Course Title: Maintain laboratory or field workplace safety

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2024

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

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:

1.1 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:

2.1 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:

3.1 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:

4.1 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:

5.1 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:

6.1 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

Week

Week starting

In Class

Assessment Task Due

Theory

Task to do in class

1.

12th Feb

  • Welcome & Intro to Course,
  • Teamwork,
  • Introduction to OHS,
  • Designated Working Groups,
  • Hazards and Risks
  • Go through canvas - modules, assessments, course description, syllabus,
  • short introduction about the course.
  • Students to print out copy of Assessment Task 1 – knowledge check
  

2.

19th Feb
  • Module 1: OHS Introduction & Legislation,

 

  • Discuss AT1- Lab Safety knowledge check

Start working on Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check

 

3.

26th Feb

Module 2:  Risk Assessment and Hierarchy of controls

Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check

 

4.

04th March

Module 2: Risk Assessment and Hierarchy of controls

Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check

 

5.

11th March

Module 3 : Lab Safety Audit

Students to print out copy of Assessment Task 2 -  Hazard Identification and Risk Management

AT 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check

6.

18th March

No Theory

Visit to one of the RMIT labs and complete  -

Assessment Task 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Management –

i) Part A Lab Safety Audit

ii) Part B – Lab Sketch

 

Mid – Semester Break 25th March – 07th April 2024

7.

08th April
  • Recap of  Module 2: Risk Assessment and Hierarchy of controls
  • Module 4: Workplace procedure documentation

Assessment Task 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Management –

i) Part B – Hazard report   ii) Part B - Risk assessment and Hierarchy of controls
  1. Lab Safety  Audit and Lab Sketch
  2. Hazard Report

 

8.

15th April

Recap of  Module 4: Workplace procedure documentation

Assessment Task 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Management –

i) Part B – Incident report

ii) Part C – Workplace procedure documentation

 
  1. Risk assessment
  2. Incident Report
  3. Workplace documentation

9.

22nd April

Module 5: Chemical Hazards

Students to print out copy of Assessment Task 3 – Lab Safety Role Play.

AT 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Management

10.

29th April

Module 6: Biological Hazards

Assessment Task 3 -Laboratory Safety – Role Play

 

11.

06th May

Module 7: Physical Hazards

Assessment Task 3 -Laboratory Safety – Role Play

AT 3 - Laboratory Safety – Role Play

12.

13th May
  • Module 8: Emergency Procedures in the workplace
  • Revision of all theory for online quiz

 

 

13.

20th May

 

On campus assessment

Assessment Task 4 - Laboratory Safety - Online Quiz

AT4 - Laboratory Safety - Online Quiz

14.

27th May

 

 

 

15.

03rd June

Assessment Finalisation

 

 

16.

10th June

Assessment Finalisation

 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


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 TaskWhen
Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check Assessed in Weeks  2 - 5
Assessment Task 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Management Assessed in Weeks  6 -9
Assessment Task 3 -Laboratory Safety – Role Play Assessed in Weeks  11 - 12

AT4 - Laboratory Safety - Online Quiz

 Due in week 13

 

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism    

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy. 
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/academic-integrity  

Use of AI has certain restrictions in this course. Please refer to assessment instructions for guidelines on the conditions for the use of AI tools in assessments.


Assessment Matrix

Element

Performance criteria

 

 

 

 

 

 

Assessment Task 1 - Laboratory Safety -Knowledge check

Assessment Task 2 - Hazard Identification and Risk Management

Assessment Task 3 Laboratory Safety – Role Play

Assessment Task 4 – Laboratory Safety _ Online Quiz

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

 

Part C  - 2 , Q1

 

 

1.2          Clean, care for and store equipment, materials and reagents as required

 

Part C  - 2 , Q2

 

 

1.3          Minimise the generation of wastes and environmental impacts

 

Part C  - 2 , Q3

 

 

1.4          Ensure safe disposal of laboratory/hazardous wastes

 

Part C  - 2 , Q4

 

 

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

Q1- a, b

Part A ,

Part C  - 2 , Q1

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

2.2          Provide and communicate current information about WHS policies, procedures, and programs to others

Q2

Part B  - 3

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

2.3          Ensure hazards and control measures relating to work responsibilities are known by those in the work area

Q2, Q3

Part B – 1-4

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

2.4          Provide support to those in the work area to implement procedures to support safety

Q5

Part C – 1

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

 

2.5          Identify and address training needs within level of responsibility

Q12

Part B 3, 4

 

 

Part A

Section B – OC

 

 

 

3) Monitor observance of safe work practices in the work area

3.1          Ensure workplace procedures are clearly defined, documented, and followed

 

Part A 2

 

Part B 2 - 4

 

Part C 1 and 2

 

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

3.2          Identify any deviation from identified procedures and report and address within level of responsibility

 

Part B  2 , 4

 

 

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

3.3          Ensure personal behaviour is consistent with workplace policies and procedures

Q2

 

Part C - 1

 

 

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

3.4          Encourage and follow up others to identify and report hazards in the work area

Q3

Part B  2, 3, 4

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

3.5          Monitor conditions and follow up to ensure housekeeping standards in the work area are maintained

Q1, Q6

Part A

 

Part C – Q2 ,  Q3, Q4

 

 

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

 

Part B  2, 3, 4

 

 

4.2          Participate in risk assessments to identify and analyse risks

 

Part B – 3

 

Part A

 

 

4.3          Support the implementation of procedures to control risk (based on the hierarchy of control)

 

Part B - 3

 

 

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

Q11, Q13

Part B – 2,3, 4

 

Part C - 1

 

 

5) Support the implementation of participative arrangements

5.1          Inform and consult work group on WHS issues relevant to the work role

Q14

Part B 2, 3, 4

Section B – OC

 

 

 

5.2          Promptly report outcomes of consultation on WHS issues back to the work group

Q14

Part B  - 2, 3, 4

 

Part A

 

 

5.3          Resolve, or promptly refer to appropriate personnel, matters raised relating to WHS

Q14

Part B - 2, 4

 

 

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

 

Part B – 1, 4

 

 

6.2        Implement processes to ensure that others in the work area are able to respond appropriately to incidents and emergencies

 

Part B 2 , 4

 

 

6.3          Participate, as required, in investigations of hazardous incidents to identify their cause

 

Part A

 

Part B - 3

 

 

 

Performance Evidence 

 

:

 

Assessment Task 1 - Laboratory Safety -Knowledge check

Assessment Task 2 –

Hazard Identification and Risk Management

Assessment Task 3 – Laboratory Safety – Role Play

Assessment Task 4 – Laboratory Safety _ Online Quiz

There must be evidence the candidate has completed the tasks outlined in the elements and performance criteria of this unit, and:

 

 

 

 

 

• effectively monitored and maintained work health and safety (WHS) within 1 work area, including:

 

Parts C – 1 , 2

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

• ensuring others in the workgroup work safely and follow procedures for hazard identification and risk control and implement safe work practices.

 

Part B

 

Part C – 2, Q 1-4

Section B – OC

 

Section C - SR

 

 

Knowledge Evidence 

 

 

 

Assessment Task 1 - Laboratory Safety-Knowledge check

Assessment Task 2 - Hazard Identification and Risk Management

Assessment Task 3 – Laboratory Safety – Role Play

Assessment Task 4 – Laboratory Safety _ Online Quiz
  • common work health and safety (WHS) terminology, such as hazard, physical hazard, risk and risk management

 

 

 

 

Q1, Q2, Q3, Q15
  • principles and procedures for WHS and environmental management, including hazard identification, risk assessment and hierarchy of risk control

 

Q3, Q5

 

 

Q3, Q4, Q5, Q12,
  • how the characteristics and composition of the workforce impact on WHS management

Q15

 

 

 
  • roles and responsibilities under WHS legislation of employers and employees, including supervisors and contractors

 

Q7, Q8

 

 

Q5
  • sources of advice and information on WHS issues, including safety data sheets (SDS) and key personnel

 

Q9

 

 

Q19, Q21, Q5
  • site layout, including emergency exits, location and use of safety alarms, emergency response system and procedures, and designated WHS personnel

 

 

Part B - 1

 

Q13, Q14
  • signage, symbols and signals relating to WHS

 

 

 

 

Q6, Q7, Q8
  • examples of hazards relevant to the work area and ways of addressing these using the hierarchy of control

 

Q1

Part B - 3

 

Q4
  • location and purpose of personal protective equipment (PPE) and emergency/hazard control equipment in the work area, including first aid facilities

 

 

 

 

Q9, Q10, Q11
  • use, care and storage requirements for PPE used in work areas

 

 

 

 

Q9, Q17, Q24
  • requirements and procedures for reporting (potential) WHS hazards and incidents, injuries, illness and near misses, and safety and environmental issues or concerns

 

Q3, Q9

Part B – 2, 3, 4

 

Q3, Q4
  • possible workplace incidents/emergencies and response procedures

 

Q3, Q13

Part B - 4

 

Q4, Q9, Q12, Q13, Q14
  • requirements for record keeping that address WHS, privacy and other relevant legislation

 

Q11, Q13

 

 

 
  • standard operating procedures (SOPs), work instructions, laboratory manuals, operator’s manuals and manufacturers’ operating manuals relating to WHS

 

Q10, Q6,  Q12

Part C – 1, Part C - 2, Q1

 

 

 

 
  • consultation and issue resolution requirements

 

Q14

Part B 2 -4

 

Q23
  • Australian, national and international standards, guidelines and codes covering WHS; laboratory design and construction; occupational protective equipment; labelling of workplace substances; storage, handling and transport of dangerous goods; physical containment levels and facility types

 

Q2, Q4, Q16, Q17

Part C- Workplace procedure documentation 1 and 2

 

Q8, Q16, Q20
  • industry specific codes, regulations and guidelines.

 

Q4

Part C- Workplace procedure documentation - 1

 

 

 

 

 

Other Information

Assessment conditions

Describe how assessments meet the assessment conditions

Skills must have been demonstrated in the workplace or in a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions and contingencies. The following conditions must be met for this unit:

RMIT provides classrooms, workshops, facilities, labs and studios where students can train and practice their skills in a safe environment that simulates working conditions of industry.

 

All specialist equipment and resources needed for training and assessment is supplied by RMIT.  Students may need to provide certain equipment such as an external portable flash drive memory.
  • use of suitable facilities, equipment and resources, including:

typical laboratory/field work equipment and materials

  • PPE and other safety equipment

 

  • workplace WHS documentation, management system, policies and procedures.

 

 

RMIT employment requires all trainers and assessors to comply with the Standards for RTOs in respect to holding the TAE40116, or higher VE qualification including any necessary updated units.  All employees must show currency within their vocational specialty along with their professional employment.

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