Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term1 2014
Course Code: OHTH5829C
Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace
School: 650T TAFE Business
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5300 - Diploma of Information Technology
Course Contact : Swati Dave
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5811
Course Contact Email:swati.dave@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Name: Hisham Attia
Contact: hisham.attia@rmit.edu.au
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 performance outcomes, 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.
This unit is delivered using a blend of classroom based and self-paced learning activities online.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
BSBWHS501A Ensure a safe workplace |
Element: |
1. Establish and maintain a WHS management system |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1. Locate, adapt, adopt and communicate WHS policies that clearly define the organisation’s commitment to complying with WHS legislation |
Element: |
2. Establish and maintain effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1. Work with workers and their representatives to set up and maintain participation arrangements according to relevant WHS legislation |
Element: |
3. Establish and maintain procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1. Develop procedures for ongoing hazard identification, and assessment and control of associated risks |
Element: |
4. Evaluate and maintain a WHS management system |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1. Develop and provide a WHS induction and training program for all workers as part of the organisation’s training program |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced and collaborative classroom based activities.
The collaborative classroom based activities will include face-to-face workshops, practical computer exercises based on teacher handouts and online tasks.
We expect you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities. Students should attend all sessions. Students will also be expected to undertake work on a small Web project and other activities for homework.
Teaching Schedule
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 assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Week |
Week Commencing | Topics | Assessment |
| 1 |
10th Feb 2014 Face-to-face |
Pre-training review: |
|
| 2 | 17th Feb 2014 (online) |
• Definition of a ‘Hazard’ • Major causes of injuries |
HANDOUT Assessment Task 1 WHS Audit Report |
| 3 | 24th Feb 2014 (online) |
• Type of hazards at different workplaces • Introduction to Health & Safety reporting |
|
| 4 |
3rd Mar 2014 Face-to-face |
• The Role of Health & Safety Representative • Inspection and documenting WHS matters |
|
| 5 | 10th Mar 2014 (online) |
• Hazard description and risk management |
DUE Assessment Task 1 WHS Audit Report |
| 6 |
17th Mar 2014 Face-to-face |
• Introduction to Emergency Medical & Fire Scenarios • RMIT Emergency and Evacuation Procedure |
HANDOUT Assessment Task 2 Emergency & Evacuation Procedure |
| 7 | 24th Mar 2014 (online) |
• Research of Emergency Medical & Fire Scenarios | |
| 8 | 31st Mar 2014 (online) |
• Research of RMIT Emergency and Evacuation Procedure | |
| 9 | 7th Apr 2014 Face-to-face workshop |
• Emergency and Evacuation Procedure • WH&S and the law |
DUE Assessment Task 2 Emergency & Evacuation Procedure |
| 10 | 14th Apr 2014 |
• WH&S responsibilities across an organisation • WH&S penalties |
|
| Mid-Semester EASTER Break - Friday 18th April to Friday, 25th April 2014 inclusive | |||
| 11 | 28th Apr 2014 (online) |
• What is an WH&S system • Purpose of the system |
HANDOUT Assessment Task 3 WHS Management System (Database) |
| 12 | 5th May 2014 (online) |
• Development of an WH&S system • Develop as a database |
|
| 13 |
12th May 2014 Face-to-face |
• Progress review of WHS database development • Functional database structure in place |
|
| 14 | 19th May 2014 (online) |
• Database testing • Database Release |
|
| 15 |
26th May 2014 Face-to-face |
• Database presentation • Functionality & Design |
Face-to-Face Workshop DUE Assessment Task 3 WHS Management System (Database) |
| 16 | 2nd June 2014 (Face-to-face if required) |
• Feedback and review • Reflection on the course blended delivery for continuous improvement |
Feedback & Review |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Materials will include articles, web links and worksheets, which will be made available through the Blackboard portal.
Overview of Assessment
Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of competency to be deemed competent.
A range of assessment methods are used to assess practical skills and knowledge, for example:
• direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate
• review of authenticated documents from the workplace or training environment
• demonstration of techniques
Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
Assessment Tasks
You are required to complete 3 assessments within this unit. You must successfully complete all 3 assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.
ASSESSMENT TASK 1 (Group Task) – Conduct an WHS Audit and file a report with your finding (Due Date: Week 5)
This assessment task is about identifying hazards and assessing and controlling risks associated with them. Using a report template, you and your peer will conduct an 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 will need to locate and communicate the RMIT WHS policies on our website that define RMIT’s commitment to complying with WHS legislation and based the outcome of your report on such polices.
To facilitate this task your teacher will provide a template. Ensure that all fields in your template are addressed. Document your findings using photos and scale them accordingly to fit in the template. Your report should feature 6 hazards in total, 3 hazards that RMIT has not yet to addressed and 3 hazards that RMIT has already addressed. All hazards should be documented using captured images that describe the hazard clearly. Save your final report in PDF format.
ASSESSMENT TASK 2 (Group Task) – Emergency and Evacuation Procedure (Due Date: Week 9)
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 topic of the following 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, Keynote or others. Please do not exceed 15 min, including a Q&A session after the presentation. As an advisory group presenting to a target audience, please consider the following:
Plan the structure and flow of your presentation (your presentation is a story!) Link ideas together to ensure the content flow
Engage your audience,
Use dot points to highlight your content; use visuals to complement it, use animation, if it complements your presentation
Summarise your presentation at the end to remind your audience of the journey
ASSESSMENT TASK 3 – WHS Management System Database (Due Date: Week 15)
You are required to develop a simple database for WHS recordkeeping to allow identification of patterns of occupational injury and to maintain a record of WHS decisions made. The database should have the following fields as a minimum:
• Sequential number
• Date of incident
• Severity Level
• Incident description, maybe with an option to upload images
• Affected personnel
• Hazard identification, Type of Hazard
• Measures to be taken
• A checkbox to identify if the measures have taken place
• Responsible personnel
The database should enable a user to file a report with the information above 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 hazards, or outstanding measures relating to a particular incident. Consider the hazards that you have identified in assessment task 1 to populate the database.
You may also consider designing your database portal to reflect a workplace, health and safety branding. Develop your database and design its user interface. Please also include your group and individual names as part of the interface. Test the database functionality before submitting its link via Black Board.
Assessment Matrix
Other Information
Submission Requirements
All Assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard.
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
• 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. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available on blackboard.
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.
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: http://www.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/seca86tti4g4z.pdf
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: http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=g43abm17hc9w
Form to use: http://mams.rmit.edu.au/8a5dgcaqvaes1.pdf
Resubmissions (VET Programs):
If you are found to be Not Yet Competent 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. The highest grade you will receive if your resubmission is successful is “CAG”.
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: http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=7usdbki1fjf31
Marking Guide (competency):
Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on current industry needs and the focus on preparing you for the workplace. Because VET courses are informed by practical application of knowledge and skills, they are based on a system known as ‘competency based training’ (CBT).
So when you are assessed in VET it is about whether you are competent to do the job, as well as having a firm grasp on the knowledge and skills required to do that job, as opposed to traditional curriculum based education settings that are often based on knowledge retention.
You need to demonstrate you are competent in each element of the unit of competency you are studying.
You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you whether you are competent or not and how well you are performing. Once competent in all elements of the unit you receive a competency grading.
Please refer to the Final Grades table below.
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit; this gives you the opportunity to have the level of your performance formally recognized against industry standards and employability skills.
The grading is according to the following criteria:
1. LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE, INITIATIVE, ENTERPRISE AND PERFORMANCE OF WORK TASK
Students are expected to demonstrate a level of independence in analysing workplace health and safety matters and recommending appropriate solutions that fits within an organisational framework. Students will need to adopt a pro-active approach to identify such matters, assess the severity of potential hazards and offer solutions that underpin their understanding of the workplace health and safety.
2. DEMONSTRATED BREADTH OF UNDERPINNING KNOWLEDGE AND A WILLINGNESS TO CONTINUE LEARNING
Students are expected to observe all workplace health and safety guidelines at all time. During the course students will need to research RMIT occupational health and safety policy and procedures and demonstrate an understanding and application of such procedures. It is expected that students will offer additional recommendations on how to improve the safety of any workplace as part of their continuous learning process.
3. TECHNIQUES & PROCESSES, TECHNOLOGY SKILLS AND PROBLEM SOLVING
Students are expected to develop a workplace health and safety management system to demonstrate how technology can be used to log, analyse, review and manage hazard incidents occurred in the workplace. Students are further required to consider the how their system will overall contribute to continuously improve the level of safety at a workplace.
4. WORK ORGANISATION, PLANNING AND SELF MANAGEMENT
As the unit is delivered in a ‘blended mode’, i.e. online and face-to-face students are expected to work on their tasks and self manage their workload accordingly. Students will need to plan their workflow guided by the BlackBoard portal and submit their completed tasks on time. It is expected that students will upload ‘work-in-progress’ files and have a backup plan for potential eventualities, such as file damage, accidental deletion, peer work unavailable, …etc.
5. COMMUNICATION, PEOPLE NETWORKING, LANGUAGE AND INTERPERSONAL SKILLS AND TEAMWORK
As part of the assessment, students are required to present their workplace health and safety recommendations to a simulated panel of health and safety representatives. As a team, students will use their skills to communicate their health and safety recommendations thereby highlight aspects of their approach and methodologies.
Final Grades Table:
CHD - Competent with High Distinction
CDI - Competent with Distinction
CC - Competent with Credit
CAG - Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit for assessment
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview