Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2017
Course Code: OHTH5872C
Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace
School: 650T Vocational Business Education
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5341 - 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
Andrew Brown
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 |
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Element: |
1 Establish a WHS management system in a work area |
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Performance Criteria: |
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Element: |
2 Establish and maintain effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS in a work area |
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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 |
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Element: |
3 Establish and maintain procedures for effectively identifying hazards, and assessing and controlling risks in a work area |
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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 |
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Element: |
4 Evaluate and maintain a work area WHS management system |
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Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Develop and provide a WHS induction and training program for all workers as part of the organisation’s training program 4.2 Use a system for WHS recordkeeping 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 so that, as a minimum, WHS legal requirements are achieved |
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/Database project and other activities for homework.
Teaching Schedule
The Teaching schedule for this course is as follows:
Induction Session
Prior to training commencement a program level induction session will be conducted that comprises the following:
• Program overview and requirements
• MyRMIT/Blackboard
• Overview of assessment requirements
• Pre-Training Review including:
- Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfers
- Assessment of current skills and knowledge
• Competency/Grading Criteria
• Plagiarism
• Appeals
• Extensions
• Feedback
• Privacy
• Submission requirements
• Re-submission policy
• Where to get support
• Student responsibilities
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 assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.
Week |
Week Commencing |
Topics |
Assessment |
1 |
(Face-to-Face) |
Introduction to the Course including: Introduction to BSBWHS501
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2 |
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HANDOUT Assessment Task 1 WHS Audit Report |
3 |
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4 |
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DUE Assessment Task 1 WHS Audit Report |
5 |
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6 |
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HANDOUT Assessment Task 2 DUE Assessment Task 2: Online QuizWHS and the Law HANDOUT Assessment Task 3 WHS Management System |
7 |
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8 |
21/08/2017 |
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Semester Break from 28/08/2017 to 01/09/2017 inclusive | |||
9 |
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DUE Assessment Task 3 WHS Management System HANDOUT Assessment Task 4 Emergency & Evac. Procedure |
10 |
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11 |
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12 |
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13 |
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14 |
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DUE Assessment Task 4 Emergency & Evacuation Procedure |
15 |
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DUE Assessment Task 4 Emergency & Evacuation Procedure |
16 |
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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
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 within this course. You must successfully complete both the assessments to be deemed competent in this unit.
ASSESSMENT TASK 1 – Understanding and Analysing Resource Usage - Due: Week 3
This task takes you through a process of understanding your own household environmental impact. You are required to collate your latest energy and water bills and analyse the data contained with respect to your resource usage and greenhouse gas emissions. To facilitate this process, follow these instructions:
- Start a new MS EXCEL workbook and copy the data from your invoices into a new spreadsheet
- Copy each resource data into a separate sheet and name the sheet accordingly. The resource data should be in a table highlighting the time frame and how many units have been used. E.g. Jan: 170 litres, Jun: 100kWh
- Produce a chart based on your data that shows your usage fluctuation over time
- Explain and interpret your usage and the fluctuation. Why does the resource go up and down and in which time frame?
- Make recommendations on how you could potentially reduce your resource usage and thereby the greenhouse gas emissions
Your document should include 2 of the following resources: water, gas and/or electricity, each outlined separately on a sheet but in one workbook.
Helpful links for this assessment:
- www.climatechange.vic.gov.au
- www.watercorporation.com.au
- www.savewater.com.au
Submission Instructions
- Complete and name the assessment record cover sheet “lastname_firstname.xlsx” (MS WORD)
- Name your document as “lastname_firstname.xlsx” (MS EXCEL)
- Zip-archive both documents (WORD+EXCEL) into one archive and name “lastname_firstname.zip”
- Submit the zipped archive through Blackboard as instructed
ASSESSMENT 2: REVIEW TASK – QUIZ: Week 1 to 5 - Due: Week 6
This task includes a revision to the learning in the first 5 weeks. The task is based on an online quiz with multiple choice questions and filling in blank statements. The topics covered in this quiz range from sustainability definition, drivers, practices, management, and stakeholders to legislation and environmental laws. The quiz will be conducted during class time and the results will be available upon completion. Your attendance for this assessment review quiz is required in week 6.
ASSESSMENT TASK 3 - PROJECT: Sustainability Policy Development
This task requires you to develop a sustainability policy for the organisation. The task consists for 4 sub-tasks that should be included as part of the workplace policy. Refer to the sub-tasks below for description and due dates.
ASSESSMENT SUBTASK 3.1: Framework, Processes & Scope of Policy (Due: Week 6)
This is the first part of your workplace policy development for an organisation of your choice. To build a context around your policy, you are required to create a business organisation of your choice, in which such policy will be implemented and deployed. You will be given a template to guide you through this process, which you will progressively complete until the end of the semester.
In this template you are required to:
- Describe your chosen business organisation: What business is it? What is it selling? How is it selling its products or services? Explain a customer scenario, if applicable? What are the typical products or services that your organisation offer?
- Specify the typical business processes as a value chain. Draw a chart that outlines these processes.
o This is a detailed description of the typical processes that your organisation go through on a daily basis.
o Describe the main steps in a flow chart showing each step and the respective resources used in that process
- Define the scope of the policy
o Identify what resource targets in your sustainability policy. These will be the ones you would like to focus on to improve.
- Highlight the overall methods, strategies or even approach that you will use to improve the organisational sustainability standing
- Consider resources that are measurable and can be reviewed at different time periods against measurable target (Benchmark)
Use the “workplace policy template” to complete all tasks progressively. Address the first part of the template as indicated in the document. You will be working on this template file until you have a complete document at semester end.
Submission Requirements:
Use the provided policy template and fill the required content. Ensure that you have provided enough explanation to each section in your document and included the necessary images and graphs, especially for your business process.
- Include this sheet with your details (see above) and the contribution percentage of each group member.
- All group members have to agree on the contribution and state it in this cover sheet above
- Save your policy document as “AT3.1groupname.docx”.
- Ensure that a copy of your policy document is saved and accessible to each group member for future reference. Shared drive, Google drive, …etc
- Review your document before you submit.
- Include your two files in a zipped archive named “AT3.1-groupname.zip”
- Your zipped archive has to include:
o Policy document (completed section)
o Coversheet (completed details and contribution)
- PLEASE NOTE: Submission with incomplete coversheet will not be assessed!
ASSESSMENT SUBTASK 3.2: Sustainability Practices (Due: Week 9)
This is the second part of your workplace policy development for your organisation. In Assessment Sub-Task 3.1 you have outlined the target resources, which you are considering to improve in your policy. The Assessment Sub-Task 3.2 now looks at the strategies and recommendations on how you are going about achieving better sustainability results in your business processes and in what timeframe. Based on the best practice examples discussed in class and what you will have researched, consider now how you are going to optimise the resource usage, e.g. through preventing unnecessary waste and developing potential recycling opportunities for your organisation, where applicable.
Your Task:
Based on your business description and processes in part 1, you are now required to build upon that content. You have identified the scope and the resources you are using in your business processes (you have done that in part 3.1). Now you need to consider the following:
- Look into each process you described in AT3.1 that is using resources and start thinking how to manage it better
- Highlight the overall methods, strategies, systems for these resources to improve their sustainability standing
- Consider how to measure and review these resources at different time periods against measurable target (Benchmark). This means, you need to have a method to measure these resources to be able to know whether you have improved them at a later date. Remember, if you can measure a target, you can’t manage it and therefore not improve it
- Outline your strategies for at least 2 resources that you are able to measure and make recommendations in terms of likely effectiveness, cost and implementation timeframes
- Consider your value chain/business process chart that you have developed in AT3.1 and analyse what resources are used and how. Come up with smarter ideas on how to use the resources
- Develop practices to improve them. Think broadly about the context and environment where and how these resources are being used, and whether there is a better way
Submission Requirements:
- Review the feedback you receive on your first document and make respective changes. Use your revised document now as the basis for your next policy section, which builds on the first section.
- Include your new content and name your policy document “AT3.2_groupname.docx”
- Complete this coversheet (see above) including your agreed contribution.
- Ensure that a copy of your policy document is saved and accessible to each group member for future reference. Shared drive, Google drive, …etc
- Review your document before you submit.
- Include your two files in a zipped archive named “AT3.2-groupname.zip”
- Your zipped archive has to include:
o Policy document (completed section)
o Coversheet (completed details and contribution)
- PLEASE NOTE: Submission with incomplete coversheet will not be assessed!
ASSESSMENT SUBTASK 3.3 – Policy Implementation - Due: Week 12
This is the third part of your workplace policy for your organisation. This Sub-Task focuses on the detailed steps required to start acting upon your developed policy content. This is about the implementation phase of the strategies and recommendations you have outlined in the previous sub-tasks. You will now look at each strategy separately and list action items that need to be done, including the allocation of resources and responsibilities.
To put this into context, if your strategy is about reducing paper wastage, then consider the following:
- How is the current paper stock used
o Investigate if double-sided printing is an option for the particular workplace
o Can the current printer in fact print double sided? What is the default setting? Can it be set to double-sided print?
- Who is (can be) responsible to review and monitor this step and its progress? How to measure, how often and how to report?
- Now that you have executed the action plan, monitored its progress and measured the outcome (on target/not on target), what steps can you plan to continuously improve your commitment to sustainability?
Your Task:
Develop an action plan list that considers fulfilling your identified strategies in more specific steps as outlined above. This is best described in an action plan list that looks as follows:
STRATEGY: Name the strategy here from your previous AT3.2policy document
Action 1 |
Who |
By When |
Notes |
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Isaac Newton |
Week 8 |
Additional info that explains the action. |
Action 2 |
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Albert Einstein |
Week 16 |
Additional info that explains the action. |
Consider how you will monitor each step to continuously improve your commitment to sustainability. Include the following:
- Stakeholders: how you will expand the responsibility and ensure the commitment of the other partners, who are involved in the specific strategy
- Life Cycle Management (LCM): what can you potentially do instead of disposing? For example, what can be recovered, recycled, re-used or even from the beginning avoided to minimise the impact on the 'life cycle' of a product or service?
- Monitoring and Evaluation: How to analyse whether your methods in monitoring and reviewing are adequate enough to reflect the real picture. Do you need to consider a more 'improved' way for monitoring, e.g. through new technologies?
- Continuous Improvement: Think of how to expand these plans to ensure that you are continuously improve.
Submission Requirements:
- Review the feedback you receive on your previous document and make respective changes. Use your revised document now as the basis for your next policy section, which builds on the previous sections.
- Include your new content and name your policy document “AT3.3_groupname.docx”
- Complete this coversheet (see above) including your agreed contribution.
- Ensure that a copy of your policy document is saved and accessible to each group member for future reference. Shared drive, Google drive, …etc
- Review your document before you submit.
- Include your two files in a zipped archive named “AT3.3-groupname.zip”
- Your zipped archive has to include:
o Policy document (completed section)
o Coversheet (completed details and contribution)
- PLEASE NOTE: Submission with incomplete coversheet will not be assessed!
ASSESSMENT SUBTASK 3.4 – Workplace Policy Presentation - Due: Week 14/15
This is the fourth and last part of your workplace policy development for your organisation. By now your policy document is completed and covering all the key aspects of your chosen organisation. Your last task is to present your policy highlighting these key aspects. Please ensure that you present your policy as outlined below.
Your Task:
You need to present the developed policy in a logical and ‘flowing’ way, as a story.
- Focus at the beginning on your business description and the processes involved (AT3.1)
- Outline the policy scope and objectives (AT3.1)
- Highlight where resources are used in your processes (AT3.1-2)
- Outline the strategies on how to reduce these resources (AT3.2)
- Describe the action plan that will realise the recommended strategies (AT3.3)
- Summarise and conclude (AT3.4)
Produce a PowerPoint presentation that covers the above key aspects of your policy. Ensure that your text, graphs and images are readable and your presentation looks professional and complete. Rehearse your presentation with your peer before the presentation day.
Please do not copy and paste from your document. This should be a presentation, where you are telling a story of your sustainability journey of your organisation.
Submission Requirements:
- Design your PowerPoint presentation and name it “AT3.4_groupname.pptx”
- Review the content of your presentation before you submit.
- Complete this coversheet (see above) including your agreed contribution.
- Ensure that a copy of your presentation document is saved and accessible to each group member for future reference. Shared drive, Google drive, …etc
- Include your two files in a zipped archive named “AT3.4-groupname.zip”
- Your zipped archive has to include:
o Presentation document
o Coversheet (completed details and contribution)
- PLEASE NOTE: Submission with incomplete coversheet will not be assessed!
Assessment Matrix
The Assessment Matrix that maps all assessments to the critical aspects of evidence, skills, knowledge and elements are available from the teacher.
Other Information
The Assessment Matrix that maps all assessments to the critical aspects of evidence, skills, knowledge and elements are available from the teacher.
Other Information
Submission Requirements
All Assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard. Email submission will not be accepted.
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 “Develop a workplace policy and practices for sustainability, 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 (unresolved)
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.
Resubmission Guide:
Once a student has submitted an assessment task, a resubmission may be granted if deemed NYC. On resubmission, a student will not receive a grade higher than CAG (Competency achieved)
Marking Guide (Grading)
After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:
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