
8 |
5 Apr |
·Case: Armed Intruder ·Policies & procedures ·Presentation Examples & Guidelines ·Presentation Preparation ·Group Rehearse ·Presentation Skills |
Activity 1: Emergency procedures cont. Activity 2: Preparation for assessment task Activity: Case Study 3 |
|
9 |
12 Apr |
·Emergency & Evacuation Procedure Students’ Presentation (Part 1) |
Activity 1: Class group presentations
|
DUE-Assessment 2 Presentation Emergency & Evacuation Procedure
|
10 |
19 Apr |
·What is a WH&S system ·Purpose and aim of the system |
Activity 1: Purpose of a WH&S Systems
|
Start Work - Assessment 3 WHS Management System |
11 |
26 Apr |
·Design WHS database ·Develop database structure in MS ACCESS ·Developable(s), queries and forms |
Activity 1: Develop the table and records Activity 2: Testing of the database Activity 3: Enter in data Activity: Case Study 4 |
|
12 |
3 May |
·Include links to RMIT Health and Safety policies and procedures ·Test database functionality |
Activity 1: Testing of the database Activity 2: Enter in data
Activity: Case Study 5 |
DUE -Assessment 3 WHS Management System |
13 |
10 May |
·Consultation and communication arrangements ·WHS Issue resolution |
Activity 1: Issue resolution Activity: Case Study 6
|
|
14 |
17 May |
·WHS Purchasing ·WHS Management Plan completion |
Activity 1: Purchasing for the workplace Activity 2: Work on Management plan Activity: Case Study 10 Activity: Case Study 11 |
|
15 |
24 May |
·WHS Management Plan completion |
Activity 1: Work on Management plan |
DUE-Assessment 4 WHS Management plan |
16 |
31 May |
·Feedback and review ·Unit summary ·Revision & Re-submission |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
You will need laptop with charger for each class
- Windows laptops we do recommend an i5 or better machine with a minimum 4 GB of RAM.
- Macs you will need 8 GB of RAM to run a virtual machine
Overview of Assessment
In order to achieve competency in this unit, you must provide:
Performance Evidence
Evidence of the ability to:
- establish, implement, maintain and evaluate a work health and safety (WHS) management system for a work area of an organisation in accordance with WHS legislation including policies, procedures and record keeping
- ensure organisational WHS compliance
- establish, implement, maintain and evaluate effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS including identifying duty holders, identifying and approving the required resources and developing and implementing a training program
- establish, implement, maintain and evaluate procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks using the hierarchy of risk control
- provide information and complete documentation for a WHS management system
- identify requirements for and request expert WHS advice
Knowledge Evidence
To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, you must:
- identify and detail relevant WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice
- specify relevant WHS organisational policies, procedures, programs and practices
- explain hazard identification and risk-management processes
- describe the hierarchy of risk control and how it is applied in the workplace
- specify in-house and WHS legislative reporting requirements.
Assessment Conditions
Assessment must be conducted in a safe environment where evidence gathered demonstrates consistent performance of typical activities experienced by individuals carrying out work health and safety duties in the workplace and include access to:
- organisational WHS policies and procedures
- WHS legislation, regulations and codes of practice
- case studies and, where possible, real situations
- interaction with others.
You are advised that you are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate your assessment work to your teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Feedback
Feedback will be provided throughout the semester in class and/or online discussions. You are encouraged to ask and answer questions during class time and online sessions so that you can obtain feedback on your understanding of the concepts and issues being discussed. Finally, you can email or arrange an appointment with your teacher to gain more feedback on your progress.
You should take note of all feedback received and use this information to improve your learning outcomes and final performance in the course.
Assessment Tasks
You are required to complete 4 assessment tasks. You must successfully complete all 4 assessment tasks to be deemed competent in this unit.
Ensure a safe workplace
Assessment tasks
You must successfully complete all 4 assessment tasks to be deemed competent in this unit.
Each student is required to make a submission through the Canvas on or before the due date.
ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Conduct a WHS Audit - Due Date: Week 4 (Individual Task)
This assessment task is about identifying hazards and assessing and controlling risks associated with them. Using a report template, you will conduct a Workplace Health & Safety (WHS) audit of our campus to ensure that RMIT is a safe workplace. You will need to identify hazards that RMIT has yet to address as well as hazards that have been addressed. In your audit report you will document these hazards, discuss their severity level, whose responsibility it is to address these hazards and who may potentially be affected by them. You may need to locate the RMIT WHS policy on our website that outlines RMIT’s commitment to complying with WHS legislation.
To facilitate this task, you will be given an audit template. Please ensure that all fields in your template are addressed. Document your findings using photos and scale them accordingly to fit in the template. All hazards should be documented using captured images that describe the hazard clearly.
ASSESSMENT TASK 2: Emergency and Evacuation Procedure - Due Date: Week 9 (Group Task)
You are required to research and present an emergency and evacuation procedure for a given security scenario. As a basis, please consider the RMIT emergency procedures manual. You are required to locate, analyse the emergency procedure manual and study the different aspects of its content. Your task is to pick one of the following topics and present it as a WHS advisory group to your class.
The topics are:
- Evacuation drills, general safety requirements and general building information, fire
- Bomb Threats
- Armed Intruders
- Earth quakes, civil disorder, airborne contaminants
- Medical emergency, gas leak and chemical spills
For your presentation, please consider a presentation format, e.g. MS PowerPoint. Do not exceed 15 min, incl. Q&A.
Please Note:
Your presentation should inform your audience of all aspects of your subject matter. Your audience does not know the details of your presentation; hence, you will be informing them of the respective emergency and evacuation procedures and processes.
Each group member must make a submission through the Canvas.
ASSESSMENT TASK 3: Develop a WHS Management System - Due Date: Week 12 (Individual Task)
You are required to develop an OHS/WHS compliant system for WHS record keeping. The tasks that you will be completing during the course will need to be stored according to best practices, for the task we will be using a database and a structured folder.
The database should enable a user to file a report with the relevant data as well as to query incidents based on selected criteria, such as: Show incidents between two dates, or show how many incidents of a specific type of hazard.
The records to be stored include:
- Hazards
- Incidents
- Induction/training
- Consultation
ASSESSMENT TASK 4: Create a WHS management plan (Individual Task)Due Date: Week 15
You are required to complete a WHS management plan that will allow you to look at policy, responsibilities and some case studies of WHS scenarios. The management plan will encompass all the other tasks and allow the Risk assessment, Database and Induction training tasks to be added in as well.
To facilitate this task, you will be given a WHS template, please ensure that all areas in your template are addressed.
Assessments
To be deemed competent students must demonstrate an understanding of all aspects required of this course and must achieve a satisfactory standard in each assessment. Assessment methods have been designed to measure student's competency in each course over multiple tasks.
Resubmissions
For each assessment submitted by the due date in this course students will be given feedback within 2 weeks of the assessment submission. If you do not submit your assessment by the due date or if your first attempt is not satisfactory you will be allowed a single resubmission attempt for each assessment in this course. You will be provided with a new due date by your teacher for your resubmission attempt if a resubmission is required.
Due dates
All assessment tasks will have a due date provided and published in Canvas. Assessments submitted after the due date will not be accepted unless an extension has been provided or special consideration has been granted.
Extensions
If you will not be able to meet the due date for an assessment you may apply to your teacher for an extension of up to seven days by completing the Application of Time to Submit Assessment Work Form at https://www.rmit.edu.au/content/dam/rmit/documents/Students/Student_forms/Application-for-extension-of-time-to-submit-work.pdf Applications for an extension of time must be received before the due date for an assessment.
Special Consideration
If unforeseen circumstances beyond your control prevent you from submitting your work on time you may be eligible to apply for special consideration. For further information regarding special consideration, please refer to the RMIT Special Consideration page at https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-results/special-consideration
Assessment Matrix
Elements/Performance Criteria |
Assessment Details |
1 Establish a WHS management system in a work area 1.1 Locate, adapt, adopt and communicate WHS policies that clearly define the organisation’s commitment to complying with WHS legislation 1.2 Identify duty holders and define WHS responsibilities for all workplace personnel in the work area according to WHS legislation, policies, procedures and programs 1.3 Identify and approve financial and human resources required by the WHS management system (WHSMS) |
ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Conduct an WHS Audit ASSESSMENT TASK 4: Create a WHS Management Plan
|
2 Establish and maintain effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS in a work area 2.1 Work with workers and their representatives to set up and maintain participation arrangements according to relevant WHS legislation 2.2 Appropriately resolve issues raised through participation and consultation arrangements according to relevant WHS legislation 2.3 Promptly provide information about the outcomes of participation and consultation to workers and ensure it is easy for them to access and understand |
ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Conduct an WHS Audit ASSESSMENT TASK 2: Emergency and Evacuation Procedure ASSESSMENT TASK 3: Develop a WHS Management System ASSESSMENT TASK 4: Create a WHS Management Plan |
3 Establish and maintain procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks in a work area 3.1 Develop procedures for ongoing hazard identification, and assessment and control of associated risks 3.2 Include hazard identification at the planning, design and evaluation stages of any change in the workplace to ensure that new hazards are not created by the proposed changes and existing hazards are controlled 3.3 Develop and maintain procedures for selecting and implementing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control and WHS legislative requirements 3.4 Identify inadequacies in existing risk controls according to the hierarchy of control and WHS legislative requirements, and promptly provide resources to enable implementation of new measures 3.5 Identify requirements for expert WHS advice, and request this advice as required |
ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Conduct an WHS Audit ASSESSMENT TASK 2: Emergency and Evacuation Procedure |
4 Evaluate and maintain a work area WHS management system 4.1 Develop and provide a WHS induction and training program for all workers in a work area as part of the organisation’s training program 4.2 Use a system for WHS record keeping to allow identification of patterns of occupational injury and disease in the organisation, and to maintain a record of WHS decisions made, including reasons for the decision 4.3 Measure and evaluate the WHSMS in line with the organisation’s quality systems framework 4.4 Develop and implement improvements to the WHSMS to achieve organisational WHS objectives 4.5 Ensure compliance with the WHS legislative framework to achieve, as a minimum, WHS legal requirements |
ASSESSMENT TASK 3: Develop a WHS Management System ASSESSMENT TASK 4: Create a WHS Management Plan
|
Performance Evidence Evidence of the ability to: establish, implement, maintain and evaluate a work health and safety (WHS) management system for a work area of an organisation in accordance with WHS legislation including policies, procedures and record keeping ensure organisational WHS compliance establish, implement, maintain and evaluate effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS including identifying duty holders, identifying and approving the required resources and developing and implementing a training program establish, implement, maintain and evaluate procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks using the hierarchy of risk control provide information and complete documentation for a WHS management system identify requirements for and request expert WHS advice.
|
ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Conduct an WHS Audit ASSESSMENT TASK 2: Emergency and Evacuation Procedure ASSESSMENT TASK 3: Develop a WHS Management System ASSESSMENT TASK 4: Create a WHS Management Plan |
Knowledge Evidence To complete the unit requirements safely and effectively, the individual must: identify and detail relevant WHS Acts, regulations and codes of practice specify relevant WHS organisational policies, procedures, programs and practices explain hazard identification and risk-management processes describe the hierarchy of risk control and how it is applied in the workplace specify in-house and WHS legislative reporting requirements.
|
ASSESSMENT TASK 1: Conduct an WHS Audit ASSESSMENT TASK 2: Emergency and Evacuation Procedure ASSESSMENT TASK 3: Develop a WHS Management System ASSESSMENT TASK 4: Create a WHS Management Plan |
Other Information
Submission Requirements
You should:
· Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date via CANVAS.
· Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
· When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work.
· Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
· Projects must be submitted via Canvas.
Late Submission Procedures
You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance-based assessment is completed by the due dates. If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days. More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
Special Consideration Procedures
Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration. Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration Online special consideration link: https://specon.rmit.edu.au/specon/
Resubmissions
If you are found to be unsuccessful in a Course Assessment Task, you will be allowed one resubmission only. Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission.
If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.
Adjustments to Assessment
In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website. More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment
Marking Guide (Courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment):
You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying. You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.
CA -Competency Achieved
NYC -Not Yet Competent
DNS -Did Not Submit for assessment
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