Course Title: Maintain laboratory or field workplace safety

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2023

Course Code: OHTH5992C

Course Title: Maintain laboratory or field workplace safety

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities.  

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption.  

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209.  

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus  

  

Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance.  

 

School: 535T Social Care and Health

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4397 - Certificate IV in Laboratory Techniques

Course Contact: Rauha Quazi

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4277

Course Contact Email: rauha.quazi@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Tasneem Cutchhi

tasneem.cutchhi@rmit.edu.au

Available by appointment on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays

Nominal Hours: 50

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 of competency describes the skills and knowledge to monitor and maintain work health and safety (WHS) within a work area where the person has supervisory responsibility for others.
This unit applies to laboratory technicians, senior technicians and laboratory managers in all industry sectors.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	MSL944002 Maintain laboratory or field workplace safety
Element:	1. Perform all work safely
Performance Criteria:	1 Perform all work safely 1.1 Use established work practices and personal protective equipment (PPE) to ensure personal safety and that of other laboratory personnel   1.2 Clean, care for and store equipment, materials and reagents as required   1.3 Minimise the generation of wastes and environmental impacts   1.4 Ensure safe disposal of laboratory/hazardous wastes
Element:	2. Ensure others in the work group are able to implement safe work practices
Performance Criteria:	2 Ensure others in the work group are able to implement safe work practices 2.1 Ensure hazard controls and PPE appropriate to the work requirements are available and functional   2.2 Provide and communicate current information about WHS policies, procedures and programs to others   2.3 Ensure hazards and control measures relating to work responsibilities are known by those in the work area   2.4 Provide support to those in the work area to implement procedures to support safety   2.5 Identify and address training needs within level of responsibility
Element:	3. Monitor observance of safe work practices in the work area
Performance Criteria:	3 Monitor observance of safe work practices in the work area 3.1 Ensure workplace procedures are clearly defined, documented and followed   3.2 Identify any deviation from identified procedures and report and address within level of responsibility   3.3 Ensure personal behaviour is consistent with workplace policies and procedures   3.4 Encourage and follow up others to identify and report hazards in the work area   3.5 Monitor conditions and follow up to ensure housekeeping standards in the work area are maintained
Element:	4. Participate in risk management processes
Performance Criteria:	4 Participate in risk management processes 4.1 Report and address any identified hazards and inadequacies in existing risk controls within level of responsibility and according to workplace procedures   4.2 Participate in risk assessments to identify and analyse risks   4.3 Support the implementation of procedures to control risk (based on the hierarchy of control)   4.4 Ensure records of incidents in the work area and other required documentation are accurately completed and maintained according to workplace procedures and legislative requirements
Element:	5. Support the implementation of participative arrangements
Performance Criteria:	5 Support the implementation of participative arrangements 5.1 Inform and consult work group on WHS issues relevant to the work role   5.2 Promptly report outcomes of consultation on WHS issues back to the work group   5.3 Resolve, or promptly refer to appropriate personnel, matters raised relating to WHS
Element:	6. Support the implementation of emergency procedures within the work group
Performance Criteria:	6 Support the implementation of emergency procedures within the work group 6.1 Ensure that workplace procedures for dealing with incidents and emergencies are available and known by work group   6.2 Implement processes to ensure that others in the work area are able to respond appropriately to incidents and emergencies   6.3 Participate, as required, in investigations of hazardous incidents to identify their cause

Learning Outcomes

Details of Learning Activities

Students are expected to participate actively in all learning activities that include:

- discussion of workplace health and safety concepts  in class

- working in groups and independently to identify  health and safety issues at the workplace 

- working in groups and independently to address safety breaches by completing the appropriate forms, investigations and reports.

- working  in groups to monitor and maintain work health  and safety by conducting a workplace inspection

Teaching Schedule

While all course content in this schedule will be covered, the weekly order may change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources. 

Week	Week starting	In Class	Assessment Task Due
Theory	Task
1.	06th Feb	Intro to Course & Group work	Form working groups
2.	13th  Feb	OHS Introduction & Legislation	AT2 Part 1
3.	20th  Feb	OHS Legislation (cont)	AT1 Part 1	* AT2 Part 1 * AT1 Part 1
4.	27th  Feb	Reporting Incidents	AT1 Part 3: Incident report	* AT1 Part 3
5.	06th  Mar	Risk Assessment	AT1 Part 3: Risk assessment
6.	13th  Mar	Hierarchy of Controls	AT1 Part 3: Risk assessment	* AT1 Part 3
7.	20th  Mar	Writing OHS Reports	AT1 Part 3: Report	*AT1 Part 3
8.	27th  Mar	Safety checklists	AT1 Part 3: Checklist	*AT1 Part 3
9.	03rd  Apr	Biological Hazards	AT1 Part 2: Biological Hazards	*AT1 Part 2
Mid – Semester Break 7th  - 16th April 2023
10.	17th  Apr	Chemical Hazards	AT1 Part 4: Hazard Report	*AT1 Part 4
11.	24th  Apr	Physical Hazards	AT1 Part 5:  Physical Hazards
12.	01st  May	Emergency Procedures	AT1 Part 5:  Emergency Procedures	*AT1 Part 5 AT2 – Quiz AT3
13.	08th  May	Safety Audits		*AT1 Part 5 AT3
14.	15th  May	Assessment Finalisation		*AT1 Part 6 AT3
15.	22nd  May	Assessment Finalisation
16.	29th  May	Assessment Finalisation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Schedule is subject to change

* *assessments tasks are group work, some must be completed and submitted in class.

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

There is no prescribed text. Learning materials will be provided on Canvas.

References

You are advised to look on Canvas for ongoing updated information. These web resources will help you get started: https://www.worksafe.vic.gov.au/unsafe-always-unacceptable https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/ RMIT also has useful study support resources to assist with your learning: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/support-services/study-support

Other Resources

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may include observation in the laboratory, group work & quizzes

Assessment Tasks

To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard.

You will receive feedback from the teacher within given time-frame (usually within two weeks of assessment submission) of each assessment task. You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria and due dates

To successfully complete this course you need to be satisfactory in all of the following assessments:

 

Assessment Task	When
Assessment 1 - Knowledge Portfolio	Assessed in Weeks 3-12
Assessment 2 - Knowledge Questions	Due in Week 2, 3 & Week 12
Assessment 3 - Lab Skills	Assessed between Weeks 12 - 14

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These mapping documents are available through Program Administration if required. 

Other Information

This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment

• CA Competency Achieved
• NYC Not Yet Competent
• DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

Every task must be completed satisfactorily for competence to be achieved. Resubmissions are at the discretion of the teacher and/or coordinator.

Attendance: 

It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully. 
 
Information about your studies: 

You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc. 
 https://www.rmit.edu.au/students 

Extensions of time for submission of assessable work:

If you are prevented from submitting an assessment on time by circumstances outside your control you may apply for an extension of up to seven (7) calendar days in writing (email) to your Program Coordinator one working day BEFORE the due date. Eligibility criteria for application and the form is available from the link: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work

Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for special consideration.

Special consideration:

If due to illness or other unforeseen circumstance, you are unable to attend on the due date of an assessment (e.g. test, examination, oral, etc.), you may submit an application for special consideration within 5 working days of the due date. If special consideration is granted, you will be given the opportunity to complete/repeat the assessment task at a later date. For advice on this application please visit www.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration or speak to your Program Coordinator.

Academic Integrity & Plagiarism:

Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data and oral presentation. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited. It also occurs through enabling plagiarism, which is the act of assisting or allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy your own work. Please make sure you consider this carefully in completing all your work and assessments in this course and if you are unsure about whether you might have plagiarised, seek help from your teacher.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview