Course Title: Maintain laboratory or field workplace safety
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2025
Course Code: OHTH5992C
Course Title: Maintain laboratory or field workplace safety
School: 535T Social Care and Health
Campus: City Campus
Program: C4433 - 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
Course Teacher Name: Tasneem Cutchhi
Course Teacher Email:tasneem.cutchhi@rmit.edu.au
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
Nil.
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
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.
OHS Class Schedule – Semester 2 2025
| Week | Week beginning | Theory Topic | Task to do in class | Assessment Task Due |
| 1 | 14 Jul | • Welcome & Intro to Course • Teamwork • Introduction to OHS • Introduction to 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 | 21 Jul | • Module 1: OHS Introduction & Legislation • Discuss AT1- Lab Safety knowledge check |
Start working on – Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check (Q1 to Q3) |
Welcome and Orientation Module Quiz |
| 3 | 28 Jul | • Module 2: Risk Assessment and Hierarchy of controls |
Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check (Q4 to Q10) |
Mandatory Laboratory safety declaration quiz |
| 4 | 4 Aug |
• Module 2: Risk
|
Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check (Q11 to Q14)
|
|
| 5 | 11 Aug | • Module 3: Biological Hazards | Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check (Q15 to Q17) | |
| 6 | 18 Aug | Module 4: Chemical Hazards |
Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check Submit to teacher for correction and feedback on your AT1 |
AT 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check |
| 7 | 25 Aug |
• Module 5: Physical
|
Students to print out copy of Assessment Task 2 - Hazard Identification and Risk Management | |
| Mid - Semester Break: 1st Sept 2025 to 7th Sept 2025 | ||||
| 8 | 8 Sept | • Module 7: Lab Safety Audit |
• Discuss AT2 – Hazard
|
|
| 9 | 15 Sept | • No Theory |
• Visit to one of the RMIT labs and complete – Part A – Part B – |
|
| 10 | 22 Sept | • Quick Recap of Module 2: Risk Assessment and Hierarchy of controls |
Assessment Task 2 – 4.Incident Report form • Students to print out copy of Assessment Task 3 – Lab Safety Role Play • Discuss AT3 – Lab Safety – Role play scenarios and assessment requirements |
Submit to teacher for correction and feedback on - 1. Lab Safety Audit checklist |
| 11 | 29 Sept | • Module 8: Workplace procedure documentation |
• Assessment Task 2 – Part B – 4.Incident Report form • Part C – |
Submit to teacher for correction and feedback on - 1. Lab Sketch 2. Hazard Report 3. Risk assessment 4. Incident Report |
| 12 | 06 Oct | • Recap of Module 8: Workplace procedure documentation |
• Assessment Task 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Management – Complete and submit AT2 in class
|
5. Workplace procedure documentation AT 2 – Hazard |
| 13 | 13 Oct | • No Theory | Students to perform Role Play performance in class |
AT 3 - Laboratory Safety – Role Play |
| 14 | 20 Oct | • Revision of all theory for online quiz | Resits and submission on canvas – AT2 and AT 3 - Laboratory Safety – Role Play |
|
| 15 | 27 Oct |
On campus assessment Assessment Task 4 - Laboratory Safety - Online Quiz |
AT4 - Laboratory Safety - Online Quiz |
|
| 16 | 03 Nov | Assessment Task 4 - |
AT4 - Laboratory Safety - Online Quiz |
|
| 17 | 10 Nov | Assessment Finalisation | ||
| 18 | 17 Nov | Assessment Finalisation |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment may include:
- knowledge tests
- practical skills test
- practical logbooks
- presentations
- group work
- research
- lab reports
- assignments
Assessment Tasks
There are four assessments in this course, and you need to complete both at "satisfactory" level to pass the course.
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in written presentations, knowledge quizzes and through the demonstration of health and safety requirements in the laboratory.
Competency indicates your practical skills, and knowledge must be judged to be satisfactory standard.
- All assessment tasks must be completed satisfactorily to be able to pass the course.
- For each assessment you will be given up to two (2) attempts, however, to be granted the second attempt at any assessment, your first attempt must be an appropriate attempt to try and gain a satisfactory outcome. For example, you must appropriately attempt each question or aspect of the assessment task. If your first attempt fails to meet the above standard, you may not be eligible for a second attempt at that task.
To successfully complete this course, you need to be satisfactory in all of the following assessments:
Assessment Due Dates Summary table
| Assessment Task 1 – Lab Safety Knowledge check | Assessed in Weeks 2 - 6 |
| Assessment Task 2 – Hazard Identification and Risk Management | Assessed in Weeks 9 - 12 |
| Assessment Task 3 -Laboratory Safety – Role Play | Assessed in Week 13 |
AT4 - Laboratory Safety - Online Quiz |
Due in week 15 |
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
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
- SEC Student engagement ceased
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 plagiaries 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