Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2020

Course Code: OHTH5955C

Course Title: Ensure a safe workplace

Important Information:

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 Victoria the relevant act and regulations still refer to OHS while nationally, the Federal government has adopted WHS.

School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5384 - Diploma of Digital Media Technologies

Course Contact: Nat Bates

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815

Course Contact Email: nat.bates@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Tim McCarthy
tim.mccarthy@rmit.edu.au
9925 4815

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

The course provides the skills and knowledge required to develop and maintain effective work relationships and networks in preparation for entering the digital media industry.


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


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to establish, maintain and evaluate an organisation’s work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and programs in the relevant work area, according to WHS legislative requirements.


Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities will consist of:
• in class activities
• out-of-class activities
• peer teaching and class presentations
• online research
• group discussion
• independent project based work
• screenings
• teacher directed group activities/projects


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.

WeekTopicAssessment / Learning activities
Week 1
  • manage personal safety
  • interpret safety signs and symbols
  • record and report workplace incidents.
 
Week 2
  • evacuate in an emergency
  • apply the hierarchy of controls
  • workplace stress
 
Week 3
  • describe the WHSMS process
  • explain the parts of a WHSMS

 

Week 4

  • describe the role of management in leading a WHSMS
  • identify and adapt WHS policy
  • describe WHS policy to others.

 

Week 5

  • identify improvement programs
  • write an action plan

 

Week 6

  • identify the financial and personnel resources required to implement a WHSMS.
 

Week 7

  • develop hazard and risk control procedures
  • identify hazards throughout the design process
  • review existing risk controls and identify inadequacies.
Assessment task 1 due

Week 8

  • good work design
  • hazard and risk control procedures case study
 

Week 9

  • work with others to set up consultation processes
  • resolve issues identified through consultation

Assessment task 2 due

Week 10

  • communicate information about resolved issues to employees.
 

Week 11

  • prepare for induction programs
 

Week 12

  • develop and provide training for employees.
 

Week 13

  • store WHS records
  • use data on injury and disease to identify trends in health and safety
 

Week 14

  • conduct safety audits.
Assessment task 3 due

Week 15

  • use different methods to review the WHSMS
  • make improvements to the WHSMS
 

Week 16

  • keep up to date with changes in legislation.
 

Week 17

  • feedback and review
 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

The University Library has extensive resources and provides subject specialist expertise, research advice, help with referencing and support through:
The learning Lab
www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/learning-lab
The Study Support Hub
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/study-support-hub
English for uni workshops
https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/study-support/workshops/english-uni-workshops


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency.  To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. 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 at the conclusion of each assessment task.

 

Assessment 1 Knowledge assessment

This short-answer assessment task allows you to demonstrate your knowledge on establishing, maintaining and evaluating organisational work health and safety (WHS) policies, procedures and programs, according to WHS legislative requirements

Due week 7

 

Assessment 2 Work Health and Safety Management System

In this task you will establish a WHS management system, a WHS induction and training program and establish and maintain effective and compliant participation arrangements for managing WHS in a work area.

Due week 13

 

Assessment 3 Evaluate and Maintain Workplace Safety System

You will be required to measure the outcomes of work health and safety and evaluate and maintain a work area WHS management system.

Due week 14

 

Graded assessment in this course uses the following grades:

CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrated alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.

Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. You are strongly advised to 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

Assessment:
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time): https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment

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.

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview